Expert: Joanne - 1/11/2007

Question
for four years now i have been bulmic, so since i was thirteen. it actully started up on my birthday that year. but everynight since i was that age i have thrown up my dinner. its get better and then it gets worse and the cycle seems to continue over and over again. i have been inpacient for it, group therapy and have taken many electrolight tests to see if well, im about to die. but nothing seems to work. no thearpist understand why i continue if i know the final outcome is death. but to be honest that doesnt sound to bad right now. now this is no longer just, ok im a puker, so let me puke. it's become something more of what i have to do,beacuse it happens on its own now. its no longer in my control. i recently have gotten into foster care over the last year and things have gotten turned upside down. i have used every coping skill in the book, from waiting thirty minutes after i eat to use the bathroom, to going for a walk. nothing seems to work. my life is starting to become out of control. im starting to use drugs again and i do now what to do. all i know is that i have to get rid of this. so i guess my question is, will this ever go away? or am i doomed to the tolit forever?

Answer
I think that you need to go to your Dr and now and demand more treatment.  Group therapy may not work well for you, but one-to-one intensive therapy might.  You may need to try and get a therapist that you can see most days - everyday if need be - and hopefully at the times that you feel you need help most.

Sometimes, although it is never a first choice treatment, it is helpful to go on a course on anti-depressants.  This is not a cure in itself, but may help to deal with the emotion while you are working on trying not to purge.

One of the counsellors that I used to see offered hypnotism as a means of helping overcome eating disorders, maybe that is something worth looking into.

It is normal for you to see no way out, to think that death seems like a better option, but it is also a sign that you need to try and get back into some sort of program.

Being in foster care, do you have some sort of care worker/social worker that you could speak with and try to get them to find you help that is more suited to you!

This is about trying everything out there to find out what works for you!  Please don't give up!

Make that appointment with your Dr, and discuss the option of antidepressants, and the need to be referred on to some sort of intensive therapy.

Please get back in touch and let me know what's going on!
All the best
Holly