Eating disorder...

LegacyUser

I'm really terrified. I've been battling with depression for as long as I can remember. I am 20 years old and over the last year things have become really bad and I've develpoed an eating disorder.

My weight dropped seriously for a few months and my periods stopped. The doctor said I was seriously underweight. This scared me and I've been eating enough since. But now I binge alot and nearly every meal is shadowed by guilt and tension. I think about food constantly and feel so guilty about it. I'm totally obsessed and it's ruining my life. I break down and cry nearly everyday. I've pushed most of my friends out of my life because I can't concentrate on them. I can't go out because of it. I can't relate to people anymore. It's totally taken my life over.

I made my first step yesterday and went for a consolutation with a counsolor. I know it was the right thing to do. I also think I caught it fairly soon (only really got bad at xmas).

I'd just like to know if I can fully get over this? Is there anyone else on here who's gone through something similar? Is there anything I can do to help myself? What is the best type of therapy for these things?

beth-lou

My heart goes out to you. It's good that you are seeing a counsellor. And it's good that you recognise that you have a problem. Now you can start to work on getting yourself better. I'm no expert on eating disorders, but I do know they are about control and the feeling that you have none in your life. I really hope you will stick with the therapy and fingers and toes crossed that you will feel less anxious very soon. Just try and find someone that you trust and confide in them about what is going on. It might help you to release some of the tension that has been building up.

RossFixxxed

I have no personal experience of this but I know those that did. They have gotten over it hugely. There IS light at the end of the tunnel. You will always carry a little of it around (much like someone who quits smoking can be tempted) but less and less as years go by.

You did a great thing going to the councellor, and you will need to remain vigilant of it over the years. It will take hard work but YOU CAN BEAT IT and you can have a happy healthy life. This need not destroy you at all. Stay social too, stay relating to people. Anything I can do just shout!

Best of look OP.
R

trio

www.bodywhys.ie

It's the phone helpline for eating issues here in Ireland. The website is good too - I think they have email support also.

Counselling is an excellent move, but it's handy to have someone interested and knowledgeable on the other end of the phone if you're having a terrible day with food issues and your counselling session is still days away.

MysticalSoul

Well done for reaching out for help. I am myself recovered, and no longer suffer with food or body image issues. Full recovery is completely possible - I found finding the right therapist was paramount to my journey. I attended a fantastic therapist at the Marino Therapy Centre, who basically saved my life. There are many good therapists out there, as there are cowboys. Does your new therapist have experience of working with eating disorders do you know?

boringteetotal

I ate obsessively ''healthy'' or so I thought for about 15 months during which I went from a size 16 to a size 10-12. My period stopped for this length of time also.

I eventually craved normal food so much I just gave in and left all the healthy nonsense go.

It does get easier, food can be such a fixation when you feel depressed and tense, it feels like ''at LEAST I can control this''.

For what its worth I became a born again Christian last Novemeber and any fears or fixations I ever had are just so non exixtant and minimal now.

So without being preachy, my advice is try to focus on your talents, your hobbies, your interests and develop these.

You will find someday soon food is your energy to keep you going not something to deprive yourself of or keep under strict control.

Blessings to you,
B

wexford1

Recovery group meeting will help greatly. What county do you live .Meeting are listed on the link below.

I have have went through depression too, when i was 21. You do get completey over it. i know its hard to comprehend when you can't see it. I guess its like been in a nightmare of which you will awaken.

The recovery meetings are mentals healths best kept secret. You will meet people who have been there and give you great stories of recoverying. you will hear that you illnesses is going to take time to go away but you will get many secure thoughts to help you such as symptons as distressing but not dangerous, feelings are not facts, after every setback is a comeback and many more.
i have not had any eating disoders but recovery will help there also,through muscle control re-educating the brain (You see what that means if you go) Make the effort to go. All you need do is sit there and listen for the first few you don't have to do anything. Being a recovery member will also help you long after you've recovered by knowing what to do (and think) to avoid relapses, and to help people in the future who will be in you situation. You'll be telling them how to 'Recover'

Recovery is a long term solution to the problem, so dont be put off by its simplicity. (alot of people are)

http://www.recovery-inc.com/

http://www.recovery-inc-ireland.ie/meetings4print.htm

Also have you been to a psychiarist. It doesn't sound like your on any medication. For most people its a combination of therapy and medication.

In the meantime, (because you said you were terrified), i can ensure you that you or your mind is not in any danger no matter how real it feels like it. Everybody with this condition thinks this and everyone in this condition think 'what if not the same as eveyone else' remember distressing (sometimes torturous) but not dangerous

LegacyUser

Hi OP,coincedently we just convienced our brother to go into residential care for depression and an eating disorder,he is seriously under weight at 7 stone for a tall guy...

He is in fact my brother in law but i am with my BF 13 years and i care deeply for him...

Basically my BF called the top place in ireland for an interview,the rutland centre in dublin,they have an amazing food disorder unit there.... there is a cost to pay because a alot of funding has been cut but after 10 years of our brother suffering tonight it all came to a head....

My BF and his mom and 4 other brothers all called a family meeting and told him about the rutland centre and he really needed to go and get some help that we had managed to get the money together,even though they are quite poor and 5 adults live in the council house with not a lot of money we have managed to get the money needed... 13,000

but everyone was in agreement that he needed the best care pssible and he needed to get some real help to get back on the road to recovery,no matter what it cost.

He responded really well with everyone expressing their concern,i cant stress enough how hard this was for everyone because it took 10 yrs to even get the smallest bit of communication going....thank god he has a chance now...

sorry to go off topic,but i really empthasise with your situation,and as i told my brother earlier there is absolutely a way back from this illness,i know myself i have fully healed from a very bad abusive childhood,and being sucidal and depressed...a good therapist and the will to acknowledge your issues and root cause will completly set you free....

Please believe it because we dont see it enough in ireland.... it is completly possible to heal from anything....

if you want to check out the rutland centre here is the link... http://www.rutlandcentre.ie/

and best of luck on your healing journey- xxx

Kevster

I'm 25, male, and have had Bulimia for 5 or so years now. The only way that I have learned to cope with it is by accepting that I have it and learning to live with it as best as I can. I tried fighting it, even with the help of therapy, but it was too difficult. Still, I recommend contacting BodyWhys, which was mentioned a few posts above.

SnowMonkey

aloneandscared wrote: »

I made my first step yesterday and went for a consolutation with a counsolor. I know it was the right thing to do. I also think I caught it fairly soon (only really got bad at xmas).

I'd just like to know if I can fully get over this? Is there anyone else on here who's gone through something similar? Is there anything I can do to help myself? What is the best type of therapy for these things?

I am , Im 26 6.1 weigh close to 10 stone... i went for my first talk with a counciller last week, I never used to be able to eat, I ate 3 square meals for the past 7 days straight. i suffered depression my self to. so I know how you feel.

as for helping your self keep positive you may want it to work over night but it may take time, its worth it tho. The best way you can help your self is to be honest with you counciler because then they can help you well.
just say whats going on in your mind there not there to judge you.

did you sleep really well the first night after your councilling? i must admit i found my self emotionally and phiscally shattered....

also moods are all over the place LOL.... other then that i dont know if i can help you all that much but im in the same position as you:)

Crumble Froo

as someone who has gone through it and come out the other end, and is in a serious relationship with someone who has done the same, as well as having a few mates who i met in similar situations i do have to say... no matter how impossible it seems at various points... you can get through this, and don't for a second believe otherwise.

ive a bit of drink in me right now, and would be afraid to add more to that this moment, but for sure... it CAN be beaten, and im not gonna say it's not hard... but when i got to the point that the last patient doc had seen with my test results had died within 3 weeks, aged 19, while i was only 17.. well.. it becomes a lot easier with that kinda perspective anyway.

Cinful

aloneandscared wrote: »

I made my first step yesterday and went for a consolutation with a counsolor.

Smart move!

aloneandscared wrote:

Is there anything I can do to help myself? What is the best type of therapy for these things?

No "best" therapy. Discover what's best for you. Shop around.