The good news are: Eating
disorders can be beaten. However, the longer abnormal eating habits last, the
more difficult it can be to successfully deal with your disorder and its effetcs
on the body. Early treatment is vital. As either disorder becomes more entrenched,
its damage becomes less reversible.
That you are searching
on the internet for information about "getting help" is definiteley
the first right step in the right direction towards your road to recovery.
Quote
from someone with an eating disorder...
"I finally broke
down and admitted to myself that I had a problem and I needed help. Being anorexic
is mentally and physically exhausting. My body was starving and eating itself.
Anorexia was overtaking my life and I hated it."
The
simple things in life are much better now. Like realising that you don't
think about food all day.
Quote from someone in recovery...
"Yesterday was christmas, and for the first time
in five years I enjoyed eating my christmas cookies."
You can be proud
of yourself that you are here on this site, looking for help. The internet
is definitely a good media to start with and a great place to be in order to get
help, support and advice. You can find lots of useful information and answers
for any of your questions on eating disorders. In support-forums you have the
possibility to anonymously exchange your thoughts with other silent sufferers
with an eating disorder who can understand you and know how you feel because they
go through exactly the same as you are right now.
But...
the internet is not enough!! It is strongly recommended for sufferers
of an eating disorder to get professional help from a qualified specialist to
overcome their battle with their eating disorder.
The internet
is loaded with lots of information and for some it might be difficult to find
their way around. If you are having problems finding useful websites on the internet,
feel free to go to the "Helpful Links" section
on this website and check out my favourite websites on eating disorders and related
topics. If you have any questions at all and want to get in touch with me, feel
free to do so and send
me a message. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Eating disorders don't
go away on their own. They have no plans to leave unless something changes. In
order for sufferers to get their eating problem under control, it takes help from
another person. This person might be a highly trusted person like a family member,
friend, doctor, counsellor or any other specialist who is trained to help people
struggling with an eating disorder. By the way, not all specialists are the same
so don't make the mistake I made and judge all of them by the one you met.
Myself,
I thought for quite a while that I can get out of it on my own. That I can make
my bulimia go away when I just try hard enough, then I don't have to tell anyone
and everything will be good again. It took me quite some time to realize that
I was not able to successfully deal with my problem on my own without any help.
The Internet: There is a lot of useful
information online and you can easily find answers for any of your questions.
Online Support Forums: In online forums you can anonymously talk
to other people who understand and know how you are feeling because they are going
through exactly the same as you are.
Talk to a friend or family member:
Talk to someone you can trust and are comfortable talking with. Together with
this person you can figure out a way on how to get your eating disorder under
control.
Self-Help and Support Groups: You are not alone! There
are many other men and women in your community who also struggle with an eating
disorder. Find out if there are any local self help or support groups in your
area. Or, if you are not comfortable with visiting a group in your community,
find out when there is a meeting for an eating disorder support group in a city
nearby where you live.
The Thelephone Book: Open the telephone
book and look for someone who is professionally trained to help people struggling
with an eating disorder. This might be a therapist or psychologist.
Books:
Educate yourself about your eating problem and find out as much as you can about
your disorder.
Treatment and
Recovery Centers in The United States:
Harmony
Grove is a non-clinical transitional living house for women overcoming
disordered eating, based in San Diego, California. We work with women overcoming
anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive eating, and all variations
of eating disorders. It is a recovery based place to stay while learning new eating
and self-care behaviors. Many of our staff members are recovered as well, so we
do understand this challenge.
Rader
Programs - It's not your fault. You are not alone. We can help. Willpower
alone does not work because it's a disease. - The treatment staff at Rader Programs
has been providing the highest quality eating disorders treatment for over 20
years. Our staff of caring and experienced professionals, many who are recovering
themselves, assist the affected individual and their family in developing a life
long program for recovery. Calabasas, California.
Mercy
Ministries - Valuing Every Young Woman's Future - Mercy Ministries exists
to provide opportunities for young women to experience God's love, forgiveness
and life-transforming power. Mercy Ministries is a non-profit organization designed
to assist and meet the needs of young women who face life-controlling problems
such as drug and alcohol abuse, addictions, depression, eating disorders and unplanned
pregnancy. Mercy Ministries locations: Nashville, Tennessee; Monroe, Luisiana;
St. Louis, Montana.
treatment of anorexia, bulimia and related issues. All program components
are blended with a Biblically-based, non-dominational Christian perspective. Each
resident is treated by a team of professionals including a psychiatric and primary
care provider, registered dietitian, Master's trained therapist, psychologist
and registered nurse. The professional staff equips each resident with the right
tools to live a healthy, productive life. Wickenburg, Arizona.
Milestones
Program provides residential as well as day treatment programs for individuals
suffering with Compulsive Overeating, Bulimia, Anorexia, and related disorders.
We are a therapeutic community whose mission is to offer a supportive environment
from which to begin a new way of life... a life way we refer to as "recovery."
Milestones is located in Cooper City, Florida.
Treatment and Recovery Centers
in Canada:
Hopewell Eating
Disorder Support Centre in Ottawa, Ontario - Hopewell offers direct support
services and ongoing programs while working closley with hospital programs, therapists,
and
other agencies that assist people with eating disorders. Hopewell's
mission is to offer support, and information to people affected by an eating disorder
and to heighten the public's awareness of eating disorders.
provides teritiarty and quaternary services for adults (17 years
and older) for the province of British Columbia. Its mandate includes clinical
services, education, research, and outreach activities supporting a network of
services spanning all regions of the province.
Mercy Ministries
- Mercy Ministries exists to provide opportunities for young women to experience
God's love, forgiveness and life-transforming power. Our goal is to create a home
where young women encounter unconditional love, hope for a better life, and
God's merciful kindness — sometimes for the very first time. Located in Surrey,
British Columbia.
Westwind -
We provide counselling & treatment for individuals suffering from anorexia,
bulimia and related disorders in
a home-like atmosphere, significantly different from the institutional
format of traditional hospitals and clinics. Treatment is collaborative rather
than imposed, uses various interactive techniques and is individualized and personal.
Located in Brandon, Manitoba.
Should
I Consult a Therapist? - by Garrett Coan - Most of us experience times
when we need help to deal with problems and issues that cause us emotional distress.
When you are having a problem or dilemma that is ...
What
Eating Disorder Treatment & Psychotherapy Are About - by Abigail H.
Natenshon - Successful treatment for eating disorders puts an end to food
restriction and to bingeing and purging behaviors. It normalizes food intake as
it resolves the underlying ...
I
Think I Have an Eating Disorder and Want to Stop - by S.A. Smith -
An eating disorder is a life threatening condition that often requires professional
assistance and support to overcome. If you think you have an eating disorder it
...
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A
Self Help Guide For Those Suffering From Bulimia
