How to request help with an ED?

Comments

• Nathan Community Connector Posts: 3,465 Boards Guru

  March 27

  https://community.themix.org.uk/discussion/3608589/how-to-request-help-with-an-ed

  @mikey_boi that sounds like such an extremely tough place to be in. And it's great that your taking efforts and doing your best with this. I'm not sure if anybody has said this to you yet, but well done for having the bravery to be open about it.

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  So, my advice is that you write it down beforehand, sort of like a script, and try and rehearse it. Talk about the issue and how significant it is, that it caused hospitalisation, what your bounderies are in rejecting weight loss injections, and explain about your struggle to them. ED's are sadly a common thing many doctors have dealt with before, and so they should hopefully be understanding and will have dealt with these things before.

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  Another thing is that it's completely understandable being anxious and not having confidence in asking for help. It can be a terrifying thing reaching out. I wonder if perhaps opening up anonymously, like you have here, might help you to build up that confidence to get to a point where your able to reach out to your GP. If you'd like, i can give you the links to a confidential ED support helpline, who you can talk to as a gentle first step towards help.

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• Sian321 Community Manager Posts: 3,983 Community Veteran

  March 28

  @mikey_boi , thank you so much for this post. It sounds like you're going through a really hard time right now, and I hear how you're feeling lost. I can imagine that being overwhelming.

  It is so valid that you don't wish to have weight loss injections, and you deserve to have autonomy and control over your own healthcare. Do you have a sense of what kind of help you would find more supportive? Or if there's any kind of help you do want them to offer?

  The following places below might also be able to support you, including with the emotions you're experiencing around this -

  BEAT -

  Provides free helplines and online resources for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders - including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders. Helpline is open 3pm-8pm Monday-Friday and closed on weekends .

  https://peerchat.link/BEAT

  First Steps -

  Advice and support for anyone affected by eating disorders.

  firststepsed.co.uk

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• Ech0 Community Connector Posts: 256 The Mix Regular

  March 31

  I’m really sorry you’re going through this. What you’re describing sounds incredibly overwhelming and the fact that you’re reaching out shows a lot of strength.

  
  It also makes sense that asking for help feels scary. A lot of people worry about being judged or not taken seriously, but doctors do see this and it’s something they are meant to help with. You could say that you think you might have binge eating disorder, that you feel unable to control your eating, and that it’s affecting your health. You can mention the hospital visit if you feel able to. Or if saying it out loud may be too difficult, perhaps you could hand them a written note at the start or your appointment, type it on your phone and let them see it or mention that you may need a moment because you are struggling to talk about it because those are all more than okay. What matters is that you get the message across in whatever way feels safest for you.

  There is also nothing wrong at all in saying what you’re not comfortable with. You can tell them you don’t feel okay about weight loss injections and that you’d prefer other kinds of support. You’re allowed to have boundaries around your own treatment and you deserve to feel safe with whatever plan you agree to because your care is something you should be involved in not decided for you.

  
  There are other ways they can help that don’t involve injections. Many start with therapy such as CBT-ED that help identify emotional triggers and build regular eating patterns. Dietitians who specialise in eating disorders can also play an important role in restoring consistent nourishment and helping your body feel safe and regulated again. Or support may also come from guided self‑help programmes, which some people find easier to engage with at first.

  If it helps, you can think of the first appointment as just as opening the door. You’re letting someone in on what’s going on so you don’t have to carry it alone anymore and you can take it one step at a time from there. It is so brave of you to share and we are here for you.
  

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