Disclaimer: I am writing this as someone who lives in the UK, so I cannot comment on treatment options in other countries.
Hello!
Todays post is focusing on getting help and treatment in the UK.
Again, this won't be an overly long post, however I just wanted to be able to signpost people the best that I can! If you want any more information, please look at BEAT's website :)
BEAT:
BEAT are a UK charity dedicated to helping those suffering with an eating disorder, and those around them too. They have a lot of amazing, disorder specific help and advice on their website
, that can really help you understand what you, or someone you know might be going through. They also run online support groups that are tailored to specific age groups, and struggles - these
groups got me through a relapse and are so incredible. BEAT also have a help-line(0808 801 0677), a student-line (0808 801 0811) , and a youth-line (0808 801 0711) - I have used all of these lines at some point in my recovery journey, and the people who you talk to have nothing but compassion and love! They are an incredible charity, and I would highly recommend them! This is their website: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
Getting treatment, or realising you need treatment is a huge step in anyone's recovery journey. It means that you have got to the point that you no longer want your eating disorder to take over your life. Seeking treatment is a fantastic sign that actually you DO know your worth, and do know that you can get back to your old self!
First point of call for me personally was my GP. I was too scared to talk to my friends or my family about it, in case they thought I was attention seeking. My GP monitored me for a few months, before attempting to get me a referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Unfortunately at the time I was on the threshold of adult and child mental health (MH) services, so my referral didn't come in time. However seeing your GP is a must!
I then chose to speak to my parents while I was waiting for proper help. To my surprise, they already knew that I was struggling, but weren't sure on how to approach the situation. Part of me wishes I had told them first, so that I had support when going to the GP,
Therapy - Therapy is something that scares a lot of people, but it really shouldn't. I was terrified before my first therapy session, and didn't really understand how to utilise the help I was getting. However, slowly, but surely I got the hang of it, and I saw my life and my coping mechanisms slowly start to adjust to more healthy coping mechanisms.
ED service - Not everyone will be lucky enough to access an ED service, however I have been extremely privileged that the ED service in my area takes on a lot of people in need of help. The people who work in the ED outpatient service are god-sends. They really understand what they are talking about, and cater your therapy to suit your needs. To get access to most ED services, you need to be referred by your GP.
Friends- Talk to your friends. They aren't professionals, and cannot necessarily 'cure' or 'treat' your ED, but they will be there to support you. Just try to remember boundaries. You want your friends as your friends, and not your therapists- for your sake, but mostly for theirs.
There are also a lot of things you can do to help yourself, ranging from good old self help books (generic I know, but there are some really good ones out there!) to mindfulness apps - such as headspace (this app SLAPS)! For more suggestions, please look at BEAT or NEDA's websites, because they are FULL of fantastic information.
I would also say that there is sometimes support in your local area - so if you use the BEAT helpfinder, on their website, it will show you where the local support is.
Be kind to one another,
Dais x
Again, this won't be an overly long post, however I just wanted to be able to signpost people the best that I can! If you want any more information, please look at BEAT's website :)
BEAT:
BEAT are a UK charity dedicated to helping those suffering with an eating disorder, and those around them too. They have a lot of amazing, disorder specific help and advice on their website
, that can really help you understand what you, or someone you know might be going through. They also run online support groups that are tailored to specific age groups, and struggles - these
groups got me through a relapse and are so incredible. BEAT also have a help-line(0808 801 0677), a student-line (0808 801 0811) , and a youth-line (0808 801 0711) - I have used all of these lines at some point in my recovery journey, and the people who you talk to have nothing but compassion and love! They are an incredible charity, and I would highly recommend them! This is their website: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
Getting treatment, or realising you need treatment is a huge step in anyone's recovery journey. It means that you have got to the point that you no longer want your eating disorder to take over your life. Seeking treatment is a fantastic sign that actually you DO know your worth, and do know that you can get back to your old self!
First point of call for me personally was my GP. I was too scared to talk to my friends or my family about it, in case they thought I was attention seeking. My GP monitored me for a few months, before attempting to get me a referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Unfortunately at the time I was on the threshold of adult and child mental health (MH) services, so my referral didn't come in time. However seeing your GP is a must!
I then chose to speak to my parents while I was waiting for proper help. To my surprise, they already knew that I was struggling, but weren't sure on how to approach the situation. Part of me wishes I had told them first, so that I had support when going to the GP,
Therapy - Therapy is something that scares a lot of people, but it really shouldn't. I was terrified before my first therapy session, and didn't really understand how to utilise the help I was getting. However, slowly, but surely I got the hang of it, and I saw my life and my coping mechanisms slowly start to adjust to more healthy coping mechanisms.
ED service - Not everyone will be lucky enough to access an ED service, however I have been extremely privileged that the ED service in my area takes on a lot of people in need of help. The people who work in the ED outpatient service are god-sends. They really understand what they are talking about, and cater your therapy to suit your needs. To get access to most ED services, you need to be referred by your GP.
Friends- Talk to your friends. They aren't professionals, and cannot necessarily 'cure' or 'treat' your ED, but they will be there to support you. Just try to remember boundaries. You want your friends as your friends, and not your therapists- for your sake, but mostly for theirs.
There are also a lot of things you can do to help yourself, ranging from good old self help books (generic I know, but there are some really good ones out there!) to mindfulness apps - such as headspace (this app SLAPS)! For more suggestions, please look at BEAT or NEDA's websites, because they are FULL of fantastic information.
I would also say that there is sometimes support in your local area - so if you use the BEAT helpfinder, on their website, it will show you where the local support is.
Be kind to one another,
Dais x
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