Discovering and accepting that you have an eating disorder can be tough and seem daunting but you are never alone.
Recovery is something which can take time but with effective treatment and support it is very achievable.
Are There Different Types?
The more often spoken about eating disorders are:
- Anorexia nervosa - this is when an individual will not eat enough food and exercise excessively or a combination of both in an attempt to lose weight quickly and in large amounts.
- Bulimia - when an individual sometimes loses control and will consume large quantities of food in a short space of time. Once the food is consumed, they will then be deliberately sick. Some people will use laxatives, or restrict what they eat so that weight will not be gained.
- BED, also known as Binge Eating Disorder - an individual suffering from BED will feel like they have lost control of their eating. This can result in them frequently eating larger portions of food. After such binge, the individual may feel guilty and upset.
I Think I May Have an Eating Disorder. What do I Do First?
The best place to start when you believe you may be suffering from an eating disorder is speaking to your GP. There are different types of eating disorders and your GP will play an important part in identifying which you may be suffering from.
What Next?
If your GP suspects that you may have an eating disorder, they will refer you and assist you in getting the appropriate eating disorder recovery help.
A treatment will be created for you, it will take account of other factors such as any other mental and physical health conditions you may have.
There are lots of different methods to treat an eating disorder, it's worth noting that not every method will work for everyone.
If you feel that your treatment is not working for you, discuss it with your care team and they will be able to assist further in finding the right plan for recovery.
What Happens After The Treatment?
After you have finished your treatment you will still need to remain vigilant. Research has shown that the greatest relapse risk is around the 4 to 18-month mark after treatment.
Unexpected life events or the general stresses of life can sometimes cause an eating order to return.
If there are any signs or symptoms that your eating disorder may be returning, you should seek help as soon as possible.
It is worth noting that your care team will make up a relapse prevention plan to help combat any of this occurring.
Recovery
There are a few things that you may find useful when going through the different stages of recovery:
- Do remember to applaud your efforts at every stage of recovery.
- There will be new developments along the way, try to adjust to these.
- You may need to set new boundaries at home - don't feel frightened to do so.
- Maintain positive communication with friends, family and your care team.
You are not alone in recovery and for anyone feeling isolated in these turbulent times it is worth seeking professional help and guidance to find a better way.
