The whole point of ED awareness
week is that people will recognize if themselves or their loved ones need
treatment, and then get them into treatment. I’m a big believer in treatment,
maybe partially because being an ED therapist is my dream job, but also because
I really do think it helps. Even if you don’t want to get better doing
something to facilitate recovery is good because it can teach you skills you
may want or need in the future.
So here are some ideas about what
kinds of treatment you can pursue if you ever feel like it.
1. Go to a psych hospital
Maybe inpatient, maybe partial,
maybe outpatient. I was never an inpatient so I have no idea what it’s like,
but my outpatient experience was pretty chill. Everyone was nice and I got lots
of resources to use later on.
2. Participate in a treatment study
This one would be kind of hard to
do unless you’re directed towards the study, but if you can get into one I
think it’s a great option. Not only do you get free treatment, but you get to
help others in the future!
3. See an individual therapist
I like seeing a therapist. I’m
not right now because I have too much school work to attend to, but for me
therapy is a nice place to deal with stupid things no one else would really
care about. No one except my bf knows that I used to see one, and even if they
did know, no one would have to know what I was seeing her for.
4. Take prescription drugs
You’d have to get them by going
to a psychiatrist, but they can be helpful. Again, I’ve never had experience
with that, because I believe I can and need to get better without drugs, but
they’re a good resource to have.
5. Overeaters Anonymous Meetings
I plan on doing this over the
summer. According to their official website, if you become a member you get to
have the support of the meetings, you get a sponsor to help you when you’re
tempted by an entire chocolate cake, and you have a place to talk outright
about your addiction to food without feeling like a glutton.
6. ED support group meetings
Apparently they’re out there
somewhere. I haven’t been able to attend or find any in my area, but if I did I
would definitely go.
7. Family therapy
This option is great if your
family will participate because the more people you get involved with your
recovery the better your chances are. It does mean that your family would have
to know about your disorder though…
8. Tell all your friends and use them for support
I’m never doing this, at least in
the foreseeable future, but I know it would be a huge step in the right
direction. Using your friends for support is great because it gets more people
involved. Plus you get closer to your friends!
That’s all I can think of at the
moment. Are there others I’m missing? What do you think of all these options?
I think people have to find what is right for them
ReplyDeleteI've tried most of these over the years
I guess the one thing that is vital is that we have to want to get well
If we are engaging in treatment but we don't really want to be there, then it will never work
At the moment I see a therapist and we are trying to get a support group started
Apparently we get well quicker in a group setting than in a one to one setting
I've been to OA too and I found it good, I just couldn't commit to the food plan x
I had such a long reply, but mostly I just agree with ruby. I think the crux of whatever treatment plan you choose is that you need to want to get better. As we all knowm, there is no magic solution to any of this and what works for one person, won't work for another. I heard of this internet therapy thing that they do in Holland, where it is all done via virtual therapists and IM. One of the things that helped a bulimic, was mirror therapy where she stood in front of the mirror and said positive things about herself. Now, that may have helped her, but not a fuck would it work for me. Or... probably most EDs. Xo
ReplyDeleteI would like to specialize in EDs too. I'm talked to someone that was a counselor and she said that since I'm burning out from college I could do drug and alcohol counseling then get my masters. By working in a rehab center it shows I can do screenings for a program and admittance and treatment plans. I think it would be a great thing to do. There's not nearly enough research or skilled professionals in this area.
ReplyDeleteI never did inpatient or outpatient. For someone that does Psychology, I avoid people picking my brain and opt to do it myself. Disclosure is the main thing. There's a lot of secrets whether rituals or feelings in EDs and the research shows family therapy is the most effective.
The thing I've seen from other people is that treating EDs become a competition for the girls and that upsets me. Great. You can kill yourself faster. I don't know how to help discourage that, but I wish they could.
Telling my friends, well, maybe. Depends on the friends.
I'm not really a drugs person. I think they help for depression and stuff but I'm really against relying on things like that and more cognitive-behavioral supporting. My main thing is that I don't want to rely on drugs and counselors in the end. Only when it's necessary. I want to be self-sufficient.
it's important to emphasize personal limits and strengths in a healthy way.
All of it is so hard to do though. The person has to want to get better. You can make something out of nothing if you want to badly enough, and people seem to forget how strong willpower can be.
Good luck dear!