ANAD

bowlingalli

Member

Registered: 2011-11-23

Posts: 15

Planning for recovery, asking for help

Hi everyone. I am new to this site and wanted advice on how to ask for help. I have been bulimic for about 12 years, and am ready to start the recovery process. However, everytime I think about picking up the phone to make an appointment with a  psychiatrist, I panic. I have never verbalized that I have bulimia, and it makes me very anxious just thinking about it. Has anyone had this problem, and what did you do to overcome this?

raerae301

Member

Registered: 2011-09-12

Posts: 16

Re: Planning for recovery, asking for help

bowlingalli, you may have never verbalized it, but you "wordalized" it (if you will). you told us! so think of it like this, you've already put it out there anonymously, it's just one more step (a small step) to actually verbalize it to a professional. that professional wants to help, not to harm and not to control. they want to give you real control back, take that small step towards it. you can do it!

Abby

Member

Registered: 2010-08-18

Posts: 53

Re: Planning for recovery, asking for help

Bowlingali,
  This is so awesome that you have come to the point of admitting you have an eating disorder and wanting to change!  I told myself that I needed to call by a certain date, as I kept delaying to make the call.  Before I called I think I thought that the counselor was going to react in the worse possible way.  However, my counselor was very friendly and welcoming.  When making an appointment we really only talked about the best time and didn't go into much detail past having a eating disorder and wanting to make changes.  Sometimes the idea of the unknown (getting help/what will happen) is much more scarier than the actual process of getting help.
Best Wishes and I am so excited for the freedom you will find at the end of recovery!

rsh1989

Member

Registered: 2012-02-14

Posts: 2

Re: Planning for recovery, asking for help

You know for me the hardest thing was admitting to myself I had a problem. Vocalizing it was really hard, and even now when I say it out loud I'm kind of shocked to hear it. I guess I just got to the point where I realized how miserable I was and no matter how hard it is to say or hear-- it can't be worse than how I felt when I was fasting. I really hope that you are able to go forth with getting help; you deserve it.

Priscilla13

Member

Registered: 2012-02-06

Posts: 5

Re: Planning for recovery, asking for help

I felt the same way before I finally went to see a psychiatrist for my bulimia. By that time I had been bulimic for about 21 years. One day I just felt so miserable and I realized how much of life I was missing in the vicious cycle of binging and purging. The amount of time my excess exercise took and how exhausted I felt.

I didn't tell her I was bulimic right away. I just said I had a problem with food. I didn't use the word purge. I just said I would then exercise a lot.

It  has been six years and she has helped me a lot. I think I was lucky to find someone I clicked with right away. I think you will know fairly quickly if you feel comfortable with the person. If you don't feel comfortable, then find someone else, because that is necessary to be able to open up to them.

Even when you are comfortable, be patient. It will not happen instantly. Part of the process will be finding out why you binge and purge. What are the reasons that caused the behavior? That takes some time, but it will be worth it.

For me focusing on the fact that I really wanted to change my life and stop the destructive behavior motivated me to make the appointment. I also felt more comfortable because I knew that what I had to say was confidential and that made it a lot easier for me then opening up to a friend or my family.

You can do it! I don't think you will regret it, I know that I don't

tarotfairy

Member

Registered: 2012-03-07

Posts: 3

Re: Planning for recovery, asking for help

I had the same anxiety after 21 years of purging... there was shame, a sense of attachment/loss, and fear that the community would look at me differently once I made it public. That didnt happen. Try a therapist or psychologist, they'll be more feeling and compassionate... psychiatrists primarily focus on meds.

The first step was contacting a therapist, and like Priscilla13 said, you are fortunate to find one you immediately click with. I was flakey at first, but persistant, and didn't reveal the bulimia until session 5. Now? It's all slowly coming out, and for the first time in my life I'm okay with someone knowing. You fear rejection, but instead will find compassion and support from strangers.

We are all loveable, and that's what a good therapist will help to reveal. Good luck bowlingalli!  Taking that first step was the best thing I've ever done... 4 months into it and I"m still fighting, but now I have an incredible person and support team in my corner.

hrlygrl798

Member

Registered: 2012-03-15

Posts: 3

Re: Planning for recovery, asking for help

I too have come to the realization that I need to seek help, however I don't know really where to go. Last night I finally told my boyfriend, and he agreed to help me, however, I just don't think that is really going to cut it. I feel like I need more help than that, unfortunately I can't really seek help from a family member....I come from one of those families that tend to mock, poke fun at, ect..at you behind your back.

I'm looking for some suggestions on maybe some starting points and what I could really do, I wanna get help but I think i just need that extra push.

My situation first started when I dieted to loose some weight that I gained during college, with some success I kept wanting to take it further and further until finally it has gotten me to a point to turn to measures to keep the weight off and sometimes even shed more weight...