Eating Disorders Support Group

Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.

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deleted_user 03/02/2009

I know most of us here are grieving. I am well aware of this but I think we need to take a look at how we're treating people who are needing our help right now. Yes, we have suffered a loss and that's sad but ignoring these people who need our help isn't going to change things. Telling them about our loss may help them understand why we are being standoffish, but it can't feel good to reach out for help and get nothing. I think most of us know how that feels and what we do/did when that happens.

I'm not saying don't grieve. I'm not saying to respond to every new poster who is asking for help. I'm just saying we need to take a look at our behavior and how it may be affecting new members right now.

I don't want this to be cold or callous. I've been on the other side of this where I joined a group after the loss of a member and was just ignored. I stopped reaching out for help for a while after that and got worse. I don't want that to happen to others.

deleted_user 03/02/2009

Thank you Sophie.
I'd say you're being anything but cold.
You want to help and that what we're here to do isn't it?

deleted_user 03/02/2009

I had the same reaction, Sophie -- you're not being cold. I'd say you're demonstrating the generosity of heart that we all crave.

deleted_user 03/02/2009

It is important to remember this....

deleted_user 03/02/2009

Agreed. I think last night I might have reacted in a brash manner towards one member because I had just gotten done crying for the billionth time, and I get online here and see someone talking about how they are going to kill themselves the same way my dear friend did.

I just wish there was a way to post a "sticky" here so that people would not keep asking the same question over and over: "OMG, I have XXX medical problem because I am XXX pounds and, OMG, I don't know how to stop! What should I do?"

deleted_user 03/02/2009

I'm sorry if you struggle with it but people are entiltled to write and ask that question. And no-one is asking exactly the same question because everyone is unique.
That is what we are saying ask and you will get help and support. You don't have to help or support anyone you don't want to (and I do understand your comments about numbers triggering the only soloution I can think of to that is people posting it as a numbers mentioned trigger.)
I don't want to offend you or anyone else with this reply but even more than that I don't want people to be afraid to ask for help and I can't be sure but think that is what Sophie was trying to achieve with this post.

deleted_user 03/02/2009

My point of saying that I wish I could post that "sticky" note at the top of this thread is because, while NO ONE has the exact same situation, if someone is asking for medical help or for what to do to begin their recovery, there is always the same answer: "GO TO A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND SEE A THERAPIST."

That's all. I'm not trying to be pissy or angry. Don't take my post that way.

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