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.

3,896 Members

20,112 Posts

0 Online

Alexia22 06/27/2017

I have an appointment in less then a week with a treatment center to get me started on my inpatient treatment program but honestly I don't think inpatient is what I need anymore. At one point I was really struggling to eat and keep weight on but at the same point I was struggling in life with a lot of shitty situations and my eating reflects a lot on my mood. Things are getting better in my personal life and although eating is still difficult I'm beginning to at least maintain the weight I'm at and fluctuating between 121 pounds- 123 pounds usually. I know I need treatment because problems I'm facing and my mood should not be what makes or breaks my eating habits for the day. I don't think inpatient is what I need and I just need therapy simply. I'm willing to put inthe effort to eat (as long as it's healthy, I will not eat processed junk food everyday) and I'm allowed to exercise. I want to be happy and I crave recovery but I need the extra help. Is there any advice someone could give me on things that helped them recovery from an eating disorder (bulimia or anorexia, I have both but mainly struggle with anorexia). Whether it be affirmations that have helped to say to your self or things done physically. I guess I don't really know what I want to know specifically I just want help in keeping motivated and a positive mindset. Thanks!

LuckyEmpath 06/27/2017

I have never gone inpatient and have done all my healing with therapists so I am not qualified to give advice on inpatient. I think you should trust how you feel about it. If you feel that therapy would be more beneficial then look into that. Also look at the reason you may want to not do inpatient now. Is it because you are avoiding the ED? Is it because you are scared? Is it because you really and truly feel you don't need it? Be true to yourself and really listen to your answers. If, in the end, the reason is you really feel you don't need inpatient then look into therapy instead. Please be true to yourself.

You are correct in saying that your mood/stress level dictates how well you do with your ED. ED's are coping mechanisms we use so we don't have to feel. This is usually because, at some point in our past, it became unsafe to express feelings. If you go to a therapist you would learn (hopefully) to identify feelings, feel them and express them. It is in doing this that you will eventually not need an ED to help you cope with strong feelings. I know for myself, the anorexia side of it was about be believing that everyone would be better off without me. And thoroughly believing that others believed that too. This one feeling had so many layers that I had to explore before I could heal it and it took time and huge commitment. If you feel this way, or even if you don't, a therapist will help you explore and feel all those buried feelings so you see yourself as a worthy and valuable person - which you totally are. ((Hugs))

sonnycamehome 06/27/2017

I actually had a really positive experience when I went inpatient...they treated me as a whole person, not just a person with an ED and addressed all of my issues which was really helpful and a huge turning point for me. I might suggest going to the intake appointment and seeing if the facility has an IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) that you could attend if you are opposed to going inpatient. That way you could get intensive therapy, but still get to go home every night.

I'm so glad you posted and are choosing to get help. You deserve to be happy and healthy :)

Join the Conversation