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.
Talked to my counseler today. Family counselor. Just me, without the family, but I had no problem filling up the 50 minutes... I was lamenting to her that there is no support for ED's in our county, there is no group therapy, nothing... and she said, "Start one!" ... ... ... Hmp. Start one. Start one?! Well... Why not? Because I never start anything, is why not... I'm not a starter. I'm a follower... Or am I? Can I start something like that? Why not? I have her support.... She offered me a free meeting space, chairs, electricity...
I've never been in group therapy. I don't even go to AA, and I truly, truly need to go... I'm working on it!
What do you DO in there? Especially for ED's, what do you do, what subjects do you broach, how is the meeting run, what are the parameters, what is off limits, what sort of "rules" do you employ? What makes a group session effective? What makes it derail? Is there a moderator? What is his/her role? Do we have to serve donuts? Because that could be an issue... (always joking, not funny)
I really think I'm going to do this... It's been brewing and "percolating" inside me for some time now, just thinking how many years we suffer this disease, in silence, in secret... Because we don't have resources or options...
I'd appreciate any insight you can give me, as to what works for you in Group, what has been helpful, what has been harmful, what do you hope to get when you walk into group therapy, what can you taken away.... Are there certain mantras, or sayings, metaphors, slogans that you've found especially helpful? Does a group start out with a sorta "mission statement" thing?
I have ideas... no experience though. But there is such a need here in this county... Thanks in advance, for your input, and please don't tell me I can't use the donut joke, that's some of my best material...
I've never been in group therapy. I don't even go to AA, and I truly, truly need to go... I'm working on it!
What do you DO in there? Especially for ED's, what do you do, what subjects do you broach, how is the meeting run, what are the parameters, what is off limits, what sort of "rules" do you employ? What makes a group session effective? What makes it derail? Is there a moderator? What is his/her role? Do we have to serve donuts? Because that could be an issue... (always joking, not funny)
I really think I'm going to do this... It's been brewing and "percolating" inside me for some time now, just thinking how many years we suffer this disease, in silence, in secret... Because we don't have resources or options...
I'd appreciate any insight you can give me, as to what works for you in Group, what has been helpful, what has been harmful, what do you hope to get when you walk into group therapy, what can you taken away.... Are there certain mantras, or sayings, metaphors, slogans that you've found especially helpful? Does a group start out with a sorta "mission statement" thing?
I have ideas... no experience though. But there is such a need here in this county... Thanks in advance, for your input, and please don't tell me I can't use the donut joke, that's some of my best material...
Then either the person (usually a therapist, but could be you to) had a topic to discuss that day; past, present, school, work, how you feel in your skin, what helps you, useful coping mechanisms, etc.. Or one time we all wrote down some things that we wanted to talk about and then she designated each week with a topic that we chose.
Anyway, good luck! That is really exciting!
all i would say is that just make sure you have some structure to your meetings, such as a time plan so that your organised and maybe each time you could run through the rules and have an opening statement(like "we support each other to get through this together, we are no longer ashamed or afraid to admit that we have a problem and need to ask for help". you could take turns going around the group answering the question 'What has ED taken from you that you want back?' or "I hate my eating disorder because....................(eg. it has taken away my friendships)". you could have an item or a talking stick that you pass around and only that person with it can talk.