Meggs M
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Posts: 39
(15/3/04 12:04 pm)
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Therapy
For most people with an eating disorder the issue of therapy will surface sooner or later. It is inevitable. Eating Disorders are highyly complx illnesses which affect not only the individual, but almost everyone around them. Those who struggle day to day to overcome and eating disorder often have no idea of how to turn things around, how to stop the distress and confusion they are experiencing. For many people there seems to be no end to the difficulties and problems that eating disorders bring.
For families watching someone suffer with an eating disorder is just as dufficult and distressing. They want to help, yet feel powerless and unable to find the 'right thing to do'. For both the induvidual and there family and friends seking help from a therapist is a means to alleviate the confusion, distress and chaos that ED's bring.
There my be a number of reasons why therapy is sought. You may choose to go into therapy. Things may be becoming just to hard to cope with alond, or perhaps you realise it is affecting your relatinships, jobs, academic or sporting achievements. Perhaps you have reached a point where your physical health is being affected and you are frightened of the long-term consequences of continuing with ED behaviours.
It may be that some-one close to you will suggest, or even insist you seek help. People with ED's oten deny there is a problem, yet continue to behave in ways that cause concern for others. You may believe that your continued weight loss has gone unnoticed or that nobody has any ided what you do behind closed dorrs of the bathroom and bedroom (i just want to add that I believed that no-one noticed what was going on with my dramatic weight loss but really a lot of people were too scared and didnt really know what to say to me..bec)
However your family, friends, employers, teachers ect very often do notice and worry. These people around you are affected by any mod swings and changes in behaviour and when commented on are just told not to worry or ment with anger hostility and denial. It is very little wonder then that those close to you feel a sense of helplessness and desperatoin or perhaps anger, resentment or guilt. Thye want to help and yet their help is rejected. Suggesting you seed help from a therapist is often the only way they can help you.
However it comes about going into therapy is a huge decision. Most people have very mixed feelings about it.
There is no right or wrong way to feel about going into therapy. You may not be able to seperatate nor articulate your feelings about it so the only way to approach it is with an open mind.
Be prepared to listen and ask questions when you want to know something. Be honest with the therapist about how you are feeling about going into therapy. A good therapist will not be put off by your feelings and will more then likely appreciate your honesty.
what is therapy all about and what will i have to do
For people with ED's the ultimate goal of therapy is to find a way to put the ED 'out of a job'!! Essentially, ther therapist uses his training and the theraputic relationship to achieve this goal. Various issues relevant to your individual situation may be explored, discussed, challenged, laughed about, cried about and worked through with your therapist. The approach a therapist takes will depend ver much on your personality, the things you are struggling with, ther therpists personality and their particular treatment philosophy.
It is very important that your loved one is comfortable with there therapist and the way in which they work. No 2 people with ED's are the same, of course there are common problems and similar themes to explore but everyone is individual and will respond differently to different approaches and personalities. If they feel uncomfortable with some aspect of the therapy, encourage your loved one to speak to there therapist about it.
In individual therapy it is the relationship between the therapist and the patien rather then any certain technique that becomes the most important aspect of therapy. Trust plays an essential part of the relationship. It is all about providing you with a safe place to talk about issues that are not discussed in your ordinary lives, difficult or painful issues that you cant discuss with those closest to you.
Therapy may also be about trusting someone enough to guide you through the difficult path to recovery, particularly when you do not trust yourself or believe it is possible.
Eating Disorder support network inc.
www.edsn.asn.au
Luv & Hugs
Meggs
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