When eating disorder therapy really works

by Ellern Mede Eating Disorder Treatment

An eating disorder affects not just the person who is experiencing it but the whole family, and sometimes, everyone involves would prefer not to seek therapy. How do we know that? Because UK recent research shows that symptoms are often around for up to three years before a person seeks treatment.

One of the most common eating disorders is Anorexia Nervosa. The impact of starvation on the body can be dramatic, long-lasting and even fatal. So seeking treatment early is really important.

You could talk to an Ellern Mede eating disorder therapist in London at any stage of your illness. All you need is a letter from a GP or other professional, so always your first step should be to see your GP. If you experience a crisis and it’s too late to get to your GP, then don’t hesitate to go to your local A&E department because related complications are serious. One example is heart disease.

Sometimes it may be fear of the stigma of being diagnosed that holds you back. But when an eating disorder therapy really works, it gives you back your life, as this lovely letter to our medical director from one of our former patients describes, (with a peppering of social media icons). We congratulate her warmly on all she is achieving as she returns fully to a life where she is back ‘in charge’.

Dear Dr.Hind,

Me here

How are you?

I just thought I might drop you an email to let you know that I think of all of you often and I wanted to let you know how I'm doing! ☻

Since I wrote to you with my last email, things have been continuing to go really well!

I went on holiday with all my family for ten days, so it was fabulous and so lovely to get away to the beautiful sunshine!!!! I absolutely love holidaying! I find it so interesting learning about other cultures!!!! And I love the sun and heat. ❤❤❤

I'm also starting my pre-nursing course in college this Monday, so I'm very excited about that! I had my orientation day yesterday, so I met all my classmates who are in the same course as me and are similar ages to me which is great! They all seemed lovely when I met them, so I'm really looking forward to meeting them more often and start making new friends!!! The course is only for one year, so if I pass my exams, I will be able to go to university for four years to do my degree in nursing. I am very excited about that and going to do my best to try to reach and achieve that goal!!!

I've also began back playing rugby!!! I just feel so ALIVE when I'm on the pitch!!!! I aim to save up some money to try and go to the next rugby world cup in 2023 which is scheduled to be on in France!!!! This year's one is in Japan ☻

I also was invited to a prom, so I was thrilled!!!! Such a wonderful experience! I got my makeup, nails, and hair done and I wore a really pretty red dress!!! Red is my favourite colour!!! ❤❤❤ I had a fabulous night.

PS I saw this quote recently, and I think it couldn't be truer!

"Very little in life is needed to make a happy life, it is all within ourselves and our own way of thinking."

I have to remind myself of this quote everyday if I'm feeling overwhelmed with Anorexic or OCD thoughts because at the end of the day we only have one life as it’s up to us to make the most of it and to be honest if I continued letting Anorexia dictate my life I wouldn't be meeting new friends, going on holidays, going to college, hoping to go to university in the future or playing and enjoying rugby again!!!! I would just be going in and out to hospitals all my life and treatment centres, and I certainly don't want that to be my life anymore! I want to enjoy life and just LIVE It. Anorexia has stolen enough valuable years of me, and it’s my time to tell it to go away.

I know there are still some days when I still find the anorexia and OCD thoughts and feelings really strong and overwhelming, but each day I overcome these challenging thoughts and feelings that's another day closer to letting anorexia know he is no longer in charge!!!! I am!!!!

I know I will never fully get over anorexia! I think I've had it too long but I do believe that if I use the tools I've been thought to use by all the healthcare professionals and therapists I've met over the last number of years I should be able to cope in the real world without being in hospital and without being puppeted continuously by anorexia!!! And you Dr.Hind are one of those people who thought me some of those skills and tools, so I thank you very much for that!!!!!! ❤❤❤

Give my kindest regards to everyone there in Ellern Mede, patients and staff.

I miss them so much!☻☻☻☻

Hope you enjoyed your summer.

Loads of Love❤❤❤

(Former patient, aged 19, discharged from our Adult Service)