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Eating Disorders

Philippa_C98

I wonder how many people here have suffered, are currently suffering with/ recovering from an eating disorder? For 11 years of my life I had an ED, anorexia then bulimia, (age 13 - 24). I am now 27 and have been "free" from it for 3 years thanks to a lot of therapy. I was only diagnosed with autism last year (age 26) and wonder how much being diagnosed earlier might have saved me struggling from the ED. Anyone had a similar experience?

I am setting up an Eating Disorder Support Group in Horsham, West Sussex. It will be on Tuesday evenings 7pm - 8pm at St Mark's Church Hall, Horsham. The first meeting is on 15th April 2025. I want to help other people going though the same thing that I went through.

Parents

  • You have my absolute admiration for getting your ED under your control and freeing yourself of it.  I do not say this flippantly because my 24yr old daughter is still in the throes of Anorexia and has had it since she was 14.  She was diagnosed with autism at age 15. Believe me I know how your ED will have tortured you, I know how difficult it is to 'recover' from it, I know how it takes over your life and dominates everything and sucks the joy out of life and everything you do.  Kudos to you, do not let it creep back in.  It isn't worth it no matter the circumstances.

    Currently I am sat here with no help for my daughter she no hope. I can't make her want to get better and she won't accept help.  What she realty needs help with is the autistic side, socialising, making friends. I'm under no illusion that that would be an instant cure for her anorexia but nothing is going to improve while she's so isolated and depressed. 

    She's 24, has a first class honours degree but has never worked.  Despair for both of us has reached an all time low.  If you have any tips for how to help her, all will be gratefully received

    Have you considered ED coaching? I know for many people a support group would work but equally for many with autism social scenarios are extremely stressful. My daughter cannot handle group meetings and will shut down.  She would become lost in a sea of other people and overlooked.  121 is also good for people with autism as well as your group meetings.

  • in reply to Eleanor

    Hi Eleanor, thank you for reaching out and sharing what you and your daughter are going through. I relate to your situation and the horrible things you are going through! It is heartbreaking to be close to someone who is going through an ED (as well as having one myself, there is someone close to me in my life who have also gone through an ED and come out the other side). I felt powerless and incredibly sad watching this person who I cared about suffering in such pain, so I empathise with you as well as your daughter. 

    Please note, the following recommendations are purely from my personal experience of what helped me recover and my family to smooth the path to my recovery:

    My family found these Zoom meetings extremely valuable from the point of view of caring for someone with an ED: Workshops for Carers of Loved Ones with an Eating Disorder   (they are free, with option to donate to a mental health charity)

    I found the best therapist to be an ED survivor herself: Hallie Heeg eating disorder therapist

    This nutritionist specialises in treating ED sufferers. She helped me so much. She does a free 15 minute consultation to see if you are a match: Isabella Osmond nutritionist

    This therapist provided family therapy for us (the whole family attends therapy together). This was also extremely beneficial: Julie Berentsen family therapy

    If you would like to talk to my mum (who has been in a very similar situation to you), my mum would be very happy to have a chat on the phone. I am also happy to speak to your daughter, but it sounds like she may not be ready for this just now. If you would like to do this, we could exchange details on private message. 

  • in reply to Philippa_C98

    Thank you so much for your reply. I will definitely follow up on some of the links.  I don't think my daughter is ready to talk to anyone just now.  She has a psychotherapist but she isn't an ED specialist so I may suggest to her we look at Hallie Heeg.

    It would be lovely to talk to your mum as I don't think people who haven't experienced a loved one with an ED can ever truly understand how it impacts everyone's lives. However, I am very shy and probably wouldn't know what to say.  Maybe you could private message me.  I need to to try and do something positive.

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  • in reply to Philippa_C98

    Thank you so much for your reply. I will definitely follow up on some of the links.  I don't think my daughter is ready to talk to anyone just now.  She has a psychotherapist but she isn't an ED specialist so I may suggest to her we look at Hallie Heeg.

    It would be lovely to talk to your mum as I don't think people who haven't experienced a loved one with an ED can ever truly understand how it impacts everyone's lives. However, I am very shy and probably wouldn't know what to say.  Maybe you could private message me.  I need to to try and do something positive.

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