Still confused... - Eating Disorder Recovery Message Board

Running Queen · 01-06-2001, 02:08 PM

I posted a while ago about getting help for my anorexia, but I just wanted to ask all those people who have been in "eating disorder clincs/hospitals" what they are like. What happens? Do they really work? I am thinking about going to my doctor and asking him where I should go because I am just not getting any better. I am 5'5 and barely weigh 90 lbs. I NEED HELP! Thanks for the input everyone!

Tricky · 01-08-2001, 06:28 PM

Hi Running Queen,
I was never in an inpatient clinic, but I did go to a psychiatrist in private practice for a while. At first I didn't think it was helping; I felt attacked every time I went to see him. I felt like he was trying to trick me into giving away my dirty little secrets about what I was doing to myself. After a few wks I started to realize what he was doing. He taught me to look beyond what I was doing, and to find out why.

It's different for everyone, but I started to learn that I got worse when stressed. If I couldn't control something else in my life, I overcompensated by controlling my weight (always losing weight of course). I stopped looking at magazines for a while b/c I couldn't stand to see all the super-skinny models. Then I started to realize that skinnier isn't necessarily better. He helped me to stop hating myself so much.

How did having simple conversations end up helping me? Um, I'm not exactly sure. Some of what he pointed out to me was pretty obvious (the control thing), other things were far more subtle.

A psychiatrist is not a cure, he or she is a guide. They point things out, and help you to realize what is right and wrong with your life, but they can't do the most important thing which is make you eat (and keep it down). Everyone has to do that for herself.

CAZ · 01-11-2001, 03:16 AM

Hey jen, i was an outpatient at an eating disorders clinic, its good, they do help alot but you have to find the right doctor to help, i quit the clinic because of my doctor and i want you to get better not to end up like me, love always CAZ
p.s e-mail me girl!!!!!

Gail · 01-11-2001, 09:48 AM

Hello Running Queen!

I was on an eating disorders unit of a major psych hospital for 24 days. I had to leave when my insured days ran out because I could not afford the nearly $1000 a day.

The first thing I notice was that it was not full of a bunch of emaciated-looking cheerleader types. That was what I expected. Instead most of the women there were over 25 and not overly thin looking. Like me, they ate but then did awful things to their bodies trying to make themselves thin. Everyone was at different stages in their treatment.

We worked with nutritionist, art therapists, music therapists, p-docs, and others. The different classes were really good to me. I remember during on class we were video-taped doing an introduction of ourselves. I was SHOCKED when I saw myself on tape and saw just how thin I really was!!!!!!!! I never realized I actually looked like that. I wasn't overweight at all. (I am almost 5'9" and at that time weighed about 120lbs.)

The worst part was being made to eat all that was on my plate. We started out with small calorie meals and gradually worked up to more calories. If we didn't eat everything on our plates we had to drink some Ensure. Usually just a very small amount. I guess it was suppose to equal the value of what was left. One night I was in an awful mood and refused to go to evening snack. I also refused to take the Ensure. Later about five staff members came in to my room. I was held down while a tube was stuck through my nose into my stomach. I DID get my Ensure that night.

Overall, it was a good experience and did help me for quite awhile. However, that was many years ago and I have struggled and am still struggling with ed's now.
Give it a try. It may be just what you need. Hopefully, it will stay with you longer.

Sorry so long,
Gail