If you know anybody who has an eating disorder or have one yourself then please visit this website. It is designed to HELP people get over there illness and in no way promote eating disorders.
There is a chatroom, message forums, photo albums, advice plus lots more.

The site is run by people who have had eating disorders themselves.

Thanks xxx

http://groups.msn.com/Bulimicstogether/_whatsnew.msnw

My sister suffers from an eating disorder so thought I'd have a look at this sight, but was disgusted to find the following adverts or 'MSN Groups Sponsored Links' on the sight.

Slimming - Weight Watchers
Reach your healthy weight with WeightWatchers.co.uk. With new Switch, make small changes to your life, which can mean big changes to your weight. Now with... www.weightwatchers.co.uk

Slimming with the Daily Mail
The Daily Mail has teamed up with eDiets to promote healthy eating in 2005. Click here to receive a free diet profile and find out how you could start... www.edietsuk.co.uk

Slimming Pills.com
All-natural slimming pills that yield results. 100% safe and natural, guaranteed results and next-day delivery with UK orders. www.slimming-pills.com

I just don't think that these are appropriate adverts. People trying to deal with an eating disorder need to get away from such advertising and pressures to do with slimming, body image etc. These things are on their minds enough, without having to be subjected to it when they go to a site that is supposed to help them with their problem.

Im sorry to hear about your sister and I can assure you I dont want these adverts on my site.
I am currently trying to get msn to take these adverts off my site.
Sorry if it offended you.Good luck to your sister xxx

Don't worry I don't have a problem with with the site, I think it's really good apart from the adverts. I just think it's a bit sick that an obviously vulnerable audience has been targeted like that. Glad that you think the same.

Thanks for your opinion though, ur not the 1st to have comented and hopefully it will be sorted soon. xxx

to add to the topic - do you know anywhere in sheffield that does support groups for families of sufferers.

my sister too suffers and am unsure about the best way to help her and also (being selfish here) not to get too emotionally drained as well.

She is seeking help however i think i need to sort something out -the ups and downs of leave me a little drained to say the least!

If you dont would there be an opportunity to start one?, I am trained in group work so could lead one if anyone else is interested pm me.

emily

http://www.syeda.org.uk/

Hi All

This link is to the local support group. They have meetings for sufferers and their families. They can provide information, advice, email support, books, etc.

Hope it helps

Thanks three colours! I was going to suggest that link too! I know that there is an eating disorder centre somewhere near Bungreave in Sheffield and also that you can get counselling at St George's Hospital on Winter Street[across from weston park] but you may need a referal from your doctor.Good luck xxxxxxx

The thing that isn't immediately obvious to non-sufferers is that the disorder often isn't driven by food.

Bulemia is often a phsychological control defence and anorexia is the revulsion of food brought on by stress. Just to be really confusing, self image can be part of the real problem, though tackling other areas of dissatisfaction in somebody's life will bring about the cure - the 'eating disorder' curing itself in the process.

I saw a very interesting programme that demonstrated that anorexia is actually an addiction to chemicals produced in the sufferers own body, arising from a 'pavlov's dog' scenario.

No person in a burning building will ever be hungry. The body produces 'panic' chemicals to help us deal with stressful situations but which suppress appetite. In the sufferer, appetite suppressing chemicals are evoked by hunger. This means that an anorexic will effectively get high on being hungry.

F*** all to do with food, unfortunately :(

:( I work in an eating disorder clinic but it's private and you need funding from your local authourity to stay there. Please ring the EDA in the yellow pages for info, or ask your GP to be refered and get funding. You can get help dont rely on your family. Please stay positive until professionals get involved

had a look at the website and think I will go and take a look at the next meeting.

my sister is currently reading the getting better bit(e) by bit(e) plus seeing someone every other week. For her too it is not about the food itself but rather something she can control in her life. For me as a witness to her struggle it appears that unless you can see that it needs to be addressed then it will never be resolved.

My biggest fear with her is that she actually gets praise for being - so slim and toned and gets alot of looks and admiring stares. I am scared that she (has admitted this) rejoices in this and is and will make her be less inclined to stop.

Working with drug users (the model is similar not the people) the path of change is very much the same there must be a true desire to change rather than a passive agreement. without this and a realisation of the effects (usually meaning they have to reach rock bottom) then there is never really a move on mentally to do anything about it.

My sister had managed to stay binge free for 10 days maximum and then it all went wrong when her routine went out the window. She seems to improve and then fall right back down again heart breaking for me which is why i am definately going to the meeting.

Hi Emily, i really feel for you, it just goes to show what eating disorders can cause, heartache for more than just the sufferer.
I wish you and your sister, and the rest of your family all the best in her recovery xxxxx

thanks Sam

am spending tonight with her and will quite tactfully give her that website address you suggested.
x

Awww thankyou, I'll probably see her on there sometime then as Im the manager on there! You are welcome to join aswell if you need somebody to talk to and offer support.good luck xxx

Originally posted by Emilyp
My biggest fear with her is that she actually gets praise for being - so slim and toned and gets alot of looks and admiring stares. I am scared that she (has admitted this) rejoices in this and is and will make her be less inclined to stop.
I was in a martial arts class when a new 'large' 'lady' passed the really bitchy comment 'it's alright for you, being skinny' (and it was in a bitchy tone, not flippant)

Christ, the sparks flew! 'You can die a damn sight quicker from anorexia than you can from being fat', I seethed in a tone that suggested I would quite happily slit her throat. That altered her perspective PDQ.

I get sick of these 'persecuted' fat bitches (just the bitches, there are loads of cuddly nice people out there :thumbsup: )

Mod Note: Miniminch, this is not the place for your tasteless 'jokes'. Keep quiet unless you have something positive to add.

Thankyou Kristian :) :) :) xxxxxxx

[MOD NOTE] Thread re-opened after being trimmed. Eating disorders cause many people large amounts of distress and are frequently fatal - this is not a topic for jokes.

Thanks for that mods, hopefully it wont happen again xxxxxx

Originally posted by evildrneil
[MOD NOTE] Thread re-opened after being trimmed. Eating disorders cause many people large amounts of distress and are frequently fatal - this is not a topic for jokes.

Eating disorders are on a par with alcholism, probably worse such as bulimia is hard to spot. We should have more help for the sufferers.

Thanks Mick, i agree with that! xxx

Originally posted by Strix
The thing that isn't immediately obvious to non-sufferers is that the disorder often isn't driven by food.

Bulemia is often a phsychological control defence and anorexia is the revulsion of food brought on by stress. Just to be really confusing, self image can be part of the real problem, though tackling other areas of dissatisfaction in somebody's life will bring about the cure - the 'eating disorder' curing itself in the process.


This is so true. Anorexia and bulimia are emotional illness - In a sense, eating disorders are the sufferers solution to a problem, rather than being the problem itself. Very rarely is the disorder driven only by the desire to be thin. I remember hearing a speaker some months ago who described anorexia/bulimia as a means of substituting life's troubles and its unwieldiness for an easier state of being - not neccesary death, but a state close to it. Eating disorders allow those prople who, for whatever reason, can't deal with the world to slowly remove huge chunks of time - months, even years; during which sufferers can live 'safely' in this familar, unworldly state. Recovery is equally complex and individual - its not simply a matter of gaining the weight back, as some people may believe.

Your site is good Sam, I've been wanting someone to bring up something like this on the forum for ages, but I was too nervous to do so myself :)

Thanks to everyone who replied or joined the site!
I really hope this thread has helped some of you and will continue to do so. ;)

If anybody knows anybody that might find this helpful, please pass it on.

Thanks Sam xxx

Again, I found this old thread which i know will be out of date, but I guess the problem is still with us. SYEDA do a great job in Sheffield with (as usual) very little funding.
Do you know anyone who is affected by an eating disorder?

I was diagnosed anorexic many years ago, and sometimes I do still wonder if they were right. I never used to feel hungry, and the thought of eating used to make me feel sick because of the way food made me feel (bloated, even more sick) it also used to cause me major issues in the loo department, many days I used to get by on a slice of toast mum forced me to take to school with me, often only had a bite as I was walking out the door, the rest went in the hedge. The rest of the day I filled myself on drink and the odd chocolate bar.

What about the eating disorders that don't fit into the anorexia/bulimia boxes? I think disordered eating in general is such a common thing, people forget it's an illness. I had something like this a few years ago. I'd put weight on and went to see a nurse as you do to get contraceptive pills, knowing I was heavy and being a little sensitive about it. She was so cutting, it triggered off a diet that went from healthy and steady weight loss to obsessive eating habits. I stopped eating proper meals and often ate cereal for three meals a day, measuring food and obsession over counting 'points' to the point where all day I had a constant conversation in my head relating to how many 'points' I had and trying to not feel guilty. I found exercise as a way of getting rid of more calories until I had dropped 4/5 dress sizes or more in just over as many months.

People constantly complemented me because I didn't 'look like someone with an eating disorder'. I'm 5 ft 6/7 and at my lowest, a 6-8 so I looked very slim but not bony, unless you touched me and felt them. I was super-toned from the obsessive exercise and had offers of modelling work. But inside I was such a mess that whenever I looked in the mirror, I saw the 'fat' me and was permanently feeling myself for bits I could lose. Feeling for the bones became a comfort thing. Now and then, my brain let me see how skinny I really was, and it shocked me into disbelief and soon enough it was back to 'fat' mode. Like living in a hall of mirrors at the funfair, really.

Anyway, what I was going to say was that, apart from at the beginning, it was never about weight. It was about control and anxiety. I had just moved to uni, got myself a terrible boyfriend and clinged to the food issue as the one steady thing in my world. Disappearing slowly was incredibly exhilarating and satisfying, and on the occassion where I was confronted with it, I would be both furious and snap and be thrilled they could see I was ill. I think I was waiting for my parents and friends to say stop... we love you how you are... but it didn't come till it was too far on for me to just stop.

The eating thing died its own death and became compulsive eating, from which I think I am now more or less recovered and back to an average size. The depression I suffered that came with the eating disorder out-lasted it for a lot longer, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. The doctors were no help and on the one time I dared to ask for help, I was dismissed and this made it a lot worse, with terrible consequences.

I'd like to hope people reconsider their idea of what people with eating disorders 'look' like... More often than not, they look like you.

Fantastic post Carrie, and very informative. :thumbsup:

How are you now?

Fantastic post Carrie, and very informative. :thumbsup:

How are you now?

Thanks.... I thought twice before pressing the 'submit' button, but then I figured the people who judge you on such matters aren't people I'd care for anyhow.

I'm alright, thanks :) I still have food 'issues', but I think it's finding the elusive balanced approach to food I find difficult, but I think this might take some time and be an ongoing thing, as with anyone who has food-related anxiety. I don't know about anyone else who's felt like this, but I have my moments where I wish to 'borrow' my illness back for a quick-fix diet solution lol. But I know full well all the unwanted side-affects of doing so, and have held back. :)

For people who have been through this and are still going through this, I think the hardest thing to accept is that other people, on the whole, don't judge you on the basis of body image. Just because we have a preoccupation with it, doesn't mean they do and just because someone looks at you, it's not because you're the fattest/ugliest thing on the planet! I think other people are far more accepting of my flaws than I am.

My biggest fear with her is that she actually gets praise for being - so slim and toned and gets alot of looks and admiring stares. I am scared that she (has admitted this) rejoices in this and is and will make her be less inclined to stop.


I find this quite frightening as well, as I have a friend with a similar problem. People comment on how nice she looks when she is thin, when she clearly looks drained and ill. I worry that saying anything might decrease her self-esteem further and might make the problem worse or will make her think about her weight more.

I find the website quite informative as it explains the effects of the illness in a clear way. It is a good way of sharing experiences.. My only concern is that people with eating disorders sometimes make each other worse, because they all have a preoccupation with food.

Thanks.... I thought twice before pressing the 'submit' button, but then I figured the people who judge you on such matters aren't people I'd care for anyhow.

I'm alright, thanks :) I still have food 'issues', but I think it's finding the elusive balanced approach to food I find difficult, but I think this might take some time and be an ongoing thing, as with anyone who has food-related anxiety. I don't know about anyone else who's felt like this, but I have my moments where I wish to 'borrow' my illness back for a quick-fix diet solution lol. But I know full well all the unwanted side-affects of doing so, and have held back. :)

For people who have been through this and are still going through this, I think the hardest thing to accept is that other people, on the whole, don't judge you on the basis of body image. Just because we have a preoccupation with it, doesn't mean they do and just because someone looks at you, it's not because you're the fattest/ugliest thing on the planet! I think other people are far more accepting of my flaws than I am.

Very true!

I'm glad to hear things are looking up- it's sounds as though you have a very good attitude to recovery, and as with any illness/ disorder, it takes time. :)

Very true!

I'm glad to hear things are looking up- it's sounds as though you have a very good attitude to recovery, and as with any illness/ disorder, it takes time. :)

Thanks hun :)