This information is intended for those who think they may have an eating disorder and who wish to attend their family doctor or a general practitioner for help. It is also for people who may be seeing a counsellor or other professional who has asked them to attend their GP. It will inform those who are concerned about someone close to them, perhaps a daughter or a son, a partner or a friend, and who may wish to accompany that person on a visit to the doctor.
Recovery from an eating disorder begins with the recognition that the condition has taken control of your life or is in the process of doing so and with the realization that you need help to enable you to start working towards getting better.
The process of recovery involves getting help with the physical/medical aspects of your disorder as well as the emotional/psychological dimensions. Your GP or family doctor is the best person to consult initially. S/he may need to refer you to other sources of help, but in order to be in a position to make a diagnosis and to devise a treatment plan your GP will first of all want to establish your medical and psychological status.
It is not uncommon for a person struggling with an eating disorder to feel ashamed of their symptoms, and to deny some of them. If you can share your fears and tell your doctor how you feel, it can help you to create an atmosphere where you will feel safe and be better able to express your apprehensions, ask questions and be more open in describing what you have been experiencing.
First of all your doctor will most likely ask you about what has been happening in your life, particularly in the recent past. S/he may ask you about your family and may want to take a full medical history. S/he may then decide to give you a thorough physical examination. This may include taking your temperature, checking your weight, height, heart rate and blood pressure.
Blood and/or urine tests may be required. These can provide vital information to assist your recovery. Bone density and ECG tests are also sometimes recommended.
Having established your needs and discussed them with you, your doctor can then decide how best your needs can be met. S/he may refer you to one or more of the following: a counsellor or psychotherapist, a psychologist, a nutritionist or dietician, or a psychiatrist who specializes in eating disorders. A referral to a pediatrician may be required in the case of children and younger adolescents.
It is important to understand that most, if not all, of the medical/ physical changes brought about by eating disorders are reversible over time. The sooner you can begin to engage with treatment, the sooner this process can begin. Going to your doctor is the best way to get started. Try to remember also that the sooner you get started, the better the outcome.
Finding a GP:
See the Bodywhys National Directory of Service Providers for contact details of some GPs with experience of working with eating disorders.
Comprehensive lists of GPs can be accessed in the national directories available on the following websites:
www.icgp.ie www.irishhealth.com www.healthhub.ie
Further information can be found in the following books:
Anorexia Nervosa, A Survival Guide for Families, Friends and Sufferers, Janet Treasure, Psychology Press, 1997 (Chapter 11)
Eating Disorders, A Parents' Guide from the Greater Ormond Street Hospital Eating Disorders Clinic, Rachel Bryant-Waugh and Brian Lask, Penguin, 1999 (Chapter 6)
Counselling and psychotherapy are often referred to as the "talking therapies" or "talking treatment". The terms Counselling and Psychotherapy are often used interchangeably and similar skills are used in both. Counselling is a process in which a person is supported to explore their difficulties and to work towards change.
What does counselling involve?
Counselling usually involves committing to a series of regular sessions of about an hour in length over a period of time. The relationship between you and your counsellor is confidential. The counsellor endeavours to create an environment in which you can feel respected, accepted and understood. The counsellor’s role is to listen and to help you clarify what is troubling you. Counselling requires you to be open to exploring feelings, thoughts, beliefs and behaviours. Counselling provides you with an opportunity to gain greater awareness of your individual circumstances and to identify choices that will facilitate change. The counsellor’s role is to support you through this process of change.
How does it work?
The counsellor is trained to listen in a way that is accepting and non-judgmental. The aim is to allow you the freedom and the space to express thoughts, beliefs and emotions that you might not feel able to express to your family, partner or friends. Bringing unexpressed thoughts and emotions to the surface can sometimes be distressing. The counsellor’s role is to create a climate that enables you to express your feelings in safety and to accept them as part of yourself. The counsellor may also help you to look at the thoughts and beliefs underlying your feelings and emotions. This can help you to gain an understanding of your present behaviour and to get to the root of problems. It can help to provide you with a greater sense of control over your life and empower you to make growthful, life-enhancing choices as you move forward.
Some facts about counselling:
Further Information:
Information about different approaches to counselling/ psychotherapy:
The booklet A Guide to Psychotherapy in Ireland (Columba Press), produced by the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (see below), contains a section on approaches to psychotherapy or visit www.rcpsych.ac.uk
Information on cognitive behavioural therapy:
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk
Information and lists of accredited practitioners may be obtained from:
N.B. Low cost counselling: If cost is a problem, this should be mentioned when making enquiries as some of the databases include details on sliding scales, low cost options, payment on the basis of a donation, etc.