A few years ago, I would have slammed the treatment for eating disorders. I would have blamed my failed attempts at recovery on professional incompetence, medical ignorance – and the government’s failure to provide an adequate national health service.
A few years ago, I would have said that nobody could help me. When you’ve tried everything from inpatient to outpatient – via day therapy and 24 hour guard – within private, public and locked facilities; delivered by doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, specialists, hypnotherapists …well, you start to feel that all the options have been exhausted.
Today, I can say that the latter’s not true – and that I’m probably not milky white in relation to the former.
The treatment for eating disorders is not, as I’d liked to have believed, fundamentally flawed -
I didn’t really help myself.
The options may have been exhausted when I wasn’t willing to play along – but they kind of come to life when you actually take them on board. One-size-fits-all continues to offend me; but a little pick and mix treatment can work miracles-
– because the key to getting better is working out what helps you.
It’s taking a little bit from here and something from there; keeping the advice that makes the difference – and being able to leave behind the things that don’t quite do the job.
The only criteria for treatment to work is that you’re actually going along with it – and not sitting on the sidelines watching the professionals do all the hard work.
As I belatedly realised, recovery is not intended to be a spectator sport: it only works if you’re on the field – and you’re owning the goals.
If you’re looking for a little help along the way, visit the Getting Help links.
Tags: Treatment
