Comments on: Active Ingredients

By: Theresa

Theresa — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:53:28 +0000

Thanks for getting back to me. I agree (and so did my therapist) about somebody living with with me, but unfortunately that isnt an option. I have many cats and dogs and my family members are allergic. And since I have been widowed for 2 years now the ED has really isolated me to the point of no new relationships. But thank you very much for responding. I always tell young people to deal with it then because this is noway to live your life. It really changes how you think over time. I never ever thought I would be like this. I am a nurse I should know better..tell that to the ed. So all you parents out there no matter how much you think your kids will hate you, you have to be the one. I really wish what I know now I knew 25 years ago. I have no one but myself and my brother and his family. I go there for dinner every other weekend but that just isnt enough. I will be the first to admit it I need someone in my face at times and you can only stay in the hospital so long. But on a positive note i am not giving up. I have almost dies 2 times now so there must be a reason I am around.This is truly a horrible disease.

By: wendy

wendy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:55:58 +0000

I agree with Carrie that this list is brilliant and that having a concrete timeline and plans/needs for each stage in recovery is really helpful for all family members and sufferers.

Where many clinicians get lost is the ongoing pursuit of motivation and insight too early in the treatment process.

What I’ve seen for my young adult daughter is that she really needed full nutrition, full time, and long term maintenance for her brain to heal and readiness for any insight-oriented therapy.

She has benefited from your structured approach with her for this process during brain healing and also for addressing comorbid disorders.

Timing is everything and finding the right approach each step of the way is what solidifies recovery/full remission.

You are a gem and I hope that other clinicians will read this and learn from you

By: Hans Stayner

Hans Stayner — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:03:40 +0000

This truly clarified my problem, thanks!

By: Dr. Ravin

Dr. Ravin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:19:31 +0000

Hi Theresa,

I believe that the most important element of recovery from AN, regardless of age or living situation, is full nutrition, full time. A person can have great therapy, dietician, medical backup, etc but none of those things will promote recovery in the absence of sustained full nutrition.

For adults with AN who live alone, I strongly recommend enlisting the help of a loved one – a parent, cousin, boyfriend, best friend, neighbor – to live with you during re-feeding (I’m talking 6 months or so) and provide meal support to ensure that you eat what you need to recover. Perhaps you could move in with a friend or family member temporarily, or they could move in with you.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:05:35 +0000

Any suggestions on what is helpful for adults who live alone with anorexia. Seeing therapist, dieticians, and doctor, but not getting anywhere. Actually had 2 therapist for a while.Sometimes I think it is hopeless..should have tried harder when I was younger.

By: Dr. Ravin

Dr. Ravin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:59:49 +0000

Amy,

In my experience, dieticians can be extremely helpful in some cases but unnecessary in others, depending on the treatment approach. I work primarily with children, teens, and college students in Maudsley Family Based Treatment (FBT). With my approach, parents choose, serve, and supervise all meals and snacks for the first few months of treatment, and I coach the parents on how to ensure that their child’s nutritional needs are met. So the parents and I collaboratively cover the nutritional aspect of treatment, making a dietician unnecessary.

Kelly,

If your daughter has regressed and she is actively symptmatic (restricting, bingeing, or purging), she would probably return to the start of my list. If she has had successful treatment before, though, she may progress more quickly this time.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:14:58 +0000

So well put! As for myself it is a day to day moment to moment kind of want to recover. I want to get better but so easier get overwhelmed by the whole thing I cave and give in. Unfortunately my insurance ill only allow me to go to one hospital for IP treatment and I dont think that is the right place for me. I cant afford the residential places although I truly believe I would benefit the most from that. The main thing for me is not to give up. I have had my disease for 25 years now and am ready to be with out it! Thanks for the in sight I will be sharing this with my family doctor too.

By: kelly

kelly — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:38:22 +0000

What if my daughter’s progress/treatment has been intermittent or gone backwards? Is there a way to tell where she’d be on your progression?

By: Amy Goldsmith

Amy Goldsmith — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:48:19 +0000

I like how you repeatedly state full nutrition, full time.I am a dietitian and work with Eating Disorder clients. I find it is imperative that client’s have a therapist or psychologist that they work with in addition to my services as well as a MD that I can collaborate with to evaluate labs etc. Oddly, I find there a a lot of therapists who do not work with dietitians. I’m not sure if this is because they don’t have the resources?

By: Carrie Arnold

Carrie Arnold — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:26:34 +0000

This list is brilliant! Perfect summary of what I’ve seen in my own recovery.

I think insight and motivation are overrated in the beginning stages of recovery. I never wanted to get better, and yet my disease is now in remission. You don’t need to want recovery to get better, but you do need to want recovery to stay better.

I think I need to blog on this later. <3