How do I ask for help? (TRIGGS)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
How do I ask for help? (TRIGGS)
4
Fri, 08-13-2004 - 10:36pm
Hi, my name is Aria. This is my first time posting anything on a messageboard. Everyone on this board seems so kind and supportive so I was wondering if some of you could help me with something. First off, I'm 24 years old and I suffer from anxiety and depression. I also think i'm anorexic and bulimic. I starve myself alot and when I do eat I restrict my intake to less than 400 cal/day....I also force myself to vomit if I go beyond that and I also use laxatives so that I can always feel empty. I exercise excessively also. I hate that I am like this and I hate that it consumes my thoughts every second of the day. I know I need help....I just don't know how to get it.

I am currently seeing a psychiatrist for anxiety/depression, and I would really like to be able to ask her for help with my eating problems but I am not sure how to bring it up. She has asked me before if I had issues with my weight and I lied cause I didn't want her to think i'm a psycho.....but now I wish I had told her everything because this is eating me up inside and i'm so depressed because of it. Should I just tell her that I didn't tell her the truth or will she not want to treat me anymore because I lied? I'm in tears as I write this cause I know how badly I need help, but I'm afraid that my psych. won't want to help me after knowing I lied.

Any input would be greatly appreciated,

Thank-you all for listening,

Aria

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Fri, 08-13-2004 - 11:28pm
Hi, welcome to the board!! I think you should just tell your psych. you lied. She will understand. See, lieing is all part of an eating disorder, and since she is a psych. she is sure to know that. I sure she will understand and be very willing to help, that is her job, and if she isn't willing to help you, then you should def. find a new psych. I'm not an expert or anything, but thats just what I think. Sorry if it doesn't help much, but I wish you all my luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Sat, 08-14-2004 - 2:21am
I agree hon, your therapist will understand. Just let her know the next time you see her. Let her know how you feel and why you didn't tell her. Not only is it good to let it out, but then she will know how to go about treating you.

Come back anytime (o:

Hugs, Michelle

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2004
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 2:26am
Hi Aria,

I, too, am a 24 year old UC Irvine alumni currently working as a Biologist for a pharmaceutical company in Irvine, CA, with the intention of applying to medical school in the upcoming year. Let me begin by saying that your message really hits home, although I've been better able to keep my eating disorder under control for the past 6 years (through means which I'd be more than happy to share in hopes of inspiring positive change and rational thought). I completely understand the vulnerability, trust and self-deservation issues involved in opening up to people with whom you have no personal connection, as I never really got to the point where I felt that I could genuinely ask for help/discuss disordered health issues with others until some time after I stopped therapy and learned to identify those rare people with whom I felt completely safe and recognized as priceless "blessings in disguise." By no means are you "psychotic" in your thoughts (if anything, you are probably much more in-tune with the workings of the world than the average person, which, I believe, is a defining characteristic of those with eating disorders), nor would any psychiatrist consider you as such if you decided to tell the truth; if anything, I can only imagine that he/she would greatly appreciate your honesty and courage and be that much more willing to reach out to you/able to do their job. When you are truly ready to ask for help- ready on your *own* terms- your ability and desire to communicate will blossom and only great, soul-healing things will come of it; the sooner you are able to use your psychiatrist/time to your advantage, the sooner you will be able to move on with your life. I realize now that life is way too short to remain unhappy, as this is the only shot we've got. We must strive to be well, balanced, good people so that our time on earth is spent in the most beneficial and productive manner possible; in the end, only the weight of your contributions will count, not the weight indicated on a scale. Please feel free to let me know how you're doing and if I can be of additional help- I know how hard things can be to handle, but I also know just how wonderful life can be at the other end of the rainbow. All the best to you...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 08-16-2004 - 6:11pm

Hi Aria,


Love & hugs, Kristina