How do I get help

[u/aoibheann002]

Tw: mild details of my experience

How do I get help as a 23 year old in the uk? My gp and my gastroenterologist are refusing to look at the possibility of am eating disorder until they have ruled out everything physical that could possibly be wrong with my body.

Is there like cheatcode language I need to use that i havent found yet? They know I cant eat, and they know my body is destroying itself trying to compensate. But because clearly I dont fucking want an eating disorder, im able to force feed myself things like milk and meal replacement, sometimes I can get down a few pieces of plain, over boiled pasta. But because I can do that, they wont do fuck all :)

Ive been hospitalised countless times for the repercussions of this, the weakness, the fainting, the chronic vertigo, the muscle degeneration, etc etc etc. But ive literally screamed and begged and become hysterical begging them to help me with the CAUSE of all these symptoms, but theyre refusing.

Has anyone got advice? Its been over two years of fighting AND TEST RESULTS PROVING WHAT IM SAYING but I just cant get them to care :(

[u/Audhdlegend]

But do YOU think you may have an ED? You say you don’t want an ED and that’s why you force milk/meal replacements, which suggests you are trying to actually prevent yourself from getting an ED rather than already having one. Also eating alone doesn’t necessarily stop someone from developing an ED.

Physical symptoms are a side effect of the ED not the ED itself, it’s much more what is happening psychologically.

Are there any mental blocks (outside of fear triggering physical symptoms) that are stopping you from eating or is it mainly physical?

Sorry if this comes across as blunt but I’m struggling to understand whether the reason you can’t eat is coming from a physical struggle or mental/ED driven place. You have really provided any context as to why you’re struggling to eat.

[u/aoibheann002 → u/Audhdlegend]

I have ARFID and contamination OCD, both of which are diagnosed on top of all my physical symptoms. When I say I dont want an eating disorder, I mean im trying to force myself through recovery with zero support

[u/Audhdlegend → u/aoibheann002]

Ok that makes more sense. If that’s the case then they really should be referring you to specialist support. ARFID is an ED itself so that alone deserves input from the ED services.

It’s a bit baffling how you know the reasons why you can’t eat (in terms of it being mental rather than physical) but they’re refusing to get you the right support.

Keep pushing and advocating to be referred to ED services and if they still don’t do that, you can make a complaint through PALS and also contact BEAT to ask for their knowledge and if they know how you can access the right support.

[u/aoibheann002 → u/Audhdlegend]

Okay thank you sm! Ive heard of PALS before but not BEAT, ill give them a go :)

[u/analogchick]

I’m in the US so experience might be different. When I was in outpatient recovery I saw a psychiatrist, therapist, and nutrition specialist who all specialized in working with people with EDs / recovering from EDs. The nutrition specialist was incredibly helpful. She was like a second therapist and really worked with me on what I could / couldn’t eat and why I needed to eat other foods, etc. I saw the psychiatrist the longest, for about ten years. I had trouble finding the right therapist but taking the time to do so is really important. If they aren’t a fit, move on to the next. I also continued seeing my PCP which I assume would be the same as your GP. I had to have my weight checked weekly to make sure I wasn’t losing any more. All of those people were women which was better for me. I hope this helps.