Without your advice, I would never have got help for my eating disorder

09/10/2021

DEAR DEIDRE: WITHOUT your advice, I would never have got help for my eating disorder.

I contacted you about my bulimia – something I had never discussed with anyone before.

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I’m a 31-year-old man and started making myself sick when I was 16.

I was attacked by a group of local boys for being overweight on the way home from school one night, which left me seriously traumatised.

In a bid to lose weight quickly, I began forcing up most of my meals. This went on for almost 13 years.

But then one of your counsellors recommended I reach out to Beat, a charity helping people with eating disorders.

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It changed my relationship with food. My GP also referred me to an eating disorder specialist.

I’ve got a long way to go but my relationship with food is far healthier. You gave me my life back.

DEIDRE SAYS: I am so glad you were able to get the help you wanted and needed.

Talking about these struggles is often the first step, so you should be proud of yourself for making the decision to take back control.

Good luck with the rest of your recovery.