Severity of Eating Disorders and Support for Recovery

Posted by Jeannie Delahunt Oct 20, 2008

Both women and men who are struggling with food issues are coming out of the closet and seeking treatment. Hurrah! Men are still having some difficulty, however. Plus, there needs to be eating disorder treatment facilities that cater just to men and their issues.

Many years ago, before Karen Carpenter, I was working as a ward clerk/hospital secretary in a community hospital. A young woman with an eating disorder died, because the doctors at the time did not know how to treat it. They focused on the medical aspects without focusing upon the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the problem. This incident never left me. Like a spectre it sought to haunt me later in my career.

When I worked as a substance abuse counselor, so many times eating disorders were a co-treatment issue along with the drug/alcohol addictions, or with abuse/rape/domestic violence and drug/alcohol addictions. All of those problems combined, for some patients, mirrored a future of lengthy therapy. This is a multifaceted treatment issue.

My own pet peeve is the emphasis from the media and advertising industries to push images of thin women and muscular men as being the only happy and successful people. There are so many silent, negative messages viewers internalize as a result that are harmful, especially harmful to the young who are not yet savvy to the world's manipulations--who are in the process of developing their self-worth.

However, what I hope to show, is, recovery is possible, no matter what the ingredients of the soup of diagnoses may be. If you are recovering from an eating disorder or dual diagnosis along with an eating disorder, please be encouraged to share. Even if you are wondering if you have an eating disorder, or someone you love is struggling with this condition, please share. Someone else may be helped because of the support.

As an appeal to those men who are suffering from or who are in recovery, what you share can help someone else. Though studies are showing it is still difficult for men to come forth, sometimes, risk taking is a good endeavor.

However, please note, conditions must be evaluated by trained people. Please, as in all instances, seek professional help. I am retired as a therapist.

Thank you.