Skip to main content
Forums Home
Illustration of people sitting and standing

New here?

Chat with other people who 'Get it'

with health professionals in the background to make sure everything is safe and supportive.

Register

Have an account?
Login

cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Something’s not right

Breeze
Contributor

Scared to trust professionals

Due to previous experiences I am terrified of opening up to drs or councellers,  my trust was horrifically betrayed and the results were extremely detrimental to me and its taken nearly 4 years to feel in some control but my anorexia is out of control and I know I need help as I'm nearing a weight I can be sectioned. 

How have other people gained confidence to reach out and believe someone is actually there to help when your mind is screaming its more dangerous than your current but self destructive behavior. 

I know other people have similar experiences but having an ed is such an isolating thing, I have alienated from all friends and my adult kids are concerned but I don't let on how things are as I don't want them to worry and its not the sort of thing a mum should put on their kids.

So many services are for under 25s with eds which is much needed but adds to the embarrassment of struggling at my age.

Sorry for the long post.

 

7 REPLIES 7

Re: Scared to trust professionals

@Breeze  Hi Breeze and welcome to the forum. Have you got a trusted gp? One that you can talk to about your fears regarding opening up to a psychiatrist or psychologist? I have been lucky so far and have had good professionals working with me both for my son2 and daughter and myself. 

 

Start one step at a time. Firstly with your gp then working up to seeing a psychiatrist and/or a psychologist. Be totally open with how this is impacting on you so that everyone is aware of your fears and concerns. As you say you don't want to leave it to the point where your are sectioned (no one wants that).

 

Keep in touch and above all take good care of yourself. Love peaxx

Re: Scared to trust professionals

@Breeze  Hi I really struggle with trusting professionals because of my experiences with them in the past which i wont go into but you are not alone in feeling like that and i know many others who feel the same way. I also feel for you in regards to the eating disorder there are hardly any services to begin with but most are for teens and then some for young adults if you are lucky and live in a major city and then there is basically nothing for people over 25. it really isnt ok that people have to deal with this lack of services but thats how it is at the moment. as far as trust goes is it possible to find a professional who will let you take the time to slowly build up trust naturally? I dont think trust can be forced and sometimes it does just require time. sorry that isnt much help. 

Re: Scared to trust professionals

Thankyou,  I  just feel so aline and scared at where I see I am heading again.

I've again spoken to Butterfly foundation and feel my frustration as the nearest help they can offer is well over an hour away.

When weakness and dizziness is an issue how can you drive 3 hours round trip to access help.

Moving to Melbourne is not an option for me or many others.  

I spoke to a gp which was terrifying,  he handed me a number and said if she can take you on come back for a referral,  'she' has not responded to multiple calls.

What do you have to do to get help? After 4 years being seriously controlled by eds you get very tired.

 

 

 

Re: Scared to trust professionals

Unfortunately it was a trusted gp who caused me much grief.
I dearly wish i could see the counselor who was helping me, we were msking progress but couldnt afford the travel and private practice fees, the only option in this area, no free specialist services.
My counselor tried referring and supporting a general counselor in seeing me but she broke down and said my issues were distressing to her.
Feels like I am to much for them so am just left to hopefully battle on completely unsupported.

Re: Scared to trust professionals

@Breeze  oh i am so sorry i really feel for you. I am 21 so did fit into the age bracket for the youth services in my home town but after seeing a private ed specialist who said i needed more intensive support the only 1 public program for adults said they wouldnt take me because I was too complex and they didnt want to have to deal with my other mental health issues. which left my only option to go to a private hospital 3 and a half hours away and after the horrible experiences i have had with hospital i refused to go. it is so hard there are a heap of services of depression and anxiety but step outside those issues and there is nothing and if you do find something you can be sure you will be paying for it, thats not to say even with depression and anxiety it isnt difficult to find help because it is but I find there are many more options than other issues mosty i think because they a probably the most relatable issues so the public is somewhat more interested. either way it is ridiculous that it is so hard to get help when you are trying so hard. I am sorry i dont have any good advice but do not feel so alone because i know of many in the same situation and we all feel your pain with you. 

Re: Scared to trust professionals

@Eden1919  thank you for your kindness, so sad that people who are asking and ready for help still cannot get it, I in no way meant to imply it is easy when you are younger and hooe it didn't come across that way. When you have an ed nothing comes easily.

 It is terrible that a young person would have to be treated 3 hours away , so far from family, friends and their support network.

I think i just take it on myself due to my own feelings of inadequacy that the suppoerts seem more aimed at younger people as  it feeds my own feelings of ' you should know better by your age' sort of thing, intelligent,  mature women should not succumb again and be weak, so when i hear places say we dont cater to your age it justifies and intensifies my own feelings of self despair at letting this happen again and still completely stuck over 4 years into this episode. 

 

When I am not so down on myself the truth is the most glaring, gender, age, other diagnoses, nothing should matter,  we need face to face support.

After my terryfying experience a few years ago when I was pretty much threatened with the police and seeing my children and did see a good councilor til i could no longer afford the cost I was diagnosed with PTSD,  chronic anxiety, anorexia and depression,  the depression and anorexia was all mine  the rest s direct result of complete mismanagement by eager but completely uneducated professionals,  they told me they had no experience at all with eds but were let loose on me and honestly believed threats, scare tsctics and telling me i was going to die would ' snap me out of it'.

I really hope you have been able to access the help you need now.

Re: Scared to trust professionals

@Breeze  you didnt come accross that way at all. and yes it is very hard to deal with "support gone worng". I am not sure if i have found the right support yet that is still to be decided. i hope you find help with this too. 

Illustration of people sitting and standing

New here?

Chat with other people who 'Get it'

with health professionals in the background to make sure everything is safe and supportive.

Register

Have an account?
Login

For urgent assistance