Dear Readers,
Since Leaving the Beach is about a woman with bulimia–and I have a history of eating disorders myself–I thought it’d be a good idea to talk a bit about ways to get help if you or someone you love is suffering from one of these insidious diseases.
First of all, it’s virtually impossible to conquer EDs on your own. I owe my health and life to great therapy, without which I might not be sitting here typing.
In my case, when I finally accepted the fact that I needed and wanted professional help, I called the customer service number on my insurance card, and was referred to a list of therapists in my area who specialized in working with ED patients. At the time, I was lucky to have such good coverage, and also lucky to find a wonderful therapist who was taking new patients.
But it doesn’t always work out that way. Thankfully, there’s NEDA, the National Eating Disorders Association which can help with pretty much all aspects of EDs. NEDA has already helped millions of sufferers, and they reach out to millions more each year, campaigning for prevention, improving access to quality treatment, and working to increase funding for research that will lead to better understanding and treatment of eating disorders. NEDA works with partners and volunteers to develop programs and tools to help everyone who seeks assistance.
Need to learn about treatment options? Don’t have insurance, or are having issues with your insurer? Just need to chat with someone who can listen and provide accurate, helpful advice? NEDA is for you. Check out their extensive website here or call their toll-free, confidential helpline at 1-800-931-2237. the line is open Monday-Thursday from 9AM to 9PM (EST) and on Fridays from 9AM to 5PM.
I’m also very proud to say that NEDA has included my blog post about my struggle with bulimia on their website. You can view it here: Stories of Hope
Best of luck. Please remember that admitting to yourself that you have an illness is the first step to recovery. And talking about it with someone who can help is the second. After that, it gets easier!
Mary
MaryRowen.com 