The NHS is ill equipped for adult eating disorder?

[Disneydatknee88]

My mum has had a binge eating disorder her entire life. She is turning 60 this year and is still stuck in that starve binge cycle. Honestly her head is a mess. She has had panic attacks in the supermarket over food labels, been on every diet under the sun and has admitted to eating food out of the bin after trying to throw food away to stop a binge and literally diving into the bin after it. She's been on and off some AA style diet program for binge eaters but it is so strict. She goes on and off it all the time and has mental breakdowns over it frequently. After another rock bottom moment she has finally reached out to nhs and been referred to the eating disorder clinic. They have given her a diet plan (which she sent to me) that clearly states for girls ages 11+ and it is NOT a healthy meal plan at all. It's like double portion breakfast, 2 snacks a day (scotch pancakes or biscuits??) And scoops of ice cream for dessert. It looks more like a diet plan designed to make an anorexic gain weight. How can they give this to a binge eater with no control over portions? AIBU to think NHS are severely lacking when it comes to understanding eating disorders in adults?!

The NHS is ill equipped to deal with any form of mental health condition, they barely manage life saving treatment right now.

YABU

Have you done any research, even the most basic Google search, on what the psychology is behind the eating plan and assistance to recovery?

Have you asked your mother what she was told about the purpose of the eating plan in aiding her recovery?

If you've done neither, it may well be a good idea to do both.

Exactly. I've worked with EDs and yes - meal plans for binge eaters who starve themselves do deliberately contain some high calorie snacks and deserts. The idea is to teach the person to have a normal serving of ice-cream and neither to feel guilty nor to finish the tub.

YANBU
Assuming that a struggling 60 yr old with a chronic, lifelong mental health condition will recover independently using a pre-prepared meal plan with no other support is in my opinion unreasonable.

@BurntoutPanda

Where does the OP say the eating plan is the sole support being provided? Or, even, that was all that was offered and declined by patient?

What do you believe would be appropriate/acceptable for someone with an eating disorder?

I’ve had therapy for BED on the NHS and it was absolutely life changing. I will never shut up about the difference if has made to my life.

I think rather than airing all your negativity (and thus giving your mum an excuse to disengage) you should encourage her to trust in the process and do what they’re telling her.

”Healthy diet” comes later/post treatment - in the early stages the focus is on NOT restricting/dieting at all. She will also have concurrent therapy and her therapist will challenge some of her fixed ideas about good/bad food, encourage her to acknowledge and sit with the negative feelings that she uses food to squash and eventually if she engages fully she should be able to break the association between feeling bad/anxious/sad/stressed and needing food to comfort herself.

I’ve been supporting a friend who has twice been brave enough to admit to the GP that she has been making herself sick - under investigation for constant vomiting, they have tried various medications, she even had a stomach camera under 2 week wait to check nothing more sinister when in reality she was the cause. Neither time has the GP made any reference to eating disorder despite weight loss etc. I’ve sent her links but it seems like because she’s a women in her 30s this just isn’t on their radar for supporting and hearing what she’s saying

@ZealAndArdour

I'd find it bizarre, to say the least, if someone with BED was seen by MH services and nothing other than an eating plan was provided. Even more bizarre that it would be offered without any explanation of the purpose/intent of the plan.

I completely agree with you. I think anyone with any condition that requires effort/input from the them to achieve a goal, really needs the wholehearted support of their family, friends, colleagues etc.

Yanbu. Early last year, my doctor eventually referred me to an NHS ED clinic who assessed me over the phone, said I was low risk and emailed me a pdf on anorexia. That was it. I can't stop it and it's been getting worse.

I was given a black and white print out and told to use mouthwash lots, I ended up seeking treatment privately (which I was very lucky to be able to afford), I was put on the waiting list for talking therapy, after 18 months I was offered three 30 minute sessions. If I had had to wait that long without any treatment I very much doubt I would have even made it to 18 months.

YANBU - the NHS is woeful for treating mental health conditions. There was a thread earlier this weeks saying if people can afford a holiday they can afford to pay for help to treat their mental health. They shouldn't have to! But with our current government I don't think MH services will improve any time soon.