How to cope with an ED as a parent

[glitteringfishy]

I have anorexia. I also have a wonderful DS who is about to turn 2, who I am a full time mum to. The two things are not mixing very well. I am exhausted and at a loss as to how I am supposed to keep going. I suppose I am looking for others in similar situations, wondering if we could support each other? I started going to a local support group, but no one I have come across yet is a parent, and the online support group on the Beat website which I was advised to try seems to be all young people. Feeling pretty lonely with it all and thought perhaps there are others feeling the same. Worth a try anyway! (Fully prepared for this to go unanswered though!)

Hi OP
I am in the same boat but my DC are older and I am on the way to getting better (slowly).
Feel free to send me a private message.
You could try the ABC website for support, they offer a befriending service
www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/help-for-you

I can relate to this, it’s extremely hard. Motherhood in general is exhausting without throwing an eating disorder and all the problems that go with that into the mix. I don’t really have any words of wisdom, just that you’re not alone and it’s really hard. Xx

It's hard work! I have anorexia and am currently a day patient 4 days a week, it's been the hardest thing I've ever done but it has helped so much with energy and generally not being snappy with dd. Have you tried any treatment?

Thanks all for replying. Sorry that you are all struggling too, it does help to feel a bit less alone somehow though.

Tricky, I hadn't come across that website before so thank you for the link - I will have a look. Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery, however slowly, it sounds positive.

Thismum - thank you. Just validation of how exhausting it is and to know I am not alone is really helpful so thank you for replying. Hope your week has been ok.

kitty - I am so snappy with my poor DS too. It's horrible. I am on the waiting list for specialist treatment which should be starting in the new year. In the meantime I am getting worse and worse. My husband rang them in desperation this week but they cannot see me any sooner and said they can't see me unless I'm more stable in my mood anyway so I need to go to the crisis team. It's frustrating being passed between services and I fear I will end up hospitalised before they start treatment. I suppose they are just so overstretched. Did you have to wait long for your outpatient treatment to start? 4 days a week sounds quite intense, imagine it's exhausting but glad it sounds like it's helping you.

Hey all,

Sorry to hear about your struggles. I am 16 days post-partum and have struggled with anorexia and bulimia for almost 20 years. I didn’t struggle with my ED during my pregnancy, I was very careful with what I ate and exercised to keep my weight down but having had the baby I do feel pressure to spring back to shape. I’m managing it so far but have lost a lot of weight very quickly, not really through choice but because I’m just so busy I don’t always get time to eat.

I don’t want to pass my issues onto my daughter and am seeing a psychotherapist weekly to deal with my ED and a very damaging past relationship. Therapy helps me a lot. I struggle to talk to my friends and family due to their general lack of understanding and their “just eat” mentality so I’d definitely recommend therapy.

Happy to support anyone that needs someone to talk to (I’m not a therapist!)

No my treatment was all quite quick, was normal outpatient for 2 months then day patient, I started dp the week after I was referred.
It's hard and I've been going some beginning of June but definitely worth the hard work