Eating Disorder

Hey,

I am due to go to university in september '07, but I am worried about what this will mean for my eating disorder which I have suffered with for around 3or 4 years. You see, my ed always seems to get a lot worse around exams for some reason, and I'm afraid that after my big A2 exams, and then the stress I know I'll suffer from leading up to the resuults, coupled with the stress of moving away to uni, leaving everything behind, settling in and making new friends etc will just blow my eating disorder to extreme and make it, well, extremely bad. Also, when I leave for uni, I'm going to have to leave my councillor behind, and I don't know what I'm going to do without that support there.

I just don't know how I'm going to cope (or whether I'll cope) at uni with this. I want to do well so badly and just enjoy uni, but I'm afraid that once get there, the eating disorder will take over and I shan't have any control over getting out of it or pulling myself through. Also, I'm afraid that I just won't even bother to buy myself food, and so just not eat. It really terrifies me. I don't want to screw up uni.

Any advice, anyone? :confused:

Reply 1

Angrybanana

11

hi, sorry to hear you're so worried about this. Most unis have a counselling service so as soon as you arrive (or maybe arrange it before you leave) drop in and see them, explain your problem and hopefully they'll set you up with another councillor to see there regularly. Life will always throw up stressful situations like the ones you've mentioned so the best thing you can do to get through it without relapsing into your ed is to be as organized and prepared as possible for absolutely everything in your life, as this may help you have a sense of control without exercising it over food. Remember you only live your uni years once, so please don't worry, make it your goal to get the most out of it and enjoy yourself especially if you've had such a tough time so far. Good luck x

Reply 2

lizibeth

8

is there anyway of keeping in contact with this counciller like a phone call once a week to make sure things are going fine, or you could try and find someone else suitable before you go so you know there will be someone there to help form the start. you could apply for catered accomidation as then you wont have the problem of not buying food. i think oyu should try not to worry too much about everything as this is abviously making it worse (easyer said than done i guess!!) but im sure youll make some great friends who could give oyu support if you ask for it. you never know who you are going to meet and what is going to happen, so just enjoy your time. hope this help and good luck with your exams and stuff!! :biggrin:

Reply 3

bronsonbear

1

Anonymous

Hey,

I am due to go to university in september '07, but I am worried about what this will mean for my eating disorder which I have suffered with for around 3or 4 years. You see, my ed always seems to get a lot worse around exams for some reason, and I'm afraid that after my big A2 exams, and then the stress I know I'll suffer from leading up to the resuults, coupled with the stress of moving away to uni, leaving everything behind, settling in and making new friends etc will just blow my eating disorder to extreme and make it, well, extremely bad. Also, when I leave for uni, I'm going to have to leave my councillor behind, and I don't know what I'm going to do without that support there.

I just don't know how I'm going to cope (or whether I'll cope) at uni with this. I want to do well so badly and just enjoy uni, but I'm afraid that once get there, the eating disorder will take over and I shan't have any control over getting out of it or pulling myself through. Also, I'm afraid that I just won't even bother to buy myself food, and so just not eat. It really terrifies me. I don't want to screw up uni.

Any advice, anyone? :confused:

You kniow, the fact that your even thinking about all of this is really impressive! In the way that you know what your triggers are, and you are trying to prepare yourself for the times when you know it's gonna be tough.

My advice, for what is's worth, is to atack your triggers at the source.

Your ED gets worse at exams because of stress. try really hard to minimise stress; get your family/friends to rally round you and pile on the encouragement, give you quiet space to revise in etc. Also pile on the rewards: If you enjoy going to the cinema, go at least one a week, or do some other stress busting activity.

Stress from leading up to results: this is really hard, but you juts have to try really hard to forget about them. it is acctually a lot easyer once they're over, most people think: 'well, thats that, I did my best with what i knew on the day, now i just have to wait.'
Your friends will prob being going through the same thing anyway: use this time to have some fun, go on a comping trip, do loads of stuff togther. You could try throwing yourself into somwething like cooking for your family, or gardening (nice time of year!), juts make sure its fun, not stressful.

Going to uni, settling in and making new friends: some poepl really love this but for other it is hard. Before you go, make sure you know all the places you can go at your uni for help, your personal tutor, the student councellor. in fact, a good idea would be to phone the councellor/s up before-hand and let them now about your eating disorder; that way they'll know and they look out for you/support you, and they'll also be able to offer some realy good advice, as they probably know hundreds like you who they've helped through the same thing!

Well, after all that waffle, I hope you do really well in your exams; you sound like the sort of focused and prepared person who will do really well!
Good Luck
b.bear

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

Anonymous

Hey,

I am due to go to university in september '07, but I am worried about what this will mean for my eating disorder which I have suffered with for around 3or 4 years. You see, my ed always seems to get a lot worse around exams for some reason, and I'm afraid that after my big A2 exams, and then the stress I know I'll suffer from leading up to the resuults, coupled with the stress of moving away to uni, leaving everything behind, settling in and making new friends etc will just blow my eating disorder to extreme and make it, well, extremely bad. Also, when I leave for uni, I'm going to have to leave my councillor behind, and I don't know what I'm going to do without that support there.

I just don't know how I'm going to cope (or whether I'll cope) at uni with this. I want to do well so badly and just enjoy uni, but I'm afraid that once get there, the eating disorder will take over and I shan't have any control over getting out of it or pulling myself through. Also, I'm afraid that I just won't even bother to buy myself food, and so just not eat. It really terrifies me. I don't want to screw up uni.

Any advice, anyone? :confused:

I can wholly empathise with you. Before I was due to go to University in 2006 I panicked...I allowed myself to get entirely wrapped up in the stress of exams and the fear of University; meeting new people, what would they think of me? This led to crashing into anorexia nervosa.

It resulted in my withdrawl from University before I had even gone. It left me stranded and scared at home, unable to admit I had a problem. Please, continue to seek help - I've had hardly any (i'm still in the early stages of treatment) and I already feel so much stronger.

You CAN do this. Afterall, it's the thinkers and the socialites that worry too much and get these disorders - you have no need to worry! I know I panicked about food - I kept thinking about how I could just survive on less and less and less and that I'd be okay. No way. That laid me up in bed fatigued and unwilling to move or to engage with the world.

Contact the University about counselling - there will be so much support there (wherever you go) which can help you.

Good luck :smile:

.

Reply 5

Anonymous #3

Hey, Im sorry to hear you are having such a tough time because I suffered with exactly the same problem from the age of 15 to 19. Please, please try and seek help and beat it before you go because it can totally ruin your life & your education. it does take a lot of strenght to beat it but I promise you, you can! For me, it was my boyfriend who sorted me out. We have been together two and a half years and the constant love and support pulled me out of the darkest time of my life! I suggest the best thing to do is reach out to the person you trust the most in your life and get them to help you through. You don't want to end up like me with digestion & circulation problems forever!!! Uni is tough because you do have to feed yourself which is why its SO important for you to get help now! Go for it!!!

Eating Disorder

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