Struggling to get help in the UK

Not really sure where to start so I apologise if I go on a bit, After years of dieting and struggling to keep the weight off I am now bigger than I've ever been and have came to terms that I have a problem. I SUFFER WITH BINGE EATING DISORDER. I'm 32 and live in Scotland in the UK yesterday after many times going to see a Doctor about my weight I went to ask for help, after breaking down and becoming very emotional I was told that unless I am Belemic or suffer from Anorexia I would not get any counselling. I would only be helped with my weight if it got so bad that I suffered from diabetes, bad asthma, heart disease or such and basically it's all down to will power. So having went for help and coming out feeling worse than I had done before of course I went into the first shop I could find and bought junk food. I have tried so many different diets but would even on weight watchers I would save all my points up for the evening and eat as much as I could in one sitting although diets never lasted for long because the urge would take over, I feel I have no control and now struggle to ever feel full. I need help!! Luckily I have great friends/family who I've been able to talk to about this but they don't know how to help either. Looking back I have had this problem longer than 13 years as I remember when I first lived on my own I'd have a biscuit tin full of sweets that I'd keep well stocked up for when I felt the need to binge. I have read that cognitive behaviour therapy is what I need and am going back to the Doctor next week in the hope that they will listen but until then I wanted to post on here as even writing about it has made me feel better. I can't promise I'll not binge but knowing there are other people out there with the same problem has given me great comfort. Thanks for taking the time out to read this, I would love to hear from anyone who has advise or can share experiences.

Kudos to you for getting help, and talking with people about this. This is such an isolating illness, and you have more guts than I do.

My binge eating has been a lot better over the last year or so because I came to a realization. I realized that I am not a pig, or greedy, or a fat, out-of-control girl. I have an eating disorder, and I need to be more patient with myself. At this point beating binge-eating became my #1 health priority. Even though I wanted to lose weight, I stopped doing diets like WW and Atkins because those diets are for losing weight, and will not help with binge-eating. I know it is difficult, but I think the best advice is to set the weight loss goals aside for a month or two and JUST work on decreasing the frequency, intensity and duration of binges. This approach has worked for me, and I have lost weight anyways, while eating ice cream in moderation and going out to eat as well!

Thank you so much for taking the time out to reply to my post it really means a lot. Being more open about my problem has really made a difference in the last few days. I'm still eating more than I should but have managed to overcome the urge and have been able to eat less. Good for you for having control and losing weight. I hope to be saying the same in a few months

That's terrible! I think you ought to complain. Binge eating is a psychiatric disorder, just as anorexia and bulimia are. You should never have been spoken to like that or denied counselling.

I am also in the UK and the GP I mentioned it to didn't seem to understand and suggested I eat low GI foods. :/ Then again, that GP's not good with mental health problems, and I've gone down the self-help route now rather than seeing another GP.

I am also trying a programme where the focus is just to stop binge eating -no dieting! If you can stop binging, you are doing more to help your weight problems long term. Dieting just creates more stress and weirdness about food and encourages binging.

Exercise could be good if you're careful not to overdo it and become bulimic. I want to get into doing more exercise because it's good for mental health and pretty much everything as well as weight loss.

Hey, you can help yourself you know.. by going deep inside yourself and understanding what made you begin to binge eat: was it something from the past? did kids laugh at you at school? was it your parents? was it someone else that prompted you to eat...

then, you need to understand that you are responsible for your own life. i know it sounds harsh but it is first step. just say - i am responsible for my binge and i am willing to see things differently.

we get these disorders so we can wake up and realise who we TRULY are! more than just a body. you are an eternal soul living in your body and you body is just a vessel to help you to carry your message. your body is just a helper. your mind is a destroyer, because it keeps on coming back to the old stories and reliving them now - hence making you reach out for food because you are probably living a story and thinking 'i am not good enough'; 'i am unworthy'; i am small. so you subconsciously try to bigger yourself up and fix yourself - hence you binge...

binge eating is nasty, horrible, terrible place to be stuck at. i have been in that place for over 20 years and i know how it feels.. my only advice is start practicing spiritual practice - and i am not saying go to church or read bible.. you do not need that. my spiritual practice i mean connect to your soul - you know all the answers. your soul is longing to be talked to - this is why you have binge... you got disconnected from your real self and real purpose... but hey - once you realise that you open the door for healing.

i am doing video blogging about my recovery and i share my story on youtube. so check it out - my user name is freeyoursoulfromfood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWaTCHTGvTo

love and light xxx

J

Hi, I'm new to this forum but have already posted quite a lot as I can relate to so many people on here. I live in Wales and in 1999 I first went to my doctor to say I have a problem with eating. At that point I had been anorexic for around 5 years but since leaving Uni I had moved into binge eating and then I really wanted help. Nothing happened-I can't even remember what the doctor said to me but I was going travelling the next week so I just thought change of circumstance and no stress of exams, work etc I will be fine. The BED carried on for years. I next went to the doctors back in Wales in 2003 and was told in about 2 minutes that I was depressed. I was like, I'm not depressed, the eating makes me depressed but I do not want to take anti depressants! I carried on with my life and went again in 2007-this time I was seen by a doctor who had recently qualified. She actually video recorded the session but I got nothing from it, no phone call, no follow up, nothing. So last year at the end of my tether I went to the same doctor's practice but saw a different doctor and thankfully I had this absolutely lovely male doctor who actually listened to me and he referred me to the eating disorders unit in my local hospital. I have to say that I was not anorexic or bulumic nor underweight or overweight so there is help out ther eyou have to go back and ask to be referred. It took around 4 months for my initial appointment to come through and I'm by no means cured now but I was lucky enough to get the help and I'm trying to fight the daily battle. I also managed to find an eating disorder group (through the offical Eating Disorders site) in my area and have been there twice..Maybe there is more help in Wales but I hope that Scotland soon follows suit-please be patient and good luck!!