In my opinion (which comes from personal experience) the best professional support will come from persons who have training in eating disorders and understands the issues and challenges that come from the ED – the most important of all.
When searching for a Therapist/Counselor/Psychologist/Psychiatrist look for a specialist in eating disorders. Having knowledge of CBT, DBT, or other evidence-based therapies can be extremely beneficial to you in this journey. Psychiatrists are the only professional who can prescribe medication if they believe there is a medical reason for it. The people you choose should be willing to work with any of the other professionals on your team if they feel there is a need to do so. A true professional will not do this behind your back, but rather discuss their reasoning for such an action with you. Remember, anyone in the support team must have written permission from you to do so. Whether you grant that type of permission is totally up to you. I would highly recommend you do so so that you can receive the complete help you may need. These persons usually know what we need better than we ourselves do.
A nutritionist with experience in eating disorders can help with meal planning and rebuilding a healthy relationship with food. They will be there to help you find tools to deal with your issues and relationship with food. They will guide you with tips, ideas and a meal plan that you NEED, though not necessarily what you want.
Your medical doctor will be able to schedule and provide regular check-ups ensure physical health that needs to be monitored during recovery. In the beginning of your recovery this may be weekly, however as your body becomes nutritionally healthy this may decrease. If your weight is too low you may have to go through a process known as refeeding. Trying to do refeeding by yourself can be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, which is another reason, if at all possible, that you choose a medical doctor who is familiar with and educated in eating disorders. Your doctor should also run regular blood work to ensure your system is not experiencing issues due to the process of refeeding. They should be willing to listen to your medical concerns and help to alleviate them with reliable information.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I know and believe that those of us who suffer from an ED of any type can beat it. It is hard work and at times feels impossible; but I am sure it is a goal that is obtainable to all of you out there.
KEEP YOUR CHIN UP! Take baby steps towards your recovery, put one foot in front of the other and know, with a capital K, you CAN do it. Even if you can’t see it now, the world needs you!
Wings of Recovery 