"I feel supported and safe"

I have had an eating disorder for around 10 years now and have had lots of attempts at recovery.  I first went to day service early last year. I made more progress than I ever have done before. With the support of the day service staff, the programme or therapies and the other clients using the services, I reached a healthy weight, my feelings about my body began to improve and I learned how to eat with more freedom and flexibility than I ever have done before. 

Unfortunately I relapsed later that year. I was in a terrible place mentally and physically and things were going downhill fast. I was living in a different county at the time and felt as though every mental health service, including specialised eating disorder services, I approached  was unable to help me. I felt given up on, abandoned and with no hope of recovery. My partner, who was caring for me at the time, and I were growing more and more desperate, feeling alone and unable to cope. I was living away from Mum and Dad at the time and they were really worried about me and my partner too.

My dad contacted Sheffield Eating Disorder Service and they listened to his concerns and took them seriously. I moved back to my parents and was seen within a couple of weeks of the referral to Sheffield ED Service being made. I was accepted back onto the day service programme soon after that. I learned later that the staff at Sheffield ED Service had gone to considerable effort to quickly get the funding for my place on the programme, which was complicated by the fact that I was living in a different county.

The staff at Sheffield Eating Disorder Service acknowledged how poorly I was at this time and took us seriously. This was a massive relief to me and my family after I had been turned away by so many other services. I began to feel like there might be a bit of hope to carry me forward.

I was scared about returning to day service and I had a lot of fears and anxieties, but I have started working through these. The staff have involved my Mum and Dad in my treatment and have enabled me to hand over control of food and eating to my parents until I am a bit better. I feel supported and safe when I am at the day service and no longer feel like I have been given up on and abandoned.