Hi,
Thanks to all the therapists who treat those of us with e.d.'s YOU are not to blame for the screwed up health system in the United States. The health care system has decided we are too tough to treat, too expensive to treat. We are not "cost effective." We take too long to get to recovery - if we ever get there at all.
I would never expect a therapist to treat me for free! While I'm out of the hospital and have moved after being with the same therapist for seven years, I'm in a city with a terrible health care system - much like any other city in the U.S. I'm using the skills I've learned from my previous seven years as I go from therapist to therapist looking for the "right fit." I don't need an e.d. specialist anymore, as food should never be discussed in a session anyway.
I applaud any therapist willing to work with those of us who have e.d.'s. You're taking on some of the toughest cases ever. I applaud you. How to get to the core issue of whether or not a person wants to live? I'm not sure how you can do that. I just know it takes a lot of digging into our feelings, a lot of listening, a lot of eye contact.
My particular awareness came when my potassium level fell so low that I could have gone into cardiac arrest. My primary care physician told me my laxative abuse had nothing to do with my low potassium level and "no," I couldn't go to the E.R. and get an I.V. "fix." Being on Medicare, my choice of physicians was very limited. I cried for the first time. I was scared for the first time. I wanted to live for the first time. I held my hand over my heart and prayed that it wouldn't stop - for the first time. I didn't want to die, but I didn't know how to live either. I got on the phone and searched for a hospital that would take a medicare patient of "my age." Not one hospital in the state of California would take me. I searched all over the U.S. and found one. I went in the hospital for two months and then stayed there for 7 years. I'm still on disablity, not ready for work, because I'm dealing with a change of meds. It's tough adjusting to a new city. I have to deal wih the state's health care system again. I blame the GOVERNMENT, not the therapist for my lack of available care.
So, those who are angry about the health care system, VOTE.
It takes a very special person to be an e.d. therapist. We are not "quick fixes." We take years and years of help. We are smart. When the "light bulb" goes off and we decide to live, we work our best and I know there is no greater satisfaction a therapist can have than to see a broken individual walk in and a whole human being walk out.
Thank you to all the therapists!
