I just gave a friend the number for the eating disorder hotline. Hopefully I can help her save her life. She’s been bulimic for 7-8 years and she is an alcoholic and she smokes everything smokeable. It’s really sad and I hope she can get the help she needs.

I’m sorry about Gil, bless her. A likely explanation is that she can’t have her phone with her in hospital – especially in ICU, because it interferes with the equipment. And if she’s in ICU she’s unlikely to be in a state that she cannot communicate well – i’ve been in ICUs a number of times in the past visiting my mum, and it wasn’t common to see people talking.

I’m having real problems finding treatment for many of the girls i work with and/or am friends with, and can’t find any for myself either. I was wondering if you had any ideas of websites that may help?
Lack of insurance coverage (in the US), lack of funding for NHS psychiatric services (in the UK) and co-existing mental health issues (severe depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and personality disorders) complicating problems are the main issues people are facing when they want recovery.
I’ve lost count of the number of girls with eating disorders who are trying to starve themselves enough to reach an anorexic weight because only anorexics are getting any treatment, and even then the ‘treatment’ is simply dangerous refeeding with no therapy alongside, worsening the problem even more.

It’s no wonder girls are turning to proanorexia websites for support, as there’s so little help elsewhere, especially considering the complexity of the problems. And there’s only so much support a proanorexic site can give.

If you have any suggestions of websites or help, please email me at king_josie@hotmail.com.

Joey