| Lorna,
how did you feel, when you first found out you had anorexia?
|
| At
first I didn’t believe it and kept asking why. I didn’t understand
why I had to have it. I didn’t believe I could get it, it never
happens to people like me. Other people get these conditions,
not me. I didn’t believe I could get anorexia because I thought
I was fat. |
 |
| Why
do you think you developed an eating disorder? |
| There
were problems in my family and I was being bullied at school.
Anorexia was the easiest thing; it was something I could control.
|
|
| Did
you know you had anorexia? |
| No.
I’d had it a year before doctors told me I’d got it. I felt
not eating was normal so I ignored my friends who told me I
had a problem. |
|
| How
did others react? |
| My
parents were devastated and blamed themselves. My friends stayed
as supportive as they’d always been. |
|
| How
could others have helped? |
| Before
I found out they could have persuaded me to eat more and just
support me all the time. After I found out they could have given
me more of a push. |
|
| Do
you have any advice for others in your position? |
| Listen
to the people around you, they’re telling you for your benefit.
The longer you have the problem, the harder it is to stop. Most
importantly, don’t look at models and celebrities and think
you’re fat. |
|
| How
did they help you in the clinic? |
| They
watched me for the first few weeks to see how I’d cope. They
gave me information on food and counseling about food and my
family to find out what the main problem was. At meal times
they talked to me to distract me from the food and they treated
me like a member of the family. |
|
| How
did doctors discover you had anorexia? |
| They
weighed me twice per week and realised I was underweight. When
I stopped eating completely they realised it was serious. |
|
| What
was it like being around people with the same condition as you? |
| It
was helpful. We all understood each other and were able to share
good and bad times with each other, which was helpful. |
|
| Jenny,
16, has seen Lorna all the way through her condition and saw
Lorna while she was receiving medical help. Out of everybody
in our group of friends, Jenny and Lorna are closest and so
Jenny has agreed for me to interview her, because she knows
more about Lorna’s condition |
|
| Were
you aware that Lorna had an eating disorder before doctors confirmed
it? |
| Yes,
because she wasn’t eating and she was very thin. |
|
| As
a friend, how did you feel when she wasn’t eating? |
| I
was obviously concerned but frustrated because she wouldn’t
eat and we could see she had a problem.I
bought her dinner for her and told teachers she wouldn’t eat
so they could talk to her. We also tried nagging her but it
didn’t work. |
|
| How
did you react to her condition? |
|
I tried to help and be sympathetic. |
|
| How
did you feel when Lorna went into the clinic? |
| I
was upset but pleased because it meant she could get help. I
guess I was relieved more than anything. |
|
| How
do you feel now she’s out? |
| I’m
really happy because it means she’s better. |
|
| What
would you like to see Lorna do for the future? |
| I
want her to stay healthy and keep eating. |
|
| Have
you any advice for people whose friends are anorexic? |
| Be
supportive and don’t lose patience. Try and tell someone and
make sure they know you’re there. You’re their friend so keep
supporting them and don’t leave them. |
|
| The
two most important people to support Lorna through her condition
were obviously her parents. Lorna’s parents were very supportive
and visited her as much as possible while she was in the clinic.
This is their story… |
|
| How
did you find out Lorna had an eating disorder? |
| We
found out through school as they noticed before we did. We noticed
at home afterwards, it was then we realised she’d disguised
it by wearing loose clothing. |
|
| How
did you feel? |
| We
were shocked, concerned and guilty because we hadn’t noticed
beforehand. |
|
| Did
you know before doctors confirmed it? |
| Yes
because her school had told us. We tried to encourage her to
eat and make sure she ate in front of us. We tried to find the
right help for her and we gave her support but tried not to
pressurise her. |
|
| How
did you feel when Lorna went into the clinic? |
| We
were upset and missed her obviously but we were relieved because
we knew it was the right thing for her. We’re glad she’s on
the road to recovery. |
|
| Have
you any advice for people whose children are anorexic? |
|
Get
help and keep an eye on them because they can be devious.
Support them and don’t give up on them. Don’t pressurise them.
Remember, it’s a long battle, and there’s no such thing as
an overnight recovery.
Don’t expect a sufferer to be completely cured when they come
out of hospital. Even though they’re on the road to recovery
give them support. Their condition can be for life so you
must always be prepared to listen.
Lorna
was lucky, she was able to admit she had an eating disorder
and told people so they could understand and help her. As
Lorna was able to admit she had a problem she allowed herself
to receive support from friends and family which also meant
she was able to receive medical attention quickly which lead
her on to the road of recovery.
Unfortunately,
some people don’t admit they had a problem and so consequently
they don’t receive the support and treatment they deserve
in time. This could lead to long term illness or in the most
extreme cases, death.
|
|
 |
 |
