I need help for a family member re: eating disorder (bulemia).

[lamp_shade]

She's my 18 year old niece and she's really messed up. Over the past 2-3 years, she has seen all kinds of so-called psychologists, has spent many weeks in various "rehab facilities", numerous ambulance trips to the hospital spitting up blood. She's on Prozac and Abilify and has been diagnosed as Bi-Polar. There must be some national group or association that can point me to a doctor who specializes in this field. The last phych she saw said "I can't help her". I just talked to my brother and he's absolutely beside himself.

I need a starting point. Can anybody help me? I don't even know what to google.

[Bicoastal]

1. Totally stupid idea perhaps, but...

...have you heard of a show called "Intervention?"

[lamp_shade]

3. Not stupid at all. I watched a whole marathon of them one weekend and gained some real insight.

Thanks. :hi:

[Ian David]

2. Eating disorders seem like the sort of think for rational emotive behavior therapy.

Try finding a REBT practitioner near you (or a Cognitive Behavior Therapist)

Rational emotive behavior therapy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), previously called rational therapy and rational emotive therapy, is a comprehensive, active-directive, philosophically and empirically based psychotherapy which focuses on resolving emotional and behavioral problems and disturbances and enabling people to lead happier and more fulfilling lives. REBT was created and developed by the American psychotherapist and psychologist Albert Ellis who was inspired by many of the teachings of Asian, Greek, Roman and modern philosophers. REBT is one of the first and foremost forms of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and was first expounded by Ellis in the mid-1950s and continues its development to this day.

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_emotive_behavior_therapy


See also:

http://24-7help.com/

http://www.rebtnetwork.org/

http://www.smartrecovery.org/

[lamp_shade]

7. Thank you so much, Ian David. I think this is just what I'm looking for... someplace to start.

I'll research these sites and hopefully find some help for my brother. You're a good DUer. :thumbsup:

[iverglas]

19. That's what Albert Ellis recommends ;)

I called him in desperation once for any info I could get about non-12-step programs for a third party.

He wasn't in, and his assistant knew of none, but the advice was: check with the local psychological association for a rational emotive therapist.

I did, I got three referrals, the third party didn't follow through ... but I saw the one we'd picked for some time myself. ;)

Strongly agree with that suggestion. And stay away from 12-step philosophies.

[pearl]

4. What part of the country in she in?

I know of someone really good in Chicago.

[lamp_shade]

8. Upstate New York (near Utica). Thanks anyway.

[Clear Blue Sky]

5. Try calling your local hospitals or medical society for referrals.

[lamp_shade]

9. It's a very small town and referrals so far have been sadly lacking. Thanks for replying.

:hi:

[Clear Blue Sky]

11. Having serious medical problems and living in a small town is problematic.

If possible, relocation to a large metro area would provide you with more options.

[izquierdista]

6. Maybe try NLP?

There are those who swear by it and swear at it, and I'm in the former category. A good NLP practitioner may be able to cut to the source of the problem in a lot less time than conventional psychiatry and psychology.

[lamp_shade]

10. NLP? Neuro Linguistic Programming?

[Ian David]

16. Don't try NLP. It's a scam. It's just a way to bully and coerce people and call it therapy. n/t

[izquierdista]

18. As I said

Some people swear at it.

[Ian David]

15. NLP is quackery. It's garbage.

http://www.skepdic.com/neurolin.html

[Happyhippychick]

12. A few questions

When you say "rehab" facilities, do you mean eating disorder clinics or drug/alcohol related clinics?

She has had numerous trips to the hospital for spitting up blood - what caused the internal bleeding?

She may have to go for treatment outside of Utica - the Renfrew Center is one of the best facilities in the country. They don't have a location in Utica but you can go to their website and look at what they offer: http://www.renfrew.org/

I don't know what the closest larger city is to Utica but if it's Albany, google "Albany eating disorder clinics" (substitute whatever city is closest).

Hope this helps. My heart goes out to your brother.

[AdHocSolver]

13. Could her condition be due to an allergic reaction to something in the environment?

If the "problem" became acute only in the last two to three years, maybe she has developed an allergic reaction to a food additive or some ingrediant in cosmetics such as deodorant, body wash, perfume, shampoo, etc.

Have any of the doctors that she has seen considered this possibility and referred her to an allergist? Hope she gets better soon.

[Ian David]

17. Not very likely. n/t

[AdHocSolver]

14. Could her condition be due to an allergic reaction to something in the environment?

If the "problem" became acute only in the last two to three years, maybe she has developed an allergic reaction to a food additive or some ingrediant in cosmetics such as deodorant, body wash, perfume, shampoo, etc.

Have any of the doctors that she has seen considered this possibility and referred her to an allergist? Hope she gets better soon.