If it wasn't for the Norfolk Eating Disorders Association I would be dead.
Two years ago I suffered horribly from anorexia, a mental illness which took hold of my life and nearly killed me. Horribly depressed and with a whole host of family problems I let anorexia in to my mind, I let it control everything I did. It stopped me from eating, it stopped me from socialising and it tried to kill me.
However,
the Norfolk EDA was there for me at the 11th hour. A group of professionals who seriously care for anyone with an eating disorder, they went above and beyond the call of duty to save my life. But they are at risk of closing due to government cuts -
and it needs your help!!!!!!
I remember walking through their doors back in February 2009. Literally too weak to even push them open, I struggle to think what they must have made of me - a 6ft 3 chap weighing just 8st asking for help. A wonderful lady called Sue was the first person I met - she opened the heavy door for me and smiled, she didn't look at me like I should be dead like everyone else.
I walked in and I burst into tears. There were other anorexics in there, one woman - just skin and bones was sleeping on one of their sofas. Another anorexic woman was knitting a jumper, while a morbidly obese chap was doing a jigsaw. I knew right then that I was in the right place.
We went through into one of their counselling rooms and we got chatting, tears streaming down my eyes and Sue giving me tissue after tissue. You see for month after month my doctor had told me I was simply depressed, prescribing me every single drug under the sun to try and get me to sort myself out. Temazepam, Citalopram, Zopiclone, Certraline, Buspar, Oxytetracycline, Mertazapine... the list goes on. But the Norfolk EDA were different - they knew I wasn't 'just depressed', they knew how to help.
They started my journey to recovery by giving me support. They let me know they were always there, always at the end of the phone or email if I wanted to chat. Whatever time of day, they didn't make me feel like a burden, they made me feel special - not like the NHS.
They let me know that their doors were always open - if I ever wanted to just come in and have a cup of tea, to come in and have group therapy sessions with other eating disorder sufferers, or just read a book in a safe and warm place where I wouldn't be judged, they were there.
Within two weeks of walking in they had sorted out very cheap counselling sessions for me. With no job and with no money, they managed to sort out weekly 2 hour sessions for just £2.50, with the EDA supplementing the rest. These sessions made me see the reasons why I had developed anorexia, they made me see why I had let it into my life. Suddenly a lightbulb had switched on - everything became clearer....I learnt to love myself again.
But it didn't stop there. They armed me with meal plans, nutritional advice and a self-help book of excercises to do. You see, when an anorexic starts eating again there is a severe danger of heart attacks and sudden death from what's known as 'refeeding syndrome'. It was tough eating again, to see the numbers on the scale increase - my body was broken, but their support saw me gain weight gradually, they nursed me back to full health.
And so, in July 2009 I was a healthy weight again. Strong. Fit. Ready to work again.
I managed to get a full-time job and in doing so I waved goodbye to the Norfolk EDA. But not a day goes by when I am not eternally grateful for what they did for me, and what they do for hundreds of people who suffer from eating disorders in the county.
I was one of the lucky ones.
You can help by sending this petition to as many people as you can.
Thank you, ever so much
Liam, survivor of anorexia thanks to the Norfolk EDA
