Eating Disorders - young people and Parent/carer stories

Please read through the various reviews given on this page, by young people and their parents/carers, on our eating disorders service here at HPFT. Some reviews are kept anonymous for confidentiality reasons and some young people consented to having their names published.

"Thank you for helping me, for listening to me and for helping me find what I truly want to do in life instead of worrying about food every day. Without you I wouldn't be where I am today. Thinking about it, things have changed a lot through these past two years. I feel so foolish for wasting so many years of my life trapped in that bubble. But oh well at least I'm still here, healthy and alive. I actually can't believe that I'm using this word (healthy). About a year or two ago I thought that it was bad to be healthy until I met you and helped me change the way I thought about it. Now I think that healthy = happy. I am very grateful, thank you. I don't think I even remember what happy was until now. To me happy is hope, calm and having a great weight lifted off from you - is this how you say it? LOL! This letter has dragged on for so long!! Well, I don't think I have any more to say except for THANK YOU!!"

Rachel's Story -

After her time with our eating disorders team, Rachel wanted to offer her experience of her journey alongside some advice and inspiration to those who are also suffering from an eating disorder.

Watch a video produced from Rachel's story 'Living by Numbers' and Read Rachel's advice below

"Dear Brid, I honestly don't know where to start. I. I can't put into words how much you have helped me. Throughout my journey, I've had therapist after therapist and after a while I thought no one could help me. But when I started talking to you, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I felt a tiniest bit of freedom. That feeling has grown and grown and I now feel the most free I've been in a very long time. I don't see you as a scary professional who is out to ruin my life, I see you as someone who I can rely on to make me feel a million times better. I can honestly say you have aided my recovery more than anyone else and I owe you the world for that. You are a truly incredible person and I know you are going to help so many more people like me. Thank you for absolutely everything, I cannot thank you enough and I will miss you forever."