Eating Disorders—Get Help

 

 

Whether you or someone you know, is struggling with an eating disorder, there are many resources available. You are not alone. NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association), Eating Disorder Hope and The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (NEDA) are three organizations that can assist you immediately. Here is a listing of some of their resources. (Title of each organization links to the website.) 

NEDA (nationaleatingdisorders.org)

  • Information and Referral Helpline: (1-800-931-2237) – Volunteers with extensive training available to help you assess options for yourself or your loved one. Will help you find information, treatment, and support options. Toll-Free, confidential helpline.  Hours are M-Th from 9 am-9 pm and Friday 9 am-5 pm (all Eastern Time). Holiday Closures.
  • Click to Chat Option: for instant messaging
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “NEDA” to 741741  
  • Online Eating Disorder Screening Tool: Short screening for ages approx. 13 yrs and up. It is free, anonymous, and confidential, and can help determine if it’s time to seek professional help. For a link to this screening tool offered by NEDA, click here.
  • NEDA Navigators: People with the first-hand experience with eating disorders and well into their own or their loved one’s recovery, will answer questions; help determine your next step; assist you in finding resources, treatment options, and support groups; provide encouragement and hope; listen to your concerns and decrease feelings of isolation; help navigate insurance issues for treatment coverage; provide a listing of organizations that offer treatment scholarships; and much more.
  • Parent, Family & Friends Network: Network to make sure you are aware of all the resources available to you
  • Forums:  Parents of Sufferers, Siblings of Sufferers, Children of Sufferers, Maintaining Recovery, Friends in Support Roles, Males & Eating Disorders, Partners/Spouses of Sufferers, Working toward Recovery, Recovery Forums and many more
  • Stories of Hope
  • Newsletter, Making Connections Magazine, Books, Articles
  • NEDA toolkits: (Free resources designed to educate on eating disorders) Parents Toolkit, Educators Toolkit, and Coach & Athletic Trainers Toolkit
  • Blogs & Vlogs
  • Video Library: Variety of topics, providing an opportunity to learn directly from professionals in the field, as well as individuals sharing lessons they learned from their own journey
  • Insurance Resources: Provides sample letters and guidance on navigating the system
  • DataBase: Access for treatment options, treatment providers, support groups and research studies in your area
  • Loss Support Network: Brings together those who have lost a loved one to an eating disorder with others who have experienced this unique type of grief (they claim names will not be displayed publicly)
  • Recovery & Relapse Prevention: Resources and information to understand the recovery process and work to prevent relapsing; resources supplement the guidance you receive from your professional treatment team1

EATING DISORDER HOPE (eatingdisorderhope.com)

  • Helpline: A specialist from one of the Eating Disorder Hope sponsors
  • Online Screening Tool: “Eating Attitudes Test (“Eat-26”). The Eat-26 is the most widely cited standardized, self-reporting screening measure that may be able to help you determine if you have an eating disorder that needs professional attention. The Eat-26 is not designed to make a diagnosis of an eating disorder or to take the place of a professional diagnosis or consultation. Take the Eat-26 now and get immediate and anonymous feedback. Free to Users. Click here for the link to the Eat-26 screening test.
  • Eating Disorder Treatment Centers List: “Featured” Centers are ones that have been carefully reviewed by Eating Disorder Hope; another list for Treatment Centers by state
  • Eating Disorder Therapist & Specialist Directory: Listed by state
  • Explanation of Types of Treatment: Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment, Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Eating Disorder Treatment, Residential Eating Disorders Treatment, Inpatient/Hospital Treatment Eating Disorder Treatment, Continuing Care, Eating Disorder Support Groups, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Medical Nutritional Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Art Therapy, Dance Movement Therapy, Equine Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Family Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), and The Maudsley Method
  • Explanation of Holistic Health & Weight Management
  • Articles on Co-occurring Disorders (dual diagnoses): An article available for each of the following topics: Eating Disorder & Substance Abuse, Eating Disorder & Anxiety, Eating Disorder & Depression, Eating Disorder & Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Eating Disorder & Self-Injury, Eating Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Eating Disorder & Trichotillomania (compulsive urge to pull own hair)
  • Discussions of Special Treatment Issues: Adolescent/Teen/Childhood Eating Disorders, Families & Eating Disorders, Effects of Eating Disorders During Pregnancy, Weight Loss Surgery & Eating Disorders, Diabetes & Eating Disorders, Athletes & Eating Disorders, Middle-aged Women & Men with Eating Disorders, Compulsive Spending & Eating Disorders, Medical Complications & Eating Disorders, Seasonal Affective Disorder & Eating Disorders, Males & Eating Disorders, Paying for Treatment, and Choosing a Treatment Center
  • Articles on Family Involvement in Eating Disorder Recovery
  • Eating Disorder Support Groups: Listed by state
  • Articles for the Holidays
  • Inspirational Stories: Many recovery stories of hope
  • Eating Disorder Books: Many from various authors on a wide variety of topics
  • Films and Videos on Eating Disorders: All available online
  • List of Eating Disorder Non-Profit & Additional Resources: Approximately 25 U.S organizations and 6 International
  • Eating Disorder Blogs and Vlogs2

ANAD–The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (anad.org)

  • ANAD Helpline: (630-577-1330) Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm – Central Time and Email: anadhelp@anad.org. Trained ANAD volunteers will assist you. Call if you are having difficult feelings that could affect your eating, need help to get through a meal, need encouragement, or need help to stop a purge or binge. Call if you or a family member are concerned about a loved one.  Request a Recovery Mentor or Grocery Buddy. Request a referral for treatment from ANAD’s database of providers, including eating disorder clinicians, inpatient eating disorder centers and outpatient clinics, and free support group and support resources.
  • Support Groups: Join a free support group. Listed state by state for the entire U.S., including an online support group.
  • Recovery Mentor: Get support from a Recovery Mentor who has recovered from an eating disorder and will be able to help you on your own journey. A request can be made online.
  • Grocery Buddy: Obtain help grocery shopping from an ANAD Grocery Buddy who will help take the anxiety away from grocery shopping. The Grocery Buddy will help you anticipate and plan out your grocery trip and accompany you to the grocery store while offering support. Can make requests online.
  • Recovery Stories: Inspirational stories of recovery on ANAD’s YouTube Channel
  • Toolkits: Recovery Journal and Treatment Center Discharge Resource Kit (a book with information about ANAD and its support programs to assist in recovery.)
  • School Presentations: ANAD staff addresses students in the Chicagoland area schools each week during the school year, providing valuable information and a recovery speaker who shares his or her story of recovery.
  • ANAD School Guidelines Packet: Packet created by a clinical team for school teachers and administrators to identify students with eating disorders, to refer them to professionals, and to equip the whole school with the awareness of eating disorders.3

Sources:

  1. National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA). https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
  2. Eating Disorder Hope. https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/
  3. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). https://www.anad.org/