Fasting After Treatment- Interview with a Sufferer in Recovery

 

Dear Readers,

There is no denying the fact media plays an important part in Eating Disorders. When a teenager is constantly faced with hundreds of thousands of images in media about perfection then it’s not surprising how many girls become self-conscious about their appearance and their weight. This often turns into an obsession, into an Eating Disorder. This obsession with losing weight carries right into the month of Ramadan.

Please find below an Interview with a sufferer who suffers from Eating Disorder Not otherwise Specified (EDNOS). Past few years have been difficult for her. The doctors could not diagnose her correctly and she was treated for anxiety and depression. Her diagnosis came when she was taken ill to hospital for dehydration and low weight.

According to NIMH:

It is unknown how many adults and children suffer with other serious, significant eating disorders, including one category of eating disorders called eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). EDNOS includes eating disorders that do not meet the criteria for anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Binge-eating disorder is a type of eating disorder called EDNOS. EDNOS is the most common diagnosis among people who seek treatment.

She was instructed by her treatment team not to fast last year. Not fasting last year presented its fair share of challenges. Not engaging in Ramadan led to feelings of isolation and loneliness. This year she’s fasting, but it’s fasting with the family. Which means, you consume all your meals with the family and eat what rest of the family is eating. This means no vegan diet and participating with family in other social activities as well.

 

 

Fasting In Recovery

 

Maha Khan (MK): Last year you didn’t fast? Please give us brief background of what happened?

Anonymous (AN): Yes I didn’t fast last year as I was asked not to by the dietician because they wanted to see how my eating was for the next couple of months after discharge. I was very well and was inpatient in hospital for some time. There was a fear, I could relapse with fasting for very long hours.

---

MK: Not fasting was it helpful?
AN: I don’t think it made a difference if I’m honest. I felt more alone and more under pressure to eat. I felt no one had anything better to do but watch my every single move. I was scrutinized by everyone.

---

MK: Did your ED symptoms improve or get worst by not fasting?
AN: I don’t think it made much of a difference to be honest. I was still thinking about food and weight. I was worried about gaining. I was still restricting, so it was the same.

---

MK: Did you feel supported by friends and family?

AN: LOL no not really. They don’t really take me seriously and they still don’t understand this illness. They think solution is surrounding me 24/7, making sure I eat and use internet as minimum as I can.

---

MK: How did you feel about it?

AN: It just made me feel worse to be honest. I wish they would let me just live my life, and let me do what I want to do.

---

MK: What do you think could have helped you last year?
AN: Support from friends and family- actual support.

---

MK: What support would you like to see in place?

AN: People to take us seriously.

---

MK: Are you fasting this year?

AN: Yes

---

MK: Have you consulted your doctor about this?
AN: No.

---

MK: Why not?
AN: I’ve kind of taken it upon myself to sort things out now. They’ve all failed me, my therapists, CAMHS, my doctor, my teachers. They think all is fine. They don’t take me seriously at all.

---

MK: How are you preparing yourself for this month?
AN: I’m not. I’m just going to tackle it head on when it comes. At the moment, I’m so busy that I can’t think about anything. I’m catching up with all the school work and doing my exams.

---

MK: What challenges you most about Ramadan?
AN: The thoughts. Definitely the thoughts. You simply want to fall into this cycle of doing things you shouldn’t do. I can’t do most of those things, because of my family, but thoughts are there.

---

MK: What can make Ramadan easy for people with ED?
AN: I think just having the support in place, when a person feels triggered and someone to help them make them see things from other side. When you are eating to encourage you to replenish your stores after a long day of not eating.

---

MK: What are your two triggers in Ramadan?
AN: I don’t really know how to identify them. Just the thoughts telling me that I need to lose weight really and the second trigger is watching people who are thinner than me lose more weight. Discussion on weight loss is very triggering.

---

MK: Any suggestions on how we can improve mental health in this country?
AN: A lot needs to be done. People need to be taken more seriously about these things. They shouldn’t have to wait until it is seriously affecting not only their mental but also their physical health before something is done about it.

---

 

Thank You for Speaking to us. Please Keep yourself safe this Ramadan. Eating Disorder Ramadan Guide.