tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153163242529146660.post1685630266422285136..comments2023-07-29T14:34:41.305+01:00Comments on Eating disorders in boys: my teenage son's recovery from anorexia.: Some very difficult juggling to do this week...Bev Mattocks Osbornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02353718855920959097noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153163242529146660.post-64660960359310885832011-03-25T19:35:12.326+00:002011-03-25T19:35:12.326+00:00Wow... I never knew there were others out there. I...Wow... I never knew there were others out there. I am a fourteen year old boy (YES ANOTHER BOY) with anorexia. I have been hospitalized in two private hospitals in London for 13 months and have been ill for two years. I similarly have major issues with exercise (I used to do cross country, rowing and rugby... and 'walks in the park'). What has helped me is in my current hospital, The Priory, we are allowed one 30-minute intense exercise session a week once we get to 3 kilos away from our target weight. That has really helped me and the man who takes the session tells us to calm it down if we are going crazy. We also get a 30-minute swimming session. Whilst this is still not enough for me, because I am an inpatient for five days a week (previously 24/7) the nurses make sure I am sitting down. I use to refuse to sit down, but they wouldn't allow me to go on my two daily walks around the grounds (actual walks haha) so a bit of bargaining goes a long way. I am at a similar stage to Ben it seems, after a year and a half out of school, for 6 weeks I have been doing two mornings in school. I find it horrendously difficult socially and academically, I can't do sport (NIGHTMARE) and lets just say my morning snack is... difficult. I am also stuck in a rut or comfort zone and am reluctant to have more leave from the priory or go back to school more as after an awful admission at Capio Nightingale Hospital (their philosophy treated us like pheasants: feed 'em up and get them the hell out) I now feel very safe at the admirable programme in the Priory. I also have an anxiety disorder which does NOT help. And I can relate to the 'do or die'. I am now in the long painful process of 'doing' and have turned corners (I can sit down for longer periods of time now and i narrowly avoided going on an NG tube). It's so worth turning the corners. Here are some incentivesfor Ben's recovery, as believe me he'll need it.<br /><br />1) Puberty. Every guy (pretty much) wants to be fully sexually developed, tall and manly in general. I've already damaged this and don't want to damge it further and be a child forever.<br /><br />2) Girlfriend. Every guy (pretty much) wants a girlfriend and all the girls on my unit dont like skinny guys!<br /><br />3) Sport. If your son really has an interest in sport and its not solely in the context of his anorexia, then that can be a major incentive.<br /><br />Now I understand that these can be lost sight of in the throes of anorexia, heck, I lose sight of them every other minute. If I could be any help at all - and by the way I know itd awful not to see him but what has really worked for me in terms of recovery is NHS funded inpatient admission in the Priory - then contact me on my blog: justanotherpoemjustanotherperson.blogspot.com<br /><br />the poems are about recovery. all the best. There is hope. Tell Ben it gets better and that anorexia isn't a choice, recovery is. Please have a look at the blog and comment in response if you want.<br /><br />LLlittleleprechaunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07220970464341225098noreply@blogger.com