Personal Stories - Sufferers

THANK YOU FIRST STEPS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME

"Thank you to the volunteers at First Steps who have given me support via email, it is nice to know that other people can understand how I am feeling and how difficult it can be to be recover. I felt very lonely for a long time on my own with this illness and it is comforting to know I can email First Steps and get a constructive and positive answer which helps me get through my day. I haven’t had the courage to go to the group sessions but hope to one day."

I had never met anyone going through the same kind of problems as me

"When I first started coming to First Steps I had never met anyone going through the same kind of problems as me, and I never considered having these contacts would help. After the first few sessions I found it invaluable to be able to talk so openly or just listen to the situations I could relate to.

It made me want to recover

"Before attending the First Steps support groups, I had had three or four years of going through cycles in my Eating Disorder. Sometimes I managed to make small steps forward and for a while things would get better, but I always seemed to fall back into my Anorexic way of life. Having weekly therapy sessions was enough to keep me stable, but not enough to make me feel motivated to truely make changes. After going to my first HYPED session I felt immediately inspired.

It’s amazing how we get support off each other as well as the support workers

"I first discovered First Steps in my second year of sixth form, I saw a poster and I thought that it would be such a good idea to contact them, as I had only been talking through things with the school nurse’s that came in, and they didn’t really help much.  I first met Danielle and I was a bit apprehensive of what to expect, but everyone at First Steps have been particularly supportive and extremely helpful.

I didn't think I could complete my A Levels

"First steps have helped me in recovery from an eating disorder by giving me the confidence to look at myself in a different way and by discussing general problems in a group environment that gave me a sense that I would not have to undertake this journey alone. They have also shown me that other people suffer from eating disorders and that it is in fact just an illness like any other and that I shouldn't have to isolate myself because of my problem.

It was a huge relief to talk with people who actually understand how I feel

"Just over a year ago I was referred to First Steps.  It was a huge relief to talk with people who actually understand how I feel.  Also, as I deteriorated, it was the Young Person's Coordinator who fought for me to access the support I needed, which was inpatient treatment.  While I was an inpatient, First Steps kept in touch via internet, text and letters - the group made me lots of motivational posters for my wall - and they also visited me.  Having recently come out of inpatient treatment, it is a very difficult transition time and

It gave me the something I needed to be able to keep going and not give up

"I'm currently in hospital on a psychiatric ward where I'm not able to relate to any of the patients and am not really getting any appropriate support around me eating disorder.  However, this evening I was allowed off the ward to go to Hyped and it has cheered me up no end.  Being around others I can relate to, having fun decorating T-Shirts, chatting and laughing has just given me the something I needed to be able to keep going and not give up."

Thank you for all your help and support, and all the time you put in to help me

“Danielle, Just to say thank you for all your help and support, and all the time you put in to help me.  I really really appreciate it and I would never have been able to finish my A Levels, never mind getting into a university without your help.  Thank you soooo much.”

Greetings from the USA

“I’m doing well! I’m back in the USA, I’m so happy I got to meet the group while I was there! YALL ROCK!! I’m def coming back so I can see everyone; y'all really did make a huge impact in my life and helped me to look inside of myself!”

It’s so nice and different to hear of a positive coming out of ED for a change

“I wanted to say a massive thank you to Jenna, I was really struggling with Thursday, bringing my parents to the session was a major thing and I did previously drop out of the group sessions because the anxiety and social withdrawal of ED made it too difficult. Although I once again felt this you helped reassure me by coming over and acting as a third party to discuss some of the concerns my parents had, and it was nice to have someone to re-enforce some of the misconceptions my Dad had about ED.