worth spending the $??

ok, I decided to give therapy another chance.... well, reluctantly but the point is I told someone and I have #'s to call... I went once b/f for a very short time but it was a very bad match; things just got worse and I didn't trust the therapist. but here's the problem: the therapist I could see has a private practive which means it will cost a lot of $. I would have to pay for it myself and I only have limited amounts of $. The amount that 10 or 20 sessions would come to sounds like A LOT, but in all honesty, even that amount probably won't be enough... how can I expect to be "fixed" after 10 sessions? unrealistic I know. What do I do?????? I don't want to go see someone who lacks a background in ed's. But I am also sick & tired of dealing with this (I've had an ed since many years now). I could consider another option at a hospital which would cost nothing but the waiting lists are humungous and there are a few other reasons why I'd rather not go there.

what do I do?????? is it worth spending almost all my $ for therapy? I am so desperate I don't know what to do. I can't spend all my $, I also have to pay for other things. sigh. please, anyone?

Many therapists will make special arrangements taking into consideration your ability to pay. Can you talk to this new therapist and see if he/she will reduce your fee or set up a payment plan of some kind?

The office where I see my T does reduced fees and it has helped out alot! My new expensive pdoc, very unfortunately, does not. I feel so guilty not paying more or full-price for my T. Talk to and let the T know your issues about money. Maybe something can be worked out. I can't afford my pdoc at all, but I have to try as long as I've got even one dollar. I will beg to pay later if I have to.

unfortunately this therapist won't.... she doesn't do sliding fee scales... and the program at the hospital seems to no longer be an option b/c you have to be "severe", whatever the hell that means... but I know their severe is not my severe. what makes me mad though is that I have had to deal w/ this since so long and it has a HUGE impact on my every day life etc and things are NOT okay but I guess they want the severly starved anorexic or b&p bulimic who does so 15x's/day..... I honestly just want to give up at this point. why the hassle....why bother.

Sometimes when you have a limited number of sessions to see someone, it can be helpful to pick a very narrow issue or behavior and work just on that. That can be worth the investment, and it gives you something to keep working on when your funds run out or when therapy ends for whatever reason.

It's really hard to go into therapy with the idea that you will eventually be "fixed". So many of us have complicated issues and behaviors. Gosh, I've been in therapy for two years (I'm lucky that I can go through my school), and there are still issues I come up with to talk about.

Sometimes it can help to consider therapy a life long process that you enter at different times in your life as part of your overall growth.

At any rate, I hope if you decide to go that you find it worth it.

Take care,

gg

Yes. YOU are worth it! Keep trying! Most decent therapists will let you interview them free (even if only over the phone.) Find lists of questions to ask, (online, here, etc) add your own questions... and call away! The viewpoint from the T is that, hey, here is someone who really wants help, and is really trying to find it! TC

well, I'll try my best... sky, you know what made me think? you said "YOU" are worth it.. I had asked whether "IT" was worth it, but I guess the point is this is about whether I think I am worth it....

You are!

Back&forth,

It is very important for you to realize that "YOU" are worth it. When I was desparate this year to find help....it ended up costing me too....no sliding scale with her either. I went to her when I needed her the most & then after I wasn't desparate any more, I was able to go back to the psychologist I had before that takes just the medicare I have & doesn't cost me anything. This is always an option knowing that the desparate time is not a permanent condition. It is also important for you to realize that ED isn't anything to fool around with.....it can end up serious without even realizing it sometimes.....& you really wouldn't want to go through the severe treatment.

I have problems with ED even though it isn't completely based on "body image" issues....but when I start loosing weight (because of med reactions, medical illness, stress, or whatever) I just can't seem to stop it. I do have a desire to be thin & end up too thin even in my own eyes.

I have been one of those severly starved anorexic's a couple of times. The first time (9 years ago) I was 19 lbs underweight & the pdoc I had at the time located an ED hospital that decided I had to be there for the psychological treatments. I had no insurance to pay nor the money.....so the hospital had funds for people like that. I was there for a month & it really did no good so for the next year I was in & out of the medical hospital having to have central lines with IV nutrition.

The last time was at the beginning of this year (11 lbs underweight) when I was dealing with a trauma & my Mothers death. My GP decided to admit me to the medical hospital (medicare paid for that) & have central line IV nutrition. I had to sneek out of the hospital AMA for my Mothers funeral because the hospitals pdoc told me I would he was going to put me on a 72 hour hold if I didn't agree to the central line immediately & I wouldn't have been able to be at my mothers funeral. I did go back into the hospital for the central line after the funeral & when I was finally discharged, my Dr's wanted me to go to a treatment center where the medical help would be there when I needed it....but the centers told me they couldn't help me with the trauma.....& none of the trauma centers knew how to help me with the trauma I went through....so I had to find a psychologist who knew how to help me with both issues along with my mothers death NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.

Please remember "YOU ARE DEFINITELY WORTH IT NO MATTER WHAT THE $",
Debbie