When is it time to make that call and get help? Whether it’s for an eating disorder, anxiety or a chronic health issue, it can be hard to tell if now is the right time to make that 1st call. Here are things to consider.
- Don’t wait until you’re 100% ready. You’ll always be waiting for a long time. This is especially true if you believe you suffer from an eating disorder. Don’t expect this big “aha” moment where your are 100% ready to start making changes. The eating disorder will prevail and get stronger if it’s not treated. If you wait for things to become worse it can be that much harder to work through recovery. For me, I only need a small percentage of you to want to get better in order to provide treatment. Use the small percent of you to make that phone call or e-mail, I can help after that.
- Going back and forth about it? That’s a sign it’s time. This is a common occurrence. People wait until things “get worse” and they “get sicker” to make that call. I’ve worked with people who report they have no anxiety symptoms, no eating disorder symptoms and just want what I call, “maintenance work” where we discuss how their career is going, relationships in their life, self-esteem, and self-care. EVERYONE has something they can work on, including myself. There is no criteria saying you must be “this sick to call”.
- If you say you don’t have the time or energy: Right there, those are 2 problems that could be addressed in therapy. Taking an hour a week to work on yourself is the most important thing you can do your future self. Low energy is something my clients often report when first coming in. There are so many ways you can improve this.
Don’t wait until things have been going on too long to make that 1st call. I’ve worked with many people who had a million reasons as to why this was not the right time for them to get in therapy. But there is no better time than the present. Don’t let your mind overanalyze it, make the call if you need help and get the ball moving, you’ll be so happy you did.
Danielle Swimm, LCPC: Danielle is a holistic psychotherapist that specializes in treating eating disorders, anxiety and body image issues. Her office is location in Annapolis, MD where she provides counseling for adults and adolescents.