Hope with Eating Disorders – eBook

Contents

What is an Eating Disorder? Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and over eating; Other eating disorders; Recognising an eating disorder and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; Eating disorders and well-being; Eating disorders and other mental illnesses; Eating disorders in men – by Dr Russell Delderfield; Eating disorders in relationships and the home; Eating disorders in education and the workplace; Eating disorders in exercise and sport; Eating disorders and the media; Conclusion: including ‘what is recovery?’ and ‘from me to you’; Resources

Hope with Eating Disorders – Paperback + eBook Bundle

Contents

What is an Eating Disorder? Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and over eating; Other eating disorders; Recognising an eating disorder and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; Eating disorders and well-being; Eating disorders and other mental illnesses; Eating disorders in men – by Dr Russell Delderfield; Eating disorders in relationships and the home; Eating disorders in education and the workplace; Eating disorders in exercise and sport; Eating disorders and the media; Conclusion: including ‘what is recovery?’ and ‘from me to you’; Resources

Hope with Eating Disorders – Paperback

Contents

What is an Eating Disorder? Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and over eating; Other eating disorders; Recognising an eating disorder and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; Eating disorders and well-being; Eating disorders and other mental illnesses; Eating disorders in men – by Dr Russell Delderfield; Eating disorders in relationships and the home; Eating disorders in education and the workplace; Eating disorders in exercise and sport; Eating disorders and the media; Conclusion: including ‘what is recovery?’ and ‘from me to you’; Resources

Hope with Eating Disorders

Contents

What is an Eating Disorder? Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and over eating; Other eating disorders; Recognising an eating disorder and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; Eating disorders and well-being; Eating disorders and other mental illnesses; Eating disorders in men – by Dr Russell Delderfield; Eating disorders in relationships and the home; Eating disorders in education and the workplace; Eating disorders in exercise and sport; Eating disorders and the media; Conclusion: including ‘what is recovery?’ and ‘from me to you’; Resources

Hope with OCD – Paperback + eBook Bundle

Hope with OCD

Contents

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? Types of OCD; Recognising OCD and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; OCD and wellbeing; OCD and other mental illnesses; OCD and relationships; OCD and children; OCD in the home; Practical tips for carers and sufferers.

Hope with OCD Paperback

Hope with OCD

Contents

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? Types of OCD; Recognising OCD and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; OCD and wellbeing; OCD and other mental illnesses; OCD and relationships; OCD and children; OCD in the home; Practical tips for carers and sufferers.

 

Hope with OCD eBook

Hope with OCD

Contents

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? Types of OCD; Recognising OCD and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; OCD and wellbeing; OCD and other mental illnesses; OCD and relationships; OCD and children; OCD in the home; Practical tips for carers and sufferers.

Hope with OCD

Hope with OCD

Contents

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? Types of OCD; Recognising OCD and seeking treatment; A guide to therapies; OCD and wellbeing; OCD and other mental illnesses; OCD and relationships; OCD and children; OCD in the home; Practical tips for carers and sufferers.

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World Suicide Day – Spotting the signs and supporting those who may be having thoughts

One of our amazing authors, Lynn Crilly, who has published a series of books on mental health, has recently appeared in a number of press articles outlining how to spot the early signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. These articles were released ahead of World Suicide Day on September 10th – a very important day in focusing attention on the issue, reducing stigma and raising awareness among organisations, governments and the public.

Within the article Lynn provides four key pieces of advice on both spotting the signs of suicide and supporting someone who may be having suicidal thoughts:

>“Most people who attempt suicide will give some clue or warning, so it is vital to take those clues seriously, even if they are said casually. They may talk or write about death or harming themselves, or they may seek out things that could be used to take their own life, such as weapons or drugs.

> “There may be more subtle signs: hopelessness, self-loathing and self-destructive behaviour should all be taken seriously. Be alert also to those who seem to be getting their affairs in order or saying goodbye to people as if they will not be seen again. It sounds obvious, but all too often the clues are missed.”

> “If you spot any of these signs and are worried about someone you care about, it is natural to question whether you should say something. But the best way to find out is to ask them. Showing you care will not push someone towards suicide, rather it will give them an opportunity to voice their fears and feelings which could in turn help them to see that there is another way forward.

> “While talking is crucial, so is listening. Allow your friend or loved one to unload their despair and listen without judgement, remaining calm and accepting of how they feel. Reassure them that help is available and tell them how important they are to you.  Avoid arguing with them or appearing shocked.

The article concludes with a poem by her daughter to mark World Suicide Day. To read the article in full and the poem mentioned, please click here.

Lynn’s latest book ‘Hope with Depression’ is a supportive and insightful journey into the complexity and severity of depression. You can read the first chapter for free, right here on our website.. it might just help you, or someone you know.

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Panic Attacks and Treatments

The following extracts are from author Lynn Crilly and poet Samantha Crilly from their respective books ‘Hope with Anxiety’ and ‘Hope Through Poetry’. The two pieces each give a personal perspective on the experience of panic attacks and look at some of the core causes of the condition.

Panic attacks and panic disorder

Anyone who has experienced just one panic attack will know just how frightening and debilitating they can be, sometimes seemingly coming out of the blue, without an obvious trigger. For someone with panic disorder, where these attacks occur with some frequency, the ripple effects on the way they live their life can be considerable.

Garry shares how he feels during a panic attack:

During a panic attack I would shake so much I could barely stand up. I had to sit down or lean against a wall to steady myself. Even though I knew it would pass, it was always very frightening.

Most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes, but they can go on for up to an hour. Some people experience them once or twice a month, while others can be put through their effects a few times a week.[1]

A panic attack is terrifying and those who experience one can have an impending fear of death. It can typically cause a thumping, racing heartbeat, sweating, muscle weakness and a churning stomach. Some or all of these symptoms may be experienced, although the effects vary depending on the individual. Here is a list of some of the other physical symptoms that might be experienced during a panic attack:

  • Faintness/light-headedness
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trembling
  • Hot flushes or chills
  • Shaky limbs
  • A choking feeling
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Feeling disconnected from one’s body.

Amy, who went through a period of regular panic attacks and severe anxiety, shares her experience:

I remember when I was 21, not long after my now husband’s father passed away and I went to Australia for a holiday on my own (I got really bad home-sickness, and ended up coming home from Australia after six days), I now realise that I was having symptoms of panic attacks and anxiety. At the time I had no idea, and the doctor thought I had an inner ear infection. I was off work for six weeks and I remember I couldn’t leave the house due to severe anxiety.

The psychological impact can be even harder to bear, with sufferers worrying they are dangerously ill, that they might die, that they might cause an accident and harm others, or might pass out and cause embarrassment or harm to themselves. These understandable terrors can have an impact on the way they live their day-to-day life, as people with panic disorder can start to dread or pre-empt their next attack, leading them to live in a constant state of understandable fear, which can cause more attacks to occur, leaving them locked in a seemingly unbreakable cycle.

Important note: At the same time, it’s worth noting that the symptoms of a panic attack may be caused by another underlying medical condition, such as hypoglycaemia due to insulin resistance, so it is always wise to consult a doctor, both to rule out any other cause and to get support in seeking help if it is a mental health issue.

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), in order to be diagnosed with panic disorder, the sufferer must have experienced more than one unexpected episode on a regular basis.[2] Mainstream treatment for panic disorder aims to ease the symptoms and lessen the number of panic attacks experienced. Talking therapies and medication are the main treatments for panic disorder offered by the NHS; depending on the severity of the symptoms, one or a combination of both of these treatments will be recommended by your doctor.[1]

  1. NHS Panic Disorder. www.nhs.uk/conditions/panic-disorder/
  2. Ankrom S. DSM-5 Criteria for Diagnosing Panic Disorder. VeryWellMind. www.verywellmind.com/diagnosing-panicdisorder-2583930

 

Glad you came

A poem about anxiety – by Samantha Crilly

It doesn’t add up like it did with high-school mathematics

Or have a narrative to follow in morning amateur dramatics.

You can’t find the square root of the problem, when the problem doesn’t exist

Or find reasoning for something when nothing was missed.

Anxiety manifests itself in so many different ways,

Often building and building over several days,

Detecting faults in situations that may never occur,

Preconditioning an event into one big blur,

Embarrassing yourself no matter what you do

On the main stage right in front of me and you,

Rubbing your knuckles, grinding your teeth,

Looking fine on the outside yet on fire beneath.

Heart pumping fast, echoing beats…

Dripping with sweat, hair slathered in grease,

Lungs tensed and twisted, unable to breathe –

If only you knew when you could leave.

But it’s okay I whispered – leave as soon as you need;

I’m so proud of you for just coming along.

To have stayed even for a little while makes you so strong.