An update from Meg
Thursday’s Face-to-Face with EDs interview with Meg generated an interesting question from Erin, a reader of Breaking the Mirror.
Because I feel the query and Meg’s response (which was sent to me via email) are incredibly important, I’m going to reproduce them below.
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Erin’s Original Comment (slightly edited):
…Of course when I read that Meg is an engineer and has a master’s degree I thought, “oh no!!!” Not her. Like her career goals should make her immune or something.
But I guess I just had one more question for Meg: What was life like after she left Renfrew? I’m considering residential IP* but I’m just super scared about taking that time away from school and life and then re-entering the real world without knowing how to maintain recovery.
Success stories are always a GOOD thing to hear! Thanks
* inpatient treatment
Meg’s Response for Erin:
Renfrew Center prepares in-patients to become out-patients to become independent. Every step towards a healthier life taken by a patient at Renfrew is a step that she is ready to conquer.
When I entered Renfrew, I was already on my way to recovery… I wanted health and normalcy so badly. I took advantage of all the program had to offer.
Upon leaving Renfrew, life was not magically easy. I kept my support network of nutritionist, physician, and psychologist. Unlike the previous three years, my last year of high school, I was able to go out to dinner with friends, go on over night field trips where all the eating was done at restaurants, and go to proms and class suppers where the food was provided. I wouldn’t have attended or I would’ve arrived late to these events before Renfrew.
I knew college was my chance, a chance to be normal. I had to beg my parents to let me go away. They didn’t trust me and I can’t blame them. Before the start of my freshman year at college, I signed a contract with my parents and a college support team (nutritionist, physician, and psychologist). The contract stated that if I skipped appointments recommended by the support network, they would contact my parents and I would be pulled from college. It was my chance! I attended all appointments, copied the eating and partying habits of my peers, and became normal! Over the course of my freshman and sophomore years at college weekly appointment turned into monthly appointments and by junior year, the appointments were annual.
It would be a lie to say that life after residential IP is easy. I would recommend that Erin seriously consider getting help while she’s still a student (high school or college). Teachers/professors are very understanding and would accommodate her leave. I graduated high school at 17, right on time, even though I received home tutoring for half of my sophomore and junior years.
The key to maintaining recovery is having a support network of professionals to take care of your ED and family and friends to love you.
Erin, get all the help you can while you’re young, you do not want this illness to manifest itself in you. The longer you carry this illness, the harder it will be to recover!
I wish you health and happiness (trust me, both are attainable).
Meg
My hope? That someone dealing with EDs uses these courageous women’s words as inspiration to make a positive change in his or her life.
Again, all my thanks to both Erin and Meg for initiating the above dialogue.
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POSTED IN: Anorexia, Break the Mirror, Recovery, Renfrew Center, success stories
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