Eating Disorders Support Group Dundee
Unfortunately Bridging the Gap is still unable to meet as there is an ongoing problem with evening staffing at the Dundee Carers’ Centre. We will advise everyone when meetings can resume. However, all those seeking support in the Dundee area are very welcome to attend meetings in Aberdeen on the first Monday of each month.
Wishing everyone a very belated happy New Year and hoping that at last, we can see some light at the end of the Covid 19 tunnel. We continue to have face to face groups in meeting rooms above Cafe Credo in Aberdeen city centre. There are two groups, one for adults with any eating disorder and one for carers of anyone with an eating disorder. These meetings continue to be held on the first Monday of every month at 7.30pm. The dates for the next two meetings are
Monday 7th March
Monday 4th April
Entry to the meeting rooms is to the left hand side of the entrance to the cafe. Places still need to be booked through our administrator beforehand. We are currently in discussion with Cornhill Hospital regarding our return to the Macrobin Centre, and will keep everyone informed via our website and email.
Bridging the Gap in Dundee hope to resume their meetings as soon as possible. Our administrator will confirm this by email and also on this web page.
NEEDS(Scotland) is a self help group who value the opportunity to share experiences in a welcoming and caring setting. All our volunteers have experience of eating disorders either personally or as carers. Some people attend regularly every month and others prefer to come along for extra support when necessary. If you have only just found our website, do please come along and feel the benefits of shared support and the knowledge that you are not alone.
I can’t believe it is December once more, and we are getting closer to the festive season. Once again Covid means that we may be facing some restrictions, but some gatherings will certainly go ahead. This may mean that some of our group members may be feeling apprehensive. It would be good if you can share your worries with someone, either a friend, loved one, or perhaps the online/telephone support at www.beatingeatingdisorders.org.uk.
Decide what you are having to eat beforehand if you can. If that’s not possible, don’t worry. Try and make sure you have someone on hand to give you support if you need it. Remember, an eating disorder is like a bully, it does not take kindly to you having friends and family to help out. Some of you may not have as much support as others, but remember, Christmas is only one day, and it too will pass. Don’t worry, you are doing well and you will get there!
If you are a carer, try to help your loved one plan what they’re eating well ahead of the event and then focus more on the other Christmas activities such as, a walk in the fresh air, the present opening session, Christmas movies and games, or even caring for pets. Animals can be very therapeutic.
….. and something to look forward to ……
A team from Peterhead Academy chose to represent our charity for their school’s Youth Philanthropy Initiative and won £3000 for us!! This means that we can plan another Wellbeing Day with workshops and complementary therapies to be enjoyed by our group members and their carers. Many thanks go to the winning team for all their hard work and also for raising awareness of eating disorders in their school. We really do appreciate it.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year from everyone at NEEDS(Scotland).
We know that the festive season is a challenging time for those with eating disorders and their families, but this year with the pandemic, it is even more so. You will get through this by taking a little step at a time, and being kind to yourself. Everyone at NEEDS(Scotland) wishes our group members and their loved ones the best Christmas they can have, and hopefully in the New Year we can look to the longer days and Spring bulbs. Although we cannot hold our usual group meetings, we can direct you to telephone and or online support through the national eating disorders charity Beat at www.beateatingdisorders.org
Merry Christmas, best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year and remember,
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Unknown
“I can’t see a way through, said the boy,
“Can you see the next step?”
“Yes.”
“Just take that.” said the horse.
“What else do you think?” said the boy.
“I think you are doing better than you think.”said the horse.
“Asking for help isn’t giving up,” said the horse, “It’s refusing to give up.”
Charlie Mackesy
Hello everyone,
Due to the very high demand for support during lockdown, the national charity Beat have expanded their support services on the telephone and online. They were fortunate to secure National Lottery funding to enable them to do this. As our usual group meetings continue to be suspended, we hope that one of the following Beat support services may suit your needs.
For more detailed information, you can read more here about how Coronavirus has impacted those affected by an eating disorder and how Beat are able to help.
Stay safe and well everyone, and we hope to see you as soon as we can.
The Mountain
If the mountain seems too big today
then climb a hill instead.
If the morning brings you sadness
it’s ok to stay in bed.
If the day ahead weighs heavy
and your plans feel like a curse,
there’s no shame in re-arranging,
don’t make yourself feel worse.
If a shower stings like needles
and a bath feels like you’ll drown,
if you haven’t washed your hair for days,
don’t throw away your crown.
A day is not a lifetime
a rest is not defeat,
don’t think of it as failure,
just a quiet, kind retreat.
It’s ok to take a moment
from an anxious, fractured mind,
the world will not stop turning
while you get realigned.
The mountain will still be there
when you want to try again,
you can climb it in your own time,
just love yourself ’til then.
by Laura Ding-Edwards
Another Scottish support group is going to start up a Zoom support group on every Wednesday in July for anyone over 18 who is challenged by an eating disorder. Our administrator has the details and will be emailing all our group members shortly. If you do not receive these details, please email Irene.
I found this poem whilst looking through some folders. It provides a light during these strange times when many of you may feel this lockdown to be a real challenge. We can’t be with you at the moment, but all our volunteers are thinking of all our group members and their carers and wish you well.
Hope
spreads its butterfly wings
tentatively, cautiously
it takes its flight.
Delicate, beautiful fragility
it dances in the morning breeze.
Hope
rays of colour, light
glimpses of a brighter day
enjoy its touch
feel the caress
breeze caused by butterfly wings
Hope
not to be clutched at
do not grasp it too tightly
afraid to let it go,
Life continues, hope remains,
seen or unseen the dance goes on.
Hope
the butterfly emerges
at times drawing near
other times tantalisingly out of reach.
Fragile yet battling even the strongesr
breeze,
Not easily destroyed.
Hope
can you see it?
Can you feel it?
Open your eyes
welcome it here
hope comes
in the beat of butterfly wings.
by Kate (2005)
As you will all now know our monthly group meetings are now suspended until further notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. We will follow government guidelines as to when these meetings will resume. Until then, we refer all our group members to the Beat website at www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk for any support they may require. There are various helpful topics and also helplines and ED specific online support groups.
If anyone is in crisis and needs to speak with someone there is a service called 1st response run by Penumbra which is a telephone and email based service due to the current climate. It is open Mon-Fri 9-5pm. If you live in Aberdeen and are over 16 the number is 0800 234 3695 or email aberdeen1stresponse@penumbra.org.uk
There is also Breathing Space at www.breathingspace.scot
One publication which is very helpful, and accessible to all is at www.engagerenfrewshire.com Under the heading Coronavirus information, scroll down and you will find Support for Individuals. Scroll down from there and almost at the bottom, there is a Corona Anxiety Download. This is a 16 page document which is very informative and useful.
This is a quote from Colie Taico, a North Carolina based psychotherapist,
“Don’t let this pandemic stand in your way. You can do this. One step at a time. ”
Some of the advice she gives in The Huffington Post includes
Be compassionate with yourself. It’s normal for eating disorder thoughts to creep back in during stressful times.
Remember that eating disorder behaviours don’t actually solve any problems- and, in fact, make things worse.
Don’t let old eating disorders thoughts prevent you from buying what you need at the supermarket.
Establish a routine to help keep eating disorder thoughts at bay.
Stay digitally connected to friends, loved ones and online support systems.
Remind yourself that recovery is a very worthwhile process and that you’re so much more than an eating disorder.
One book of illustrations which is really uplifting is The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. You can view some of his drawings or buy the book through his website
All the volunteer facilitators at NEEDS(Scotland) hope that everyone stays safe and well and we look forward to meeting you all again when we can.
