Posts

2023 eating disorder support Scotland - we can offer you support to help you achieve that goal

Happy New Year to all our group members and their families

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Everyone at NEEDS(Scotland) wishes you all the very best for 2023. Remember that all steps in the right direction, whether big or small, get you closer to your goal. NEEDS(Scotland) can offer you support to help you achieve that goal with monthly group self help sessions. Our facilitators all have experience of eating disorders, either personally or in supporting a friend or family member. We welcome any adult challenged by any eating disorder, carers and family members too, to come along to our group. For more details, contact our administrator.

We have now had a few months back in the Macrobin Centre which is our usual location, and we have seen our numbers return to pre- pandemic levels. Face to face meetings are so valuable for everyone, and we are lucky enough to have rooms where our group members can share their experiences safely and in confidence. Last month we resumed the quarterly visit from a Therapet and owner for the half hour before the start of our sharing sessions. We have had a variety of canine visitors now, some who love attention and strokes, and some who just want to lie on the floor contentedly, waiting for a treat or two. Animals can be so therapeutic, offering unconditional love, and bringing a smile to everyone’s faces.

We have also been fortunate to have three new volunteer facilitators join us, and we welcome their enthusiasm to support our group. One of these is a Beat Lived Experience Ambassador and she has been a great asset to our Carers’ group, recounting her story with the highs and lows along the way. This has been very much appreciated by our carer members giving a real and meaningful example of how recovery is possible.  Since we now have a few more facilitators, we hope to resume our Coffee Care and Share sessions with the Young Peoples Department within the next couple of months.

We also hope to restart inviting speakers to the group over the next few months and also planning for our next Wellbeing Day.

Although the start of a new year may be cold, dark and gloomy, we can look forward to the year ahead, brighter days, and new beginnings.

Eating Disorder Support Meeting Aberdeen Dundee

Aberdeen meetings update

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We have now returned to our usual meeting rooms in the Macrobin Centre, Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen and have already seen an increase in our numbers. This means we have our library and refreshments available once more. It also means that we are the only group using the facility at this time. Entrance to the Macrobin Centre is at the back of the building just past the entrance to the Adult Outpatient Eating Disorders Service. See our printable map.

Please also check out easyfundraising.org.uk, There is information and a link to the registration form on our Help us web page. With fewer shops in Aberdeen nowadays more and more of our shopping is done online. There is an easyfundraising app which can prompt you to ask for a donation when you shop with a huge number of retailers, including Amazon, Expedia and Booking.com This is such an easy way to raise money for NEEDS(Scotland).

Finally, in the Christmas 2021 post, we were able to announce that Peterhead Academy had won their school’s Youth Philanthropy competition by composing a presentation on our behalf. A team from Alford Academy also did a presentation on our behalf and won! We remain committed that this huge sum of money will go directly to support the wellbeing of our group members and carers, through complementary therapies, speakers and workshops. 

Eating Disorder Support Meeting Aberdeen Dundee

Dundee meeting news

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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.

support

Beat extends helpline hours and support services to help people affected by eating disorders

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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.

  • Bolster – a telephone coaching service for sufferers
  • Nexus – a telephone advice and coaching service for carers supporting their loved one.
  • Solace – a peer-supported video group for carers, facilitated by experienced eating disorder clinicians.
  • Raising Resilience – a new workshop for anyone caring for someone with an eating disorder, so they can learn the skills to help their loved one towards recovery.
  • Extended Helpline opening hours – the Helpline, which covers phone calls, one-to-one webchat, email and online peer support groups 

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.

support

Eating Disorder Support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

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Hi to all our group members out there.

As you probably know, hospitals are still closed off for non- essential appointments and meetings such as ours. Like everyone else, we have to wait for guidelines on how we can proceed. We do not offer one to one consultations, as we only have a few volunteers who are only trained to facilitate groups. Until then, we would still refer you to Beat for specialised support online. However, Mental Health Aberdeen are offering a telephone helpline to anyone who is finding it difficult to cope just now.

Take care folks, stay safe and stay well. We are thinking of you all.

Mental Health Aberdeen phone number

climb a hill instead

Another poem to help you through the days ahead

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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

take care always

Self Care Top Ten

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  1. Light a candle.
  2. Drink some tea.
  3. Have a FaceTime catch up with a friend.
  4. Put on your cosiest socks.
  5. Watch your favourite old movie.
  6. Have a good soak in the bath.
  7. Stretch for 15 minutes.
  8. Write down 3 things that make you smile.
  9. Put your phone on airplane mode.
  10. Buy yourself some flowers.
Zoom video chat support group

Online support during Lockdown

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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.

Hope spreads its butterfly wings

Hope

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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)

News Update

News Update

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Here is a news update from our groups in Tayside and Aberdeen. NEEDS2 Bridging the Gap have been busy lately, fundraising and raising awareness in Tayside with a very successful sponsored walk across the Tay Road Bridge, bridging that gap and raising well over £500 for the group to spend on resources and accommodation amongst other things. More details of the exact amount raised will follow later.

Following the winding up of the Aberdeen group’s Arts and Crafts Group, due to low attendance, the materials purchased have been distributed to group members along with scrapbooks for individual use to create their art and design work and record positive affirmations, writing and poetry. One of our group members very kindly shared her own scrapbook which was beautifully done and inspired others to have a go at producing their own. Larger materials such as paint and card making items will go to the Eden Unit, and colouring books and pencils to the Young Persons’ Department. Donating in this way should raise awareness of our self help group in the wider hospital community and hopefully encourage others to attend the group when they can. Although we are an adult group, carers of younger people can attend.

On that note, two volunteers from NEEDS(Scotland) are initiating a Coffee, Care and Share Session on Thursday 24th August in the Oak Room, Young Peoples’ Department, Lower Garden Villa, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH from 10.30-12noon, and on Thursday September 28th from 7.30-9pm. The aim is to offer support informally to those caring for young people affected by an eating disorder, and encourage carers to support each other. If you are interested in attending, please email our administrator via our contact form.