todays topic comes
from a lot of feedback that I've gotten from- I said gotten again.
I think that-
that's just how it got (inaudible)
(Intro Music)
todays topic comes from
a lot of you. It's a lot of questions that I've received on either Twitter
especially on my website KatiMorton.com, there's a discussion section
and I opened it up for feedback about what would you like me to talk about in my next
video
and I've heard from many of you over and over
about school and your eating disorder. How do I manage both?
So overwhelming! Right? You just
feel frustrated. Can't sleep at night. You can't study.
Can't remember what you've studied. You freak out during the test and you're half
awake, half asleep.
it just seems unmanageable. And I want you know that it's not.
There are a lot of things that we can do. The main-
I guess I say the most important
aspect to this entire video is your willingness.
School will always be there.
You can always go back. You can always complete that class.
There are things that I I'll tell you that will help you
better manage this but you have to be willing to make the steps.
Because otherwise it always seems hopeless. It's just like you eating disorder.
If I don't really want to take a steps to get better and get healthier
I'm never going to get there, right? And I know it sounds
just overwhelming and I don't want to think about it and I can't even imagine
not doing, finishing school with everybody. Or I can't imagine doing this.
But, it'll be okay. We're taking it one
step at a time. So the first step is obviously
we need to think about what you're doing now.
Are you seeing a therapist? Are you seeing a dietitian?
There are a lot eating disorder clinics that open their doors in the evening
for alumni groups, for support groups that work around our schedule.
I know there are four in my area that I can think of off the top my head
who have groups that either 6:30, 7:30, or 8:30
they run for an hour, you just pay your one fee. I think
range anywhere from 60 to 100 bucks for like eight to ten
sessions. Are you doing that kinda stuff? Those are things you can do around
school.
Those are things that we can help incorporate into your schedule.
There are a lot of therapists at schools. You can see
therapists when you're at school, right after school,
right before school, maybe part of a break, maybe you have a little block
a period, you usually do studying and stuff. That's the perfect time to see somebody
There are dietitians at school. I know.
Everybody's right there at your fingertips. You have to take advantage
of that.
And if you're not doing that,
that's the first thing I'd ask you to do. Start enlisting people in your
treatment team.
Find a therapist that you really trust and I would encourage you
to watch my video about making your first therapist appointment, because if
you don't like 'em,
don't go back. It's a waste your time. So,
okay. We got that down. And that's what we call
the outpatient, kinda work it into your schedule
and you have to make time for it. If that's not enough,
if you are so severely ill,
and you're actually really worried for your health. Maybe you contemplated going to the hospital
because
something feels wrong and something's off. Maybe you passed out multiple times.
Maybe you have like gastrointestinal issues that are just so wreaking havoc upon your
ability to go to school.
That probably isn't enough and I would encourage you
to go into a form of an inpatient program.
The tricky thing with that, is that you can't go to school while you do that.
You may, and the key word being may, you may be able to do some study
at the center, but I really wouldn't count on it. okay.
I know that's really hard to hear but this
is your life. You obviously can't keep going down the road
you're going, doing what you're doing. You know it's not working.
You're telling me that you can't focus.
That you're getting really shitty grades because you
can't remember what you studied. There's a lot of stuff going on.
Life is stressful enough without an eating disorder, like oh my gosh, just give
me another thing to deal with every day,
right? So taking the time to properly
care for yourself, properly like get proper treatment,
it's worth the time. So we have to make that decision.
And I know it's a really hard decision and that also requires that you tell people
like your friends and your family and that can be really hard.
But I'll help you, help give tips,
as we work through that, because I know it's really difficult
Once you've made that decision, it's very simple to do.
W hat you have to do is you have to make an appointment with your primary care doctor
I know you're thinking, "What the heck. You were just talking about therapists and dietitians. What they heck
do I need to see a doctor for?"
They're going to have to write a letter to your school. They'll be happy to do it.
It takes them 10 seconds. A therapist may also.
You may also want to get her or him to write a letter. I've done these
hundreds of times. They're very simple. All they need to say
is that for medical reasons you need to
take a leave of absence from school. They'll know exactly
what to put into it. You just need to tell them that you're suffering from
anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, whatever it may be.
and you're going into treatment and so you're not gonna be able to finish school this
year and
you're going to need to take a break and come back and finish it later.
They'll know exactly what to say. You don't even have to worry about that.
The hardest part, I know, is just telling people about it and getting to that appointment.
And you're going to have to make that appointment because every inpatient
center is going to
ask for blood work and all sorts of medical
crap that you have to get from that doctor.
So, make that appointment. Make the decision
to care for yourself, to take the time because you can't do it all.
We're not perfect. It's overwhelming, right?
But people are there to help you. And if you haven't even enlisted a therapist, that's
the first thing I'd tell you to do.
Go try to find a therapist. You need someone to vent to, someone to help,
someone to support that you can be real with, you can be honest, you have to worry
about what they think.
Okay. So, think about it.
Journal about it. Talk to a friend about it.
But make the decision that will lead to a healthier you
in the future, okay?
And let me know. If you have any comments about this, "Hey,
I've done that and it didn't work out. what do I do now?"
or, "hey. I am scared to tell my mom" or, "I'm scared to talk to the doctor. How do you say
that?"
Any kind of feedback is great. Just make your comments below and don't forget to
subscribe.
so if I feel like there's enough comments about one topic, I'll happily do
another video about this giving
more detail and more tips. And maybe there's more steps involved that I didn't
address that
you need me to talk about. I'd be happy to do it. And also don't forget to check out my
website KatiMorton.com
There's a lot information, a lot of feedback on there as well. And let's just
keep working. I know it's hard.
I know every step seems harder but it will get easier, I promise.
and we'll continue working towards a healthy mind and a healthy body.