Question:

I am a 26-year-old single mum and I have been bulimic on and off for around eight years. It has gotten worse over the past six months and I can't stop it consuming my life. I'm so depressed I'm scared that my teeth are going to get damaged. I have tried therapy but it is limited as I can't afford private therapy. I feel hopeless and stuck. Are there any services that offer help for free in Sydney?

Answer:

You will know better than anyone that eating disorders such as bulimia are serious health conditions. And as with any other health concern, the best place to start is by talking to your GP. If you don't have a regular doctor you feel comfortable with, then ask people you know if they can recommend one who you can talk to frankly about your feelings of depression and worry, as well as the bulimia.

A good GP will be able to refer you to a specialist service or therapist able to bulk bill or provide a Medicare-subsidised course of care. You can contact the Sydney-based Centre for Eating and Dieting Disorders for more information too: www.cedd.org.au.

It is also helpful to talk to others who have been in a similar situation as you, and I recommend contacting a support group through an organisation such as the Butterfly Foundation: www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au.