Sarah is the mother of Issy, a young person who received treatment through FREED. Sarah shares her experiences of living with and supporting Issy as she accessed treatment.
As high-school finished it became clear that Issy was ill. I couldn’t sort it all out and make her better. This is where FREED came in. Thankfully, Issy fitted the criteria to be treated as part of this project and they able to see her within a couple of weeks. The only hold up was the problem of paying for the treatment. It took quite a bit of phoning around and detective work to speak to the commissioner and have the funding agreed. This was a difficult time. Issy was anxious to start treatment and worried that if she put on any weight at all she’d be told, “actually you don’t need help now”. Even in that short waiting time she lost more weight.
The treatment itself was tough. For the next year or so Issy and I were regular visitors to the Eating Disorders unit at the Maudsley. Issy’s therapy sessions focused very much on Issy and her own personal eating disorder. There was no talk of why she was ill or whose fault it was. There was a clear focus on what was keeping her in the eating disorder and what was making it hard for her to move on. These things quickly became the focus of Issy’s sessions. FREED gave them the freedom to personalise Issy’s treatment and adapt it to exactly what Issy needed at that time.
"There was no talk of why she was ill or whose fault it was. There was a clear focus on what was keeping her in the eating disorder and what was making it hard for her to move on."
Ian and I took part in a parent and carer workshop which was practical and very informative. We chatted with other parents, met therapists and nurses and were given a clear overview of both the physical and mental side of the illness. Most useful for me was the insight into an anorexic brain. It gave me some understanding of how Issy must be feeling and some rationale for her behaviours. FREED recognised the importance of the family in supporting Issy and it was so good that the treatment programme had the flexibility to accommodate us all.
As Issy came towards the end of her treatment she was growing as person and expanding other areas of her life. Although things can still be really hard at times, I think that FREED has given Issy a sense that while it’s not very nice for her, it’s ok if things are hard. And beyond that, she has the capacity to work through difficult times and get herself back on track.
FREED was brilliant for Issy. There was a rapid response at a time when she was falling deeper into her illness. The programme was personalised with Issy at the centre. It focused on exactly what she needed at that time, and gave her strength, tools and strategies she needed for when times are tough. It helped us as family to help her in the best way we could. And gave her the belief and trust in herself to go out, face the world and live her life.
"FREED was brilliant for Issy. There was a rapid response at a time when she was falling deeper into her illness. The programme was personalised with Issy at the centre."
