Question: Am I too old to attempt recovery?

Answer:  No. Never. Period. Full Stop.

When years of shame becomes decades, it can seem insurmountable make that first step towards recovery.  Those little lies you tell yourself to get through the day are now the lies that have kept you confined in an eating disorder longer than even you'd imagined possible.  You grapple with the desire to live a life free of disordered eating and the fear of giving up your fractured way of existing wins over.  For inexplicable reasons, you have fights with those that would help you.  And each day, you go round and round, thoughts spinning faster and the music on this haunted ride keeps getting louder drowning out all sensibilities.

Admittedly, getting off that merry-go-round and presenting for treatment can be anxiety provoking. But You can do it!  Staying off will require courage, fortitude and a strong support system.

The next question generally seems to be: Will I recover after being ill so long?  Nothing is promised to anyone, I can only be certain that if you don't attempt recovery you will stay ill.   

But how?  I would recommend starting with your primary care physician to get a medical checkup.  Be specific and say that you have an eating disorder.  If you feel you cannot say this, then write it down, or take someone with you who can help you. Depending on illness manifestations, your heart, bones, electrolytes, and blood counts will need to be evaluated.  Do not fight the process.

Then locate a psychiatrist, nutritionist and therapist.  Try calling The National Eating Disorder Association's Helpline :

Live Helpline Hours (1-800-931-2237): Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm Pacific 

NEDA also offers online referrals.

There are many other referral databases available on the internet, and this is only one example.  In searching for a therapist, It would be prudent to ask for someone who has worked with a patient who is not in their teens, and has varied issues.  Ask for their hours of availability, philosophy, training, affiliations with treatment center, cost/insurance information, views on recovery and success rate.

Arm yourself with literature such as Trisha Gura's Lying in Weight:  The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women.

Unlike other recovery from alcohol or other drugs of abuse, abstinence from food is not an option.  Learning to have what was abused/feared on a daily basis is now the challenge.  You must take comfort in knowing that it has been done.  Others have gone before you and succeeded.  You too can triumph.  The hardest part is making the attempt.