Alex's Answer
I think I have an eating disorder, where do I go for help with this?
Your Question
I think I have an eating disorder? Where do I get help. I confided this with my mum, but she isn’t any help. Do I call my GP to get evaluated?Â
Answer
Hi there, you are very welcome to Ask Alex.  Â
Thank you for contacting us. We understand that it’s not always easy to share our worries and concerns, but we also know how important it is to talk about how we are feeling. You have been very brave in reaching out, and you have the right to get help and support.Â
You have said that you think you might have an eating disorder and are looking for some help. You mentioned that you confided in your mum about this, however, she isn’t being helpful.Â
All children in Ireland have a right to have a say, a right to be listened to and a right to be taken seriously in matters which affect them. All children also have the right to the best healthcare available. You can read more about your rights here: https://www.childline.ie/your-rights/ Â
You can contact your GP to get assessed. If you are over 16, you can consent to medical care, including any treatment or tests needed to find out what is making you feel unwell. However, doctors and hospitals will usually also look for the consent of your parents or guardian before they carry out any tests or treatment even if you are over 16 years old. You might find it helpful to visit this website: https://www.bodywhys.ie/ as this organisation offers services to people in Ireland who need support for eating disorders. Â
Remember, you can always contact our Childline Listening service if you don’t feel ready to talk to someone in your life quite yet. To reach us by text you can send a message to 50101, for our webchat service, please visit the website www.childline.ie, or you can call Childline on 1800 66 66 66 to talk about what is going on for you. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While we will not tell you what to do, we are here to listen to and support you, and to help you to explore the options that are available to you in your life. We are here to help you in a way that suits you.  Â
We hope that the information we have given you is useful. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any other questions. Â
You are not alone, there is help and support available to you.
Take care and be kind to yourself, Â
AlexÂ