Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association "serving those affected by eating disorders" Life Skills Support

What is Life Skills Support?

Our aim is to offer support for individuals wanting to develop their independence. Often, when you suffer from an eating disorder, it begins to steal your life away from you. This
project can help you to reclaim your life and move on.

If you have thought about this and have made a decision to go forward, then this support could be of interest to you.

The support will be geared to your needs as an individual. This could be in any aspect of your life which has been problematic such as socialising with family and friends, developing new interests and hobbies, and support with food and exercise issues

Support with Socialising

It can be very hard to go out and meet new people; going into unfamiliar situations can also be a struggle. This project can help you to start rebuilding your social network and develop your confidence in social situations. With your Support Worker, you will have the opportunity to practice skills in a safe way that you can then use elsewhere, e.g. keeping conversations away from food at mealtimes, which will help lessen stress levels.

Support with Promoting a Healthy Exercise Balance

Adequate exercising creates health, happiness and is empowering, however excessive exercise will bring about just the opposite. Your supporter will encourage you to explore your use of exercise as a self-punishing tool and help you to incorporate a healthy balance of exercise into your life.

Self-Esteem Work

Eating disorders and self-esteem issues are often closely interlinked, SWEDA’s Life Skills Support enables you to work through, with assistance from your supporter, the self-esteem workbook “Eating Disorders and Self-Esteem” by Dr. Alex Yellowlees.

Meal Support

Receiving support around food and eating can be very difficult. Your Supporter will be very aware of
this; there will be plenty of opportunity to discuss together what will be helpful for you, and to agree a shared plan based
on realistic goals.

Discussions may include:-

• The Environment
  Meal-times can be very stressful. The objective will be to provide a relaxed atmosphere in order for you to experience mealtimes as part of a healthy way of life.

• Food Episodes
  Both parties will work together and agree a meal plan in which portion sizes are small and within your
  capability to consume. These portions would only be increased when you yourself feel it is right to do so.

• Eating with others
  Eating a meal with your supporter in a relaxed and reassuring way can help you with socialising and eating with others. Eventually this will enable you
  to explore new experiences and be able to be comfortable eating in public places.

What should I do now?

If you are interested in SWEDA’s Life Skills Support, please contact Anita Worcester at SWEDA. You will then be invited to an initial meeting to explore the kind of support you need, and agree a plan together.

01458 448600
an answerphone is available when the helpline is closed.

SWEDA is a registered charity (No.1056441) and a company limited by guarantee (No.3208772)

There will always be a listening ear…
Just ask for the support you need.