Where to go from here...

So, after a considerable absence from this new blog, I've returned with a post regarding recent ideas and reinforced concerns...

Ideas
I still don't know exactly what's out there for men whose wives or loved ones are struggling with eating disorders, but I am becoming more convinced that there could at least be little more, and more directed specifically at men and husbands. Ideas that have been floating through my head (and I apologize that this post may be a bit poorly researched and somehwat inarticulate), are expanding this blog into a more "full-service" web-site, creating a quick-reference network/directory of area hospitals, doctors, support groups, etc., beginning a Washington, DC area (where I live) support group (advertising at area hospitals, counselors/physchiatrists and churches), and starting a non-profit dedicated to educating and supporting men affected by and helping women with eating disorders (essentially a combination of all the ideas mentioned previously).

Concerns
Part of my motivation for starting this blog and beginning efforts to increase resources and support for men in this area is my own need for help. However, another key reason is the limited amount of information for the average man searching for help, especially on the internet. The more I search the internet, the more I encounter concerned, scared, confused and often desparate men looking for help and receiving very limited help in return. One of the most common means of support are counseling sites where people can post questions and receive responses from psychiatrists or counselors online. While helpful, the advice typically offered is broad and rarely expanded upon. This is especially discouraging to find as the primary resource for men stating that strongly considering or even on the verge leaving their wives as a result of being overwhelmed by and having no help in supporting their wives through their disease.

In addition to this basic frustration, I've now unfortunately begun to discover and become quite angry about the fact that not only are there limited resources, but there is often bad and misleading information out there for men. My most recent example of this is a post I found while searching for "wife has 'eating disorder'" on Google. I came across a post in a Vancouver-based discussion forum. In this post a man shared his concern about his wife's recent exercise and eating habits--a fairly clear description of anorexia. In response to this man's cry for help, he received dozens of disrespectful and frankly ignorant comments. http://www.discovervancouver.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=182770

These discouraging realizations only reinforce my sense of calling to do something, however small, to increase the help and support available to men struggling to help their wives and beloved women cope with and overcome eating disorders.

Please help me develop ways to create and offer this support!