Balancing between mental vulnerability and strength in daily life when suffering from eating difficulties.

The aim of this study was to explore the daily life experiences of women who suffer from eating difficulties (ED). The research question was: what mental challenges related to daily life are experienced by women who suffer from ED? ED challenge the daily lives of individuals and their families. The problem is often concealed, and the individuals concerned frequently experience guilt and shame. An explorative design was used. Five women participated in a group programme focusing on experiences of ED, guilt and shame, being a mother and self-expression. Data were collected using focus group interviews and analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. The main theme Balancing between mental vulnerability and strength comprised three themes: (1) Struggling with emotional ambivalence; (2) Being cognitively aware of limitations; and (3) Experiencing an existential sense of being lost and frozen. The mental challenges were strong and affected the participants' lives. One clinical implication for psychiatric nurses is to acknowledge the strength of emotional, cognitive and existential challenges and make it possible for patients to articulate their exhaustion in spite of their outward appearance of strength.