"I'm frightened for my life, I want to live."

These are the words of anorexia sufferer Vanessa Holbrow, who is calling for more support for eating disorder sufferers in Somerset and improvements in recognition of the impact of childhood trauma.

The 47-year-old from Berrow said she has struggled with her eating disorder for 35 years and claims there is a lack of support services to help older sufferers of the condition across Somerset.

"I feel frightened for my life, I want to live, there is so much I want to do but I can't," Vanessa said.

"There are specialist units in other parts of the country that specialise in helping treat people with eating disorders but there are none in my area, it's a real struggle.

"It's shocking that you have get to be really unwell to get treatment.

"I do have the option of going into hospital but I want to be able to have facilities at home so I can combine my trauma work and weight gain and continue work in the community on learning how to live a healthy life.

"I am not trying to blame anyone, I know that there are not enough resources there to do this but I know that putting me in hospital for weeks on end isn't the answer."

A spokesman for Somerset CCG, said: “Patient confidentiality prevents Somerset CCG from discussing the care or treatment of an individual patient, but the advice to Ms Holbrow would be to see her family doctor, who is best placed to refer her to the professional help and support she needs."

Vanessa also claims she was misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) 25 years ago after suffering from childhood trauma and said she believes if she was diagnosed with complex trauma she may not be suffering now.

"When I was a child I suffered trauma at the hands of my carers, the people who were supposed to protect me," Vanessa said.

"I have been in the system for 25 years, I could have been helped far better if this had been recognised earlier on.

"I was misdiagnosed and it is only now coming to light.

"The trauma I suffered has had a big impact on my eating disorder, I have never recovered fully, I never received the treatment I needed.

"This is not anyone's fault. Somerset Care Commissioning Group's (Somerset CCG) hands are tied, complex trauma is not recognised in the National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE) guidelines."

A spokesman for NICE said they are currently updating their guidelines to include complex trauma and they will be published in December.

Vanessa said she will continue to fight for treatment and hopes her story will help others suffering from the effects of trauma in the future.

"I want to be a voice for the people who haven't made it," Vanessa said.

"Complex trauma is still a misunderstood illness. I am pleased the NICE guidelines are going to be changed so it is recognised more by medical professionals and by the public but there is still a long way to go.

"I hope that my story will help others facing this condition and I will continue to fight for my treatment."