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Finding Support That Works For You.

© Heather Mudgett.

Just a quick note before I start. I've received a number of e-mails from my readers. Please know that I do appreciate your feedback. It's good to know that my articles are being read and appreciated. Also, thank you to those of you have emailed me with support during this pregnancy. I'm working on a new article to post, which details some of the eating disorder related things which have come up during the past few months. But in the meantime, please know that I am doing fairly well, and dealing with the pregnancy weight as best I can. Again, I do appreciate all your notes.

Ok, let's get started....

For someone struggling with anorexia, or bulimia, support is an essential stepping stone on the road to recovery.

The first impulse of friends and family is often to tell the anorexic to "just eat more" and tell the bulimic to "just stop binging and purging." This is probably the least helpful thing you can say. In fact, you would likely be setting yourself up to be frequently lied to. (Yes, we anorexics and bulimics are masters of deceit and can make it appear like we are changing our behaviors when we have absolutely no intention of doing so...) A better approach might be to be as unconfrontational as you can. Let the person know that you care about them, and are concerned. Suggest that the person seek assistance with their problem. (Although, if memory serves me, getting them to realize that they HAVE a problem can be half the battle!) Take a moment to read AA/BA's FAMILY & FRIENDS PAGE.

One-on-one therapy, group therapy, support groups, residential treatment centers, and medical treatment are all options for support. Take a moment to read through Something-Fishy's page on WHAT YOU CAN DO. Future articles will discuss individual therapy, residential treatment centers, and medical treatments, which can all be effective in getting through to someone with an eating disorder and helping them find their way to recovery.

In my case, I found the most success with group therapy and support groups. Somehow, meeting other women and girls who were as emotionally stressed as I was, and who, like me, were completely stuck in the rut of an eating disorder, was somehow comforting. Talking with these women about the deep dark secrets in our lives, without being attacked or judged, was a key to heading to recovery. The Women's Issues: Self-Help, Education, Support (W.I.S.H.E.S) site has a good page on HOW TO BENEFIT FROM SUPPORT GROUPS.

The copyright of the article Finding Support That Works For You. in Eating Disorders is owned by Heather Mudgett.. Permission to republish Finding Support That Works For You. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.