How Friends and Family Can Help
© Heather Mudgett.
I've been on both sides of the equation. I've been the one with the eating disorder. I was the one that family and friends worried about. I was the one who they tried to encourage to gain weight, stop purging, and get healthy.
But, like I said, I've also been on the other side of the equation. I've watched a good friend in high school lose more and more weight, until her clothes hung on her like a hanger. I've driven to the emergency room at 3am, to help my best friend who had begun throwing up blood during a serious binge & purge episode. And, I've been the "friend" who came to the hospital for "Friends & Family" group sessions, when that same friend was in-patient.... again.
Recently I've received a number of emails, from people who are concerned about a loved one with an eating disorder. They ask me for suggestions on how to support their loved one and how to encourage them towards recovery. I've heard from parents, concerned about their children, boyfriends concerned about their girlfriends, husbands concerned about their wives, and friends concerned about friends.
I think every situation is different, and every relationship is as well. So, I hesitate to give too specific an answer. After all, I am not a doctor, therapist or eating disorders expert. So generally my replies are fairly similar. I applaud them for their love and conern, and then I suggest a few websites which have specific information and specific ideas for friends and family.
Some of the sites and info is directed towards friends and family specifically, and other sites and info are to have their loved one (with an eating disorder) check out.
ANRED's page for parents, partners, and other family members.
AABA's Information for Friends and Family
SOMETHING-FISHY's friends & family bulletin board for discussions
Eating Disorder Referral & Info Center: For the Family Page
Rules of Support: What and what not to say
Anorexia: Info for Family and Friends
I also suggest browsing through my LINKS page, for other related information.
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