Concerned Families: What to Do When Your Loved One Has an Eating Disorder

Mental illness is as difficult to discuss as it is to manage. Eating disorders have their own challenges based on the person themselves as well as their disorder. Below are four ways to help a loved one who has an eating disorder.

Listen, Don’t Judge

While the person is talking to you about their eating disorder, actively listen to what they have to say without judging them. If you bring out your judgements, it will most likely ruin the conversation. Let them know you are listening by saying their feelings back to them such as “I hear you saying that you want to change but a part of you is afraid of changing.”

Take Care With What You Say

When you talk to a person with an eating disorder, try not to make comments about their weight or clothing, since that might make them upset. Instead discuss other topics such as your pets. If you are a caregiver and want to discuss the illness with them, do not talk about food but their feelings that might be hiding inside.

Get Involved in the Treatment Process, Even If You Are the Sibling

As a sibling, ask what treatment the person is getting and how you can get involved. The person may have to stay at a treatment facility such as the Reasons Eating Disorder Center. It is important to learn if you can visit them. If you are not allowed to see them, contact them by phone or email to let them know you are thinking of them. As a caregiver, help the person develop a treatment plan to reach recovery and support them through their treatment by letting you know you care about them.

The Person Is Not Their Disease

Allow yourself to separate the person you care about from their eating disorder. The person is still the same person they always were and this can help you as well as the person with the illness. Externalizations when you are able to remove the person from their illness. It can help you see that the illness is the issue and the person is the solution to that issue. Eating disorders make it difficult for anyone involved, but it can help the person who is going through it to know that you care. Using the above tips will help not only you but the person you care about recover.