Helping An Eating-Disordered Loved One
I am not exactly the most qualified person to be writing a guide about helping a loved one with an eating disorder, but frankly I don't seen many other people doing it. I've scoured the web for resources on this subject, and it always boils down to two things: "get them professional help" (duh) and "be supportive" (double duh.) I needed something a little more specific, in-depth, and practical, some sort of actionable advice.
Since I failed for the most part to find these kinds of resources online, I decided to do my best to create them. I am a recovered bulimic, I love a recovering anorexic, I've spoken with many anorexics and bulmics, and I've studied the subject. Those are my credentials. I recommend Peggy Claude-Pierre's book "The Secret Language of Eating Disorders" as it was the source of about half of this information.
Note: for the sake of simplicity I'll be calling the eating disordered person we're referring to "she" even though I realize that roughly 1/5th of all eating disordered persons are male. I will also refer to her as "loved one" since the individual could be your sister, your daughter, or your spouse. In addition for brevity I will also be referring solely to anorexia even though this is a guide for bulimia and anorexia.
It's best if you read these in order.
Before You Jump In Some practical considerations to look over to find out if you're prepared for this journey.
The Negative Mind A section to describe what precisely is driving your loved one to her grave.
Feed the Soul Before the Body Various ways to express love and fight the Negative Mind.
Food Strategies A list of "Do's" and "Dont's" in getting your loved one to eat.
Gaining Trust Learning to distinguish the person from the disease and gain the trust of your loved one.
Safety Guidelines Common sense methods for preventing your loved one from harming herself.
Re-parenting; the Stages of Recovery What to expect, when to expect it, and what to do when it happens.
Coming Soon: "How to Choose a Professional" and "What Ana Sounds Like."
If anyone would like to make contributions of any kind (corrections, art, tips, their own experience) please contact me to discuss it.
Email: ericaherron@hotmail.com