Recovering from an eating disorder is a complex, time-consuming process. Yet, recovery is incredibly worthwhile. Along with a treatment team, family, friends, and loved ones can significantly impact a person’s recovery.
By: Elizabeth Low
Read more to learn a few helpful things to practice when supporting someone in eating disorder recovery:
Be Supportive
A support person might have the best intentions for someone in recovery but accidentally or unintentionally say something triggering. No matter which eating disorder someone is recovering from, shame is often a predominant emotion. You may think you are helping someone by highlighting their disordered behaviors or physical appearance, but this is counterintuitive. People will generally feel discouraged and worse about themselves.
Be mindful of what you do and say because nothing is more validating to someone in recovery than compassion.
Melissa E. Nieves, a registered dietitian, and author of the Fad Free Nutrition Blog, explains that it is unhelpful to become the “food police” by judging or talking about the affected individual’s food. Refrain from categorizing food as ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ and avoid talking about specific numbers, food, or physical appearance.
Recovery is a vulnerable time, so reassurance is essential. Statements like, “You are working very hard,” “I see all the amazing effort you are putting into this,” or “I am proud of you” go a long way. Everyone’s recovery journey is different, so communicating with your loved ones about what they need from you is crucial.
Educate Yourself
As mentioned above, knowing how to support your loved one who is struggling with an eating disorder is important. However, it is common to experience anxiety around saying the wrong thing or not knowing what to say at all. Educating yourself arms you with the information you need to support your loved one. Some great ways to do this include reading books on recovery, scrolling through our blog, or checking out The National Eating Disorders Association to learn more about what your loved one is facing.
In addition, don’t be afraid to ask questions in a loving, non-judgmental way. You will learn a lot by asking questions such as, “How can I support you right now?”
Focus on Experiencing Life
Eating disorders can feel all-consuming to someone struggling. Treatment often requires that other areas of a person’s life take a back seat while they recover. Registered Dietitian Rachel Link explains that focusing on activities or interests outside of an eating disorder can be incredibly powerful. You can remind your loved one that they are more than the condition and help them to feel less alone.
It is wonderful to be able to support someone through recovery. While there are things you can keep in mind to do or say, all you can do is try your best. Although it may be difficult, having open and non-judgmental conversations can make all the difference. Even those who support others need support sometimes, so ensure you are taking care of yourself. Above all, being there for a loved one in recovery is more valuable than anything else.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating and body image issues. If you’d like to support a loved one in eating disorder recovery, join us for our New Year, New You live stream event on Saturday, January 21st, at 12:30 pm EST. See how influencers and thought leaders at the center of redefining wellness look to change the industry in 2023 and join the conversation! RSVP for this extraordinary event here.
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This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Elizabeth Low (she/her).
Elizabeth is currently finishing her sociology degree with a concentration in social interaction and a minor in psychology at San Jose State University. During her undergraduate studies she has volunteered and worked in childcare, and in the food industry. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Nutrition or Counseling. She hopes to actively counteract social messaging that is linked to disordered eating, overexercise, and body dissatisfaction. Her interests include cooking, childcare, education, research, and writing. She plans to help individuals have a healthy relationship with food and their body image through counseling in the future.
References
Link, Rachael. “A Dieticians Journey of Recovering from an Eating Disorder.” Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/recovering-from-eating-disorder. Accessed July 10 2022
Nieves, Melissa E. “10 Ways to Challenge the Food Police and Stop Having Food Rules.” Fad Free Nutrition, https://fadfreenutrition.nutricionalgrano.com/challenge-the-food-police/. Accessed July 11 2022.
Smith, Melinda et al. “Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery.” HelpGuide,https://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-treatment-and-recovery.htm. Accessed July 9 2022.
