There is overwhelming evidence that the best chance of helping a loved one overcome an eating disorder, is early intervention. Which means even if the eating disorder sufferer themselves isn’t ready to engage with the process of recovery, the carers can, and this can make all the difference. Please take a look at the eating disorder quiz page, to try to gauge if your concerns deem it necessary to get in touch. In the meantime, there is a suggested way to help broach the subject with the sufferer. Please read on to find out more.
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions, and require knowledgable guidance, which can be gained through the opportunity of carer support/counselling. This space is not just about supporting carers, but education and guidance in the strategies that are proven to be most beneficial.
Over the life-course of the disorder, families can be put under enormous stress and relationships can become taut. It’s a tough time for everyone.
I can help you find a voice to talk to your loved one. Fear of making things worse can stop you from feeling able to talk about important subjects or things on your mind. You can learn how to broach tricky subjects such as mealtimes or weight loss/gain. It is important not to become powerless to the illness yet not overwhelm the sufferer and further imbed the problem. For further reading around this I highly recommend getting the book 'Skills based caring for a loved one with an eating disorder: The new Maudsley method' by Janet Treasure.
In severe cases, you may have had to give up your job in order to look after your loved one. In that case you may be entitled to a carers allowance.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view the translations.