Shedding light on eating disorders in men, this BALANCE blog navigates the unique challenges, impacts, and support options available. Men deserve recovery, too.
Eating disorder recovery is challenging for everyone involved, including parents of those with eating disorders. While working through recovery is more rewarding than staying stuck in an eating disorder, it is important to remember that recovery is not a linear process. This can make supporting your child in recovery feel demanding and exhausting.
Maintaining stable relationships with loved ones in recovery can be challenging. People with eating disorders often isolate themselves and act differently than they do when they are not struggling. That does not mean all hope is lost or that you, as part of their support system, should give up or stop doing what is best for them.
Families can play a crucial role in supporting recovery. While eating disorders are by no means a direct reflection of parents' or siblings' approach to food, it is necessary to be self-aware about food or movement. Whether you change rules around eating at the dinner table, how you comment on your own food intake or exercise choices, or even rethink comments about appearance in general, listening to your child and their support team can be incredibly helpful.
You may believe you can manage your recovery and healing from your eating disorder alone, but getting support is essential. It is human nature to both need and seek support, comfort, and accompaniment from loved ones, peers, and other beings. Finding a stable support system can be challenging. However, it is worth pursuing because it is crucial for a successful recovery.
Love is different for each of us, and people can celebrate love in all forms. However, love can feel inaccessible and isolating if you or someone you care about struggles with food and body distress. So it is essential to communicate affection in a way that promotes and supports lasting recovery.
Eating disorders are not restricted to only affecting one’s relationship with food. For anyone who has a significant other with an eating disorder, you may notice your partner’s illness creating obstacles within your relationship. The reality is that eating disorders overwhelm almost every aspect of one’s life, including relationships with people around them.
Eating disorders can look different across individuals and can look different within diagnoses. And while the stereotypical eating disorder patient is portrayed as incredibly thin, avoiding food, and over-exercising, eating disorders do not discriminate. They can take many forms. If you think a loved one is struggling, consider the signs below before considering how you might approach them or look to support them.
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.
The winter holidays can be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy being with family and friends. But they can also be stressful and challenging for people with eating disorders. If you or someone you love is navigating the holidays while struggling with an eating disorder, it is crucial to know how to be supportive.
Discover 5 essential ways to support a loved one in eating disorder recovery during the holiday season. Make this time recovery-aligned with compassion and understanding.
