ED Community Forum Discussion: Giving and Receiving Support 3/6/20
Hi all!
Hope this week treated you kindly.
This week's discussion is on Giving and Receiving Support
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Support is essential in coping with, and overcoming an eating disorder. When times are tough, we can have the urge to isolate, which can exacerbate feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness and increase use of eating disorder behaviors--this illness trives in secrecy. We can find it difficult to reach out or ask for support, even if we want or need it. What type of support do we want? What type do we need? How do we ask? As a support / loved one to someone with an eating disorder, it can feel helpless. How do I help? What do they need?
I'd like to open a discussion around support--what it can look like, why it's important.
Some ways to support someone with an eating disorder:
* avoid making comments about their body or what they are or are not eating
* offer to eat meals with them if it's hard for them to eat alone
* go to the grocery store with them
* remind them that you love them no matter what, and that they deserve recovery
* learn about eating disorders and their specific type of eating disorder
* attend support groups and/or therapy sessions with them
* check in on them frequently
* avoid talk of calories, diets, weight, judgements of food (calling foods "good" or "bad")
* avoid moralizing food "I am being bad because I ate ____" "I shouldn't eat _______"
* do not pressure them into situations they are not ready for
* be mindful of making plans / big gatherings around food--if you do, touch base with them to see how they're feeling, if they're comfortable coming, and how to make the eating portion of the plans more manageable
* ask what they want and need, don't assume
* model normalized eating behaviors around them
These are just a few examples, there are SO many ways to give and receive support.
Please join me by sharing your thoughts!
Discussion questions:
1) What are some ways that you've been supported in the past that have been helpful for you?
2) What are some ways that you've been supported in the past that haven't been helpful?
3) What do you want your supports to know about how to best support you?
4) For supports: What do you find difficult about supporting your loved one?
5) For supports: What types of support have your loved ones asked you for? Were you able to provide it?
6) Why is support important in coping with and recovering from an eating disorder?
7) Any other thoughts on support? Share them here!
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Looking forward to discussing with you all