Over 28.8 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetimes. This affects not only themselves, but also friends and family as they watch their loved one suffer. Many patients experience isolation because of their eating disorder, but community provides the support needed to create lifelong, healthy eating patterns.
Alsana CEO, Allan Benham, spoke with Authority Magazine on how to support a loved one who may be struggling with an eating disorder. Allan offered five helpful ways to best show support:
Educate Yourself: Knowledge helps to reduce misconceptions about eating disorders and allows you to understand what your loved one experiences on a day-to-day basis.
Encourage Professional Help: Eating disorders can sneak up on many people and require objective, outside help to unlearn. Gently suggest that your loved one seeks treatment from a reputable clinic or therapy. In addition, encourage your family, loved one and yourself to seek aid in the form of therapy or support group.
Avoid Focusing on Food: Comments on weight, eating habits and diet culture can all trigger someone recovering from an eating disorder. Encourage your loved one to join you in activities that do not revolve around food to create a safe environment.
Be Patient: Recovery can be a lifelong journey. While your loved one may currently be in treatment, remember that there will be ups and downs. Support them through empathy and understanding, even through the hard times.
Celebrate Progress: Positive reinforcement helps someone suffering from an eating disorder on their road to recovery. No matter how small their win may be, celebration provides them with the emotional lift needed to heal.
