Often I am asked a question: “How can I help?”
The best way of helping someone is to learn to understand their condition. ED is extremely complex and it takes a time to fully understand what is happening. Sometimes people do not know where to start. I listed some questions, which could help to learn, which areas need to be addressed:
- Do you believe full Recovery from eating distress is possible?
- Do you know the difference between Eating Distress and Eating Disorder?
- Do you know how long it takes for person to recover?
- Are you prepared to give your loved one the time and freedom to recover?
- Do you have the patience to give to your loved one’s recovery?
- Are you able to transform your worry about your loved one into belief in them?
- Do you accept that recovery brings about a lot of changes?
- Do you show your loved one physical affection even if they do not deserve it?
- Do you show your loved one emotional affection even if they do not deserve it?
- Do you compliment your loved one about the person that they are?
- Do you see a lot of goodness and talents in your loved one?
- Are you able to have friendly conversations about the small things in life with the sufferer?
- Do you accept your loved one for who they are and not what you want from them?
- Do you address your fears and observations in a loving and non-judgemental manner?
- Did you throw your own guilt out the window?
- Are you able to pay special and individual attention to people apart from the sufferer?
- When your loved one talks, are you able to listen?
- Do you take care of yourself so that you are able to take care of others?
- When there is a conflict are you able to focus on the role you play?
- Are you able to give up comparing your loved one to others?
- Do you often feel like you are walking on egg-shells?
- Is recovery about ‘getting the old person back’?
- Does your happiness depend on your loved one’s recovery?
- Did your life stop when you learned about your loved one’s ED?
- Do you blame your loved one for your own anxiety and insecurities?
- Are you trying to find rational answers to the irrational condition?
- Are you trying to find a single cause and cure for the condition?
- Do you allow your loved one to dominate the functioning of your life?
- Are you becoming your sufferers’ therapist?
If some of these areas are confusing for you, you can join our Saturday’s Recovery classes or contact us via email or phone.
https://www.marinotherapycentre.com/contact-us/
We all are here to learn from one another.
Thank you
Marie
