So how does one recover from anorexia?
The first and most crucial step to recovery is admitting to yourself that you have a problem. It is the hardest part of recovery in any mental disorder, and it can take many years. The next step is to get help from a professional or specialist.
Aside from the professional approach there are a few practical tips I feel I can give from firsthand experience which might be able to help both the sufferer and their family and friends tackle the eating disorder:
For parents:
1. The first, and perhaps most important thing not to do, is force the sufferer to eat (as hard as that is). You’ve got to bear in mind that food is not really the issue, and by forcing a sufferer you will actually make them revolt more as they will feel you’re trying to control the one thing they thought they had complete control over. They won’t be happy if you threaten that.
2. Try as best as you can to not get angry with the sufferer. Avoid using the guilt trip approach and saying things like: “I would be so happy if you ate” or “Why can’t you just eat and forget about it like everyone else?” Remember that a person with anorexia is unable to control their thoughts about food, and shouting at them or guilt-tripping them will only make them feel worse.
3. Try not to get into long-winded conversations with the sufferer about weight, diet or exercise. Remember that these are all elements of anorexia, in which the patient lives in a bubble where everything is about food, diet and exercise. So by getting into conversations with them about these areas you’re actually reinforcing and encouraging them to remain in the anorexic bubble.
4. As mentioned before, the best thing to do is consult a specialist on eating disorders, and whilst the patient is under their care, try your best to keep a stable, calm and guilt-free environment for them.
Although it’s incredibly difficult to do all these things whilst watching a loved one suffering from anorexia, one thing I can say that even my parents would firmly agree with is that after doing them a few times, it does become progressively easier, and you will soon be better able to cope.
