How can I care for a loved one who has anorexia?

How can I care for a loved one who has anorexia?

There are multiple things you can do to help and support someone with anorexia, including:

• Learn about anorexia: Educate yourself about anorexia to better understand what they are going through. Don’t assume you know what they are experiencing.
• Be empathetic: Don’t downplay or dismiss their feelings and experiences. Let them know that you are there to listen and support them. Try to put yourself in their shoes.
• Encourage them to seek help and/or treatment: While having an understanding and supportive friend or family member is helpful to a person with anorexia, anorexia is a medical condition. Because of this, people with anorexia need treatment such as therapy and nutritional counseling to manage their condition. Encourage them to talk to their healthcare provider if they are experiencing the signs and symptoms of anorexia.
• Be patient: It can take a while for someone with anorexia to get better once they’ve started treatment. Know that it is a long and complex process and that their symptoms and behaviors will eventually improve.