Eating disorders are a serious problem that affects many people across the world. Thankfully, awareness is growing and more people are talking about it. However, this doesn’t mean that the problem is going to go away anytime soon. If you have an eating disorder friend or family member, support might be harder to find for you than for them. When you have an eating disorder, it can feel like everyone treats you differently. Everyone around you thinks that you’re different and don’t understand how hard it is for them to follow a restrictive diet or eat under supervision. Your friends might not know how to help and may even feel awkward asking questions. It can all seem very isolating, which makes recovery from one of these conditions very difficult indeed!
The best way to combat eating disorders? Keep reading to
learn more about these challenging issues and discover some helpful tips from specialists from the rehabilitation center, The Meadowglade, which specializes in mental health and eating disorders, on how to deal with them if they ever
happen in your life.
Encourage
recovery
Recovery is different for everyone. There are no “rules’’ in
recovery. However, The Meadowglade specialists indicate that there are some
things that may help get you on the right track. Encourage your friend to seek
professional help and find a support system to help them with recovery.
Help your friend feel safe enough to open up and talk about
what they’re going through. When you have an eating disorder, it can feel like
everyone treats you differently.
Everyone around you thinks that you’re different and don’t
understand how hard it is for them to follow a restrictive diet or eat under
supervision.
Your friends might not know how to help and may even feel awkward asking
questions. It can all seem very isolating, which makes recovery from one of
these conditions very difficult indeed!
Patients receiving care at this Moorpark-based healthcare
facility, The Meadowglade - specialized in eating disorders -may receive
clinical treatment as well as holistic and creative therapies. The
professionals at this center have expertise, abilities, and techniques that
last for extended periods of time and enhance patient health and productivity.
Talk
about body image and dieting habits
Eating disorders are rarely simple “disorders” that involve a
person eating a certain way. Instead, people often suffer from body image
issues and a fixation on dieting. This can make it even more complicated for
someone to understand that a friend might be struggling with an eating
disorder. The Meadowglade specialists suggest asking your friend what they’re
thinking about and why eating certain foods might be triggering. Let them know
that this is normal and that it’s OK to not be OK – to be sad or angry about
their feelings. Let them know that they don’t have to be perfect and that they
can be themselves while they’re getting help.
Educate
yourself on eating disorders
It can be hard to understand what someone is going through if
you’re not directly affected by their struggles. Luckily, there are many
resources on the internet that can help you get started. Find some articles or
podcasts on eating disorders that you enjoy. You can even read books or blog posts related to body image or dieting habits if they are relevant to you. This
can be a great way to stay in touch with the latest research and best practices
in the field.
Stay
active for weight loss
Many people who struggle with eating disorders are also
trying to lose weight for cosmetic reasons. From The Meadowglade suggest being
careful not to make dieting the only goal when trying to lose weight. Many
people with eating disorders are also trying to control their weight for other
reasons, such as anxiety or body image issues. If your friend is dieting
excessively, let them know that dieting alone can lead to disordered eating.
Dieting can make people feel bad about themselves and lead them to binge eat.
Binge eating can lead to weight gain and make body image issues even worse.
It’s important to keep dieting goals realistic and to make sure your friend is
also getting proper exercise.
About The Meadowglade
The Meadowglade is a 20-minute drive from central Los Angeles and is located in Moorpark, California. This rehabilitation center offers a
clinical-treatment blend to patients with mental illness and eating problems.
Each patient is treated with an individualized approach. Patients who reside at The Meadowglade may overcome clinical treatment with independent living. The
estate's environment, featuring rolling hills, secret gardens, avocado groves,
fruit orchards, and sprawling pastures, supports a harmonious transition back
to a self-sufficient life. The level of care provided by The Meadowglade's
world-class specialists is not only mentally beneficial but also improves the
quality of life in every way.
