According to the National Eating Disorders Association, or NEDA, 20 million women and 10 million men will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Eating disorders often start in adolescence or young adulthood. This can be a hard issue for parents to deal with. It is painful to see your child battle with food while losing or gaining large amounts of weight. There are no easy ways to deal with an eating disorder, but the following tips may help.
Talk to Your Teen
It's important to talk “to” and not “at.” It's also important to avoid yelling, scolding and lecturing. Instead, pick a day when you both have time to talk and find a quiet, private place. Start by explaining your concerns. Use specific examples. For instance, “I see that you've lost three pounds this week,” instead of, “You just keep losing weight. What am I supposed to do with you?” Don't be surprised if your teenager meets your concerns with denial or even scorn. Try to remain patient and supportive, and don't let yourself be dragged into an argument. Tell your teen you are always available to talk. You may need to initiate several such discussions before you feel as if you are starting to break through.
Help Your Teen Get Treatment
There are several different kinds of treatment including outpatient, intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization, and inpatient. If you decide to go the outpatient route, you will probably need to find several different providers. These include a psychotherapist to help process feelings, a psychiatrist to manage any psychoactive medications, a support group to share feelings, a doctor to honor physical well-being and a nutritionist to provide advice about healthy eating. Another option is inpatient treatment from an institution such as Reasons Eating Disorder Center. Inpatient care provides security, routine and supervision. Many inpatient programs also offer alternate therapies like yoga and acupuncture.
Having a child with an eating disorder is very stressful for parents. You may be struggling with self-blame – even though it isn't your fault. You may be angry and want to yell at or punish your child for his or her weight issues. Although these are natural impulses, it's important to stay calm and to approach your teen from a position of love. Considering the difficult challenge you are facing, you might want to get some counseling for yourself. Whatever you do, be sure to protect your own health.
1 Comment
I think, we must first introduce our teens to various physical activities, sports, gym workout and yoga. Once that done, it is easier to introduce them to the healthier eating.