Support For Family And Friends
“To all who feel things will never get better, I want you to know that they can and will get better as your child gets healthy. I think it took my d two years after being weight restored to really be comfortable with herself, her weight and her illness. I know others have it happen faster, but it took us a while. On the outside she looked recovered, but I could feel that she wasn’t completely there, yet. It took a long time for her to be able to talk to me about it. In fairness, it took a while for me to not feel like I was walking around with PTSD from the illness and she couldn’t talk to me about it while I felt like that. We both needed to heal.If I could, I’d send all you wonderful parents fighting to heal your children a huge hug and energy to keep on fighting. You’ll get there! Lisa”
That touching note was from a grateful mom who found online support in a forum for parents and caregivers of anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorder patients.
Two such sites are as follows:
http://www.supportgroups.com/
http://www.aroundthedinnertable.org/
If your child is in a recovery program, there may be additional resources for parents.
Finding someone who has already been through what you’re living through can be such as relief and a sense that finally, someone knows what it’s like to fight this particular battle.
Being a parent or caregiver of someone with an eating disorder is a challenge to say the least, and the stakes are indeed high. But, it is important to know you are not alone.