dos and don't of helping with bulimia

Here's some interesting things to do and things not to do when helping someone with bulimia.

http://helpguide.org/mental/bulimia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm is the source.

 

Do:

• Be a cool customer. No matter how worried you are, approaching your loved one with alarm is not the best approach. Stash away the eating disorder articles for now. Find a neutral place to chat and: (1) calmly say what you’ve noticed, and (2) explain why you’re worried.
• Talk and listen. Let compassion be your guide. Make sure they know you intend to listen. Keep in mind they might feel defensive or angry. It’s embarrassing to talk about binging and purging. But if they do come to you for a listening ear, show no judgment, even if they sound unstable.
• Take “solve” out of your vocabulary. As a parent or friend, there isn’t a lot you can do to “fix” your loved one’s bulimia. They must decide on their own when they are ready to move forward.
• Set an example of healthy eating, exercising, and body image. Never make negative comments about your own body or anyone else’s.
• Be good to yourself. Know when to seek advice for yourself from a counselor or health professional. Keep your friends and relatives involved in the support network.

Don’t:

• Be the food police. A person with bulimia needs kindness, not nutritional advice.
• Use insults, fear, guilt, or embarrassment. Since bulimia is often a caused by a form of stress and self-hate, negativity will only make it worse.