Hello


can someone please help me one of my friends thinks she might have an eatting disorder and i dont know what to do! My friend said its her family's fault and her family does not know nad i cant tell them because she dont live in my town


any ideas what i could do or say beside pray

thanks,
Stacey

Stacy, I would encourage you to learn all you can about eating disorders - and take special note of things that they tell friends or family about how to be supportive. Maybe you could tell her about this board and encourage her to come and post. I have a good friend who is anorexic and bulimic and it is really hard to know how to help. I don't live near her; we are basically internet family. I got her to come here. She really needs counseling but she hasn't quite agreed to that yet. She hasn't told her family either (she's 18). Hope this helps a little. I think learning about it will help you. Mel

Hi, Stacey. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

The good news is that your friend sounds ready to admit that she may have an eating disorder. Hopefully, she has caught this herself in the early stages. That’s great. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Deffinately at least suggest this board to her. The problem is, there isn’t much more you can do for her other than just be there for her when she needs to talk. Knowing some about eating disorders like Mel said is also a good idea, just to be sure that you don’t unintentionally say something to her that may backfire...

Try to encourage her to seek counselling. If she doesn’t want her family to know, tell her to go to a school counsellor. Offer to go with her for morel support but whatever you do, DON’T go and talk to her family about it behind her back. Only if she was in an incredibly serious state – i.e. EXTREMELY underweight (meaning, dangerously), or suicidal should you do this so that appropriate action can be taken.

Also, remember... in the end her recovery is all up to her. She has to make to decisions about what she’s going to do and you should NEVER blame yourself or take on too much of the responsibility. Please remember that.

Good luck!
Ashlee

Hi stacey!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

You are incredibly wonderful to come in search of advice for how to help a friend with an ED. Being someone who suffers from an ED, I know how difficult it is sometimes to keep friends.

Although telling her parents may seem like a good thing, and others on this board may disagree, I don't think it's what's best. Your friend needs to admidt this to herself and then her family on her own time. If she knows you may tell her parents she may be less likely to confide in you or anyone else. I know this is not something you are qualified to handle, so maybe you could encourage her to seek help, or to tell a parent or a loved one, a school advisor or a counselor. But she needs to do her recovery for herself, otherwise it's not going to work (I'm speaking from experience...)

I want to applaud you for wanting to help her! Go you! That is an amazing thing and shows a great amount of strength and love! It's not easy watching a friend you love hurt themselves, and even if she may not express it to you, she's thankful to have you around. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

The only advice I can give you, besides encouraging her to tell someone, or seek help (or come to this board, it's a wonderful place for love and support...) is this...if at all possible, DON'T LEAVE HER. This will not help her. Her ED is not about her family or her friends or anything else...it's about her, and the issues she has going on inside of her.

Ok...now that I've rambled for hours... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

NEVER GIVE UP
~sarah~

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

My friend told her parents and they were laughing thinking it was some joke and my friend was crying when she told them this but she has been feeling better lately i just hope and pray she dont have a eatting disorder

Stacey

my friend thinks she needs therapy so maybe her parents will finally believe her so she can get therapy and find out if she have ED i dont know if she does but she hasnt fainted or got sick in the last few days and i am glad about that because she said its because of my help because i was with her every time she needed me and i also looked up info about ED and i just hope she dont have ED


Stacey http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/birthday.gif my bday is sunday i will be 15

Stacey,
That's great that your friend is getting help. You did a great thing by helping her like you did. She is very lucky to have such a supportive friend!
~Jen~
P.S. Have a great birthday!!!

Stacey--
i hope that you have a great birthday! My friends birthday is Sunday too!
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/birthday.gif


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--katie--

Hey, Stacey. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I do hope that your friend can get some help for this soon. She sounds as though she is really onto it though, which is a great thing! She’s very willing to get help which will make her recovery (whether she has a diagnosable ED or not) so much easier.

If her parents refuse to believe that there is something wrong, maybe you and your friend could go and speak to your school counsellor together and ask him/her to help your friend explain it to her parents. Sometimes people just need to hear these things from a professional.

Your friend is very lucky to have you with her to support her. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/birthday.gif for Sunday!

we cant go to see anyone together because we live in different towns but trust me if i lived in her town i would do anything and everything to help her

Hello,

I am so sorry to hear how your friend's parents reacted when she told them about her ED. What a horrible thing to have to deal with...but it sounds as if she's on the right track and is really serious about gettig help!!!!! That's great!!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

And I just wanted to tell you (again) that YOU ROCK for wanting to help her http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif It's not an easy thing to do and I completely admire your persistance and desire to help her get better!!! GO YOU! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

NEVER GIVE UP
~sarah~