Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s and Don’t’s

Do’s

• Look after yourselves first and foremost. You can’t expect to be mentally and physically resilient to cope with the
  emotions and demands of the person you are caring for if you are feeling tired and run-down.

• Remain calm. It is very easy to get caught up in the emotional mayhem that is associated with eating disorders.
  Show empathy, be calm, listen to your loved one’s concerns and validate their feelings, rather than getting caught up and affected by their distress.

• Listen and offer support.

• Develop and emergency plan. There may come a time when we have serious concerns for the mental and/or physical wellbeing of the person we are caring for.
  At this point we may need to implement an action plan, which might involve voluntary going to hospital or a GP. However if they refuse to go voluntarily,
  you may have to be prepared to call the paramedic or the Acute Crisis Intervention Service (ACIS- CALL 13 14 65).

• View the eating disorder separately from your child.

• Be firm with the eating disorder, but offer unconditional love and support to your child.

• Do help your child to seek professional help as early as possible and be a part of the process.

• Contact Loraine for a consultation. Contact details below.

Don’ts

• Try to his/her therapist: consult an experienced professional.

• Avoid communicating.

• Ignor the signs of eating distress.Encourage your child to talk.Listen to them.

• Offer simple solutions (“why don’t you just eat?!”).

• Don’t be angry with your child or use emotional blackmail.

• Comment on their weight or appearance.

• Blame him/her; make him/her feel ashamed or guilty for having an eating disorder.

• Make threats (“If you don’t eat“).

• Expect an instant recovery.

• Try and force him/her to eat or stop exercising.

• Don’t focus on food, weight or appearance.

• Don’t pretend it will just go away.

• Don’t despair or give up.

Call Loraine on: 0450 131 964 or Email at the link below
loraine@housefamilytherapy.com.au