What happens when you encounter a friend or relative who clearly has a problem, such as an eating disorder, and doesn’t want to talk about it? Do you back off? Do you push ahead and offer advice?

Psychology by Geoffrey

Confronting an eating disorder

What happens when you encounter a friend or relative who clearly has a problem, such as an eating disorder, and doesn’t want to talk about it? Do you back off? Do you push ahead and offer advice?

Do you offer to listen and wait for the person to come to you for help? How would you feel if you “just waited” and the person deteriorated?

Anorexia and bulimia are difficult disorders to deal with, even for professionals; typically waiting it out is not an option, while insisting that the person get help is likely to result in their withdrawal. You’re stuck between that proverbial “rock and a hard place.”

Take a look at the assigned reading put out by the Eating Recovery Center. Please give your thoughts about what you believe to be the best way to approach eating disorders. Choose one item listed under the “do” and one item listed under the “don’t” and explain, in detail, why the item might be something to do or not do. Using additional resources, explain other approaches to helping people with eating disorders. Provide examples to enhance your explanation.