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When Your Young Adult Child Has An Eating Disorder
4 Very Helpful Tips for A Very Delicate Situation…
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For the most part, these conditions afflict those between the ages of 12 and 25. When a child is still living at home and has an eating disorder, the parent can take control—make sure that they eat, drive them to counseling sessions, etc.
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However, you might feel more helpless about the situation if your child is not really a child; they’re a young adult. Perhaps they’re going to college or just living life on their own. As a parent, you can’t really tell them what to do, and so you might not be too sure about how to handle the situation.
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For starters, below are 4 approaches you can adopt if you suspect that your young adult child might be suffering from an eating disorder.
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When Your Young Adult Child Has An Eating Disorder
4 Very Helpful Tips for A Very Delicate Situation
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When Your Young Adult Child Has An Eating Disorder
Tip #1: Approach the Situation Delicately
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One of the most important things you need to do is to start a conversation, and that is difficult to do if your grown child is on the defensive.
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Approach the conversation with a sense of compassion and love. You want your child to know that you love and support them—no matter what. Avoid making accusatory statements, and make sure to give your child a chance to open up to you.
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When Your Young Adult Child Has An Eating Disorder
Tip #2: Offer to Help Where You Can
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If you live near your child, you can help by tidying up their apartment, washing some dishes, or throwing in a load of laundry. Doing so might help alleviate some pressure so that they can relax.
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When Your Young Adult Child Has An Eating Disorder
Tip #3: Listen More Than You Talk
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Ultimately, your child will need to make the decision to get better on their own, and you can’t force this realization.
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If they seek treatment for you, they’ll be more prone to relapse. If they try to recover for themselves, they’ll be stronger in the long-run and a relapse will be less likely.
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The best thing that you can do is provide a listening ear. Do your best to listen intently without interrupting. Let your adult child guide the conversation. Ask questions and provide support as needed, but don’t press the issue if your child isn’t ready.
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When Your Young Adult Child Has An Eating Disorder
Tip #4: Consider Professional Treatment
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In some cases, all your help and support still may not be enough. Eating disorder treatment facilities can help your young adult child get back on track with healthy eating.
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Some treatment centres offer inpatient treatment, while others allow their patients to remain at home. Your child will have to decide which method makes the most sense for their needs and preferences.
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Eating disorders can be quite serious if left unchecked. Yet, it is still possible for your adult child to make a full recovery. Give them your care and support. Encourage disciplines like meditation and yoga to help balance the body and mind. Your child can recover and go on to live a healthy, happy life.
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Don’t wait until it is too late to talk to your adult child about eating disorders.
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Post by Hannah Whittenly
https://twitter.com/hannahwhittenly
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