Parents
k
What can you loo
How do yo
for?
Teens
u get help
Here are just some of the warning signs that your child may have
an eating disorder. Remember, these warning signs do not
necessarily mean they have an eating disorder, but they are
something to pay attention to. They include:
• Dramatic weight loss
• Preoccupation with food/dieting/weight loss
• Comments of being “fat”
• Denying hunger, meal skipping
• Withdrawal from friends/family
• Extreme mood swings
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness
• Dry skin/nails
• Muscle weakness
• Poor wound healing
Communicate! Maybe you are struggling with negative
thoughts about yourself, your body, your life…you don’t know
where to turn or what to even say. I encourage you to speak
out. I know it’s difficult and scary. We don’t like to be vulnera-
ble. We think people won’t or don’t understand. We don’t like
people to know that we aren’t 100% okay.
T RU T
Warning signs of binging and purging behavior include:
• Disappearance of large amounts of food
• Empty food wrappers/containers
• Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals
?
H
But, the truth is, NO one is 100% okay,
and speaking up about what you are
going through can get you the help you
need. There are counselors, like myself,
who would like nothing more than to
help you with your struggles, but you
have to be brave enough to let some-
one know. Remember, YOU are worth it!
Listen! Your parents may not completely understand what
What can you do?
Communicate! You may be fearful of asking/opening
up about the topic, but don’t let that keep you from talking
to your children. They don’t need judgement or lectures, but
openness, empathy, and honesty regarding their feelings.
Express love and support.
Listen! As parents, we can be quick to react, cast blame/
shame/guilt, try to be their therapist, or gossip to our friends,
but it’s important that we take the time to listen to them
and their struggles. You may not understand what they are
experiencing and expressing, but that doesn’t make it less real
to them.
Do! They may not be willing to get the help they need, but
it’s okay to encourage it. Normalize treatment/counseling and
be optimistic that it can help (because it can!) Forcing them to
eat or stop binging and purging won’t help. They may not be
100% willing to get help for their eating disorder, but maybe
they are willing to get help for their depression, anxiety, issues
with friends, self-esteem, or more. Getting help in those areas
can end up being beneficial for their eating disorder as well.
you are going through, but know that they care. They may not
react or handle things in ways that you like or that you feel
are helpful, but know that they are doing their best with what
they know. Listen to their concerns. They will probably tell
you that they are concerned with what they see, and they have
a right to be. They will probably tell you that they want you to
get help. Your instinct may be to tell them you don’t want or
need help, but hear them out. They only want you to be free of
the pain you are feeling.
Do! Do you find yourself engaging in any of the warning
signs listed to the left? Are you depressed or anxious? Getting
the help you need now will make a huge difference in helping
you live a happy and fulfilled life. The longer you wait, the
more challenging it can be to be free from it. Please remind
yourself that it’s OK to ask for help and get the help you need.
Commit to getting help!
As the Executive Director of Pike Road
Counseling, LLC, Mindy Landrum
works to create a welcoming, warm, and
therapeutic atmosphere for all clients.
Mindy is a Licensed Professional
Counselor with a master's degree in
Counseling Psychology and is
currently pursuing a doctoral degree.
334.603.1427, www.PikeRoadCounseling.com
www.potentialmagazine.com
Summer 2018 |
19