World Mental Health Day is coming up this month. This marks a great opportunity to think about how we can be there for our friends in meaningful ways. If you have a friend dealing with an eating disorder, it’s essential to support them thoughtfully.
Before offering help, check in with them to understand what kind of support they prefer and what boundaries they might have. This way, you can provide the best type of support while respecting their needs.
Here are some examples of the type of support your friend may ask for;
Some people might ask friends to help them stay on track with their eating habits, maybe even to be there to share a meal with them to make them feel more comfortable. However, be sure that this is something that your friend asked for and not something you are implementing yourself as this may be overstepping a boundary.
Some may ask you to not talk about certain things that may trigger them, so be kind, and respect their wishes.
Some may ask for you to simply be there for them and be someone they can trust and come to with what they are going through.
Beyond this, what are some other ways you can help/support someone with an eating disorder?
Simply avoiding discussing topics related to diets, weight, food, body image, etc. (unless they have made it clear that this is okay)
Encouraging them to seek professional help
I recommend avoiding directly saying that your friend needs help. Instead, you can say that you’ll support them in seeking help from a doctor, a therapist, a support group, etc., and that you think it’d be beneficial to them
Remind them that they won’t be going through it alone, and that you and the other people in their life will be there for them through every step
It may help to offer to join them at the appointments at the beginning
Doing some research on what they are going through can be helpful in assisting them
(I have put some links at the bottom of this blog if you are interested)
Checking in on them, listening to how they are feeling, and recognizing if they may need extra support
Recognizing that what they are going through is very difficult and showing support through your words, as well as your actions
E.g. “I can see how difficult this is, I am here to support you however you need me to”
Doing the things you usually do with them, don’t let this change your usual plans and hangouts
It is also important to take care of yourself
Seeing our friends and family dealing with something so hard isn’t easy, it may feel like we aren’t helpful at times and it may affect our mental health as well
If you feel like you may also need support, go to a trusted friend, a therapist, a family member, etc.
Remember that at the end of the day, you are not a professional and you are also doing what you can. Your needs are also important and you need to focus on yourself as well. Do not put your mental health on the back burner when helping someone else. Offer or accept to support your friend, being mindful of however much you can genuinely take.
For more helpful strategies and resources feel free to check out these links:
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