Practical Steps Families Can Take During Eating Disorder Awareness Week

It may be helpful to think of recovery in terms of family recovery from eating disorders, rather than just a loved one’s recovery. Eating disorder support strategies might include education, conversations, professional help, raising awareness, or self-care. Strategies might look like:

• Educating yourself about eating disorders through reputable resources, like NEDA.
• Educating yourself about the specific symptoms your loved one experiences, through combining both education and conversations with your loved one. 
• Being willing to initiate transparent conversations about your loved one’s recovery needs. Remember to keep the focus on understanding your loved one’s needs, rather than trying to “fix” or “find solutions”, unless requested.
• If you need a family therapist, remember to find someone who has the necessary experience in treating eating disorders. You can look for therapists trained in systemic or family-based approaches. 
• Eating Disorder Awareness Week often runs virtual or in-person events locally and nationally. Participating in these events as a family is one way to honor your family’s journey. 
• Setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and managing stress individually and as a family can keep everyone focused on healthy communication and recovery. 
• Re-focusing on increasing positive interactions, rather than decreasing negative interactions. Sometimes in recovery, there are so many food-based negative interactions. Explore what it might look like to connect over new experiences outside of the pressure of eating meals together. 

A Call to Action for Families

You can address eating disorders through a family context by seeking systemic therapy for eating disorder recovery, such as family-based treatment (FBT) or finding an eating disorder specialist who also practices Family Systems Therapy. Eating Disorder Awareness Week is a reminder to educate, connect, and support loved ones who are in recovery. Family members play a crucial role in recovery, holding the power to strengthen recovery through negotiating healthy expectations, having flexible family roles, and stepping into relational healing.