If you have a child who has an eating disorder, then you are likely seriously overwhelmed and stressed out. The best way to deal with this is to accept that having a child who has an eating disorder is really, really hard. Of course you're struggling! Don't try to deny the difficulties or ignore the … Continue reading 10 self-care tips if you’re struggling to deal with your kid’s eating disorder today
Eating disorders are terrifying for parents for many reasons. Not only are they physically and emotionally harmful for the child, but they also carry tremendous stigma and misunderstanding for parents. Parents who have children who have eating disorders may feel angry, stressed, tired, and obsessed with their child's recovery. These are signs of traumatic stress … Continue reading Afraid, angry, and tired. Parents are at risk of traumatic stress when a child has an eating disorder
"Sometimes I just wish I could be hospitalized," says a 40-something mom. "Not with anything deadly, but something that would give me an excuse to drop out of life for a little while so that I can catch up." Most of us have had this thought at some point. Or, worse, some of us even … Continue reading Moms: do you fantasize about being hospitalized? Is life one endless hamster wheel of suckiness?
Many of us depend on alcohol to cope with daily life stressors. We have been raised in a culture that encourages drinking alcohol as a way to relax and enjoy ourselves, so is it any surprise that many of us reach for alcohol to celebrate, to relax, and to unwind? When we have a child … Continue reading Are you drinking to cope with your child’s eating disorder?
No parent wants to see their child suffer. When our children have eating disorders, we can feel helpless, frustrated and even angry. Eating disorders are complex illnesses that require multi-faceted treatment. This treatment can be expensive, lengthy and, at times, appear not to be working. And many times parents feel they must just sit by, … Continue reading Taking care of yourself when your child has an eating disorder
With tentacles impacting us on emotional and physical levels, eating disorders are complex and tenacious. You may have struggled with an eating disorder for decades, or been in recovery for decades, or are just now recognizing your disordered eating patterns, but whatever your stage in eating disorder recovery, having a child who is also struggling … Continue reading When you have an eating disorder … and your child does, too
We are writing this article in hopes that it will be discovered by and shared with the many extended family members and close family friends who want to support their friend who has a child that has been diagnosed with an eating disorder. These are just a few of the things to consider when supporting a friend … Continue reading Dos and Don’ts for helping a friend who has a child with an eating disorder
When our children develop eating disorders, we tend to jump into action and place all the work on our own shoulders. Helping a child heal from an eating disorder can easily become all-encompassing, especially for high-achieving, perfectionist mothers. Many of us feel the need to scale back on our career goals and feel we have to sacrifice time with … Continue reading As our kids go through eating disorder recovery, we need to pay attention to our own needs as mothers, women, and daughters
Mothers are under immense pressure and perform under conditions of extreme isolation. It is no wonder that we struggle to mother our daughters. It is no wonder that we are often unable to provide the nourishment they need to thrive because we ourselves are starving for affection, attention, support, and love. We are exhausted and trying … Continue reading Mothers are starving for affection, attention, support and love – let’s start getting what we need
If you are a mom who has a child with an eating disorder, then chances are good that you laugh maniacally when people suggest you care for yourself. How can you possibly care for yourself when there is so much to do?!?!? But the fact is that if you don't care for yourself, you will … Continue reading A self-care guide for moms who have absolutely no time for self-care and that go way beyond “take a bubble bath and light a candle”