It’s difficult watching someone you care about go through the difficult process of experiencing an eating disorder and needing help to find recovery, and as a family member you may feel helpless or overwhelmed by the situation. Fortunately, there are many ways that families can offer meaningful support throughout the treatment process. Here are some tips for providing reassurance and guidance throughout your loved one’s journey:
Attending Treatment Sessions
One of the most impactful ways to stay involved with your loved one’s recovery is to attend therapy sessions in support if your loved one. At Avalon Hills, we offer group and family therapy during their stay with us, allowing an invaluable experience to find healing for both our clients and their families. Being present during treatment encourages open communication between the patient and therapist while providing comfort and reassurance that they have support from their family. It also allows family members to hear first-hand what topics are being discussed in therapy so as to better prepare them for when their loved one returns home.
Developing Healthy Habits
Having healthy habits in place helps foster an environment of positivity within both the individual recovering from an eating disorder and their family unit. Incorporating regular physical activity into your lifestyle can not only boost endorphins but also create a sense of overall well-being; focusing on the experiences your body can allow you to have, rather than how it looks. Additionally, make sure you’re avoiding triggering phrases focused on diet culture or hyper-fixating on “good” or “bad” foods in your home.
Becoming Educated
Another way family members can be supportive during recovery is by taking time to become educated about eating disorders. This includes learning more about common symptoms, understanding treatment methods used by professionals at centers like Avalon Hills, staying in the loop on topics related to mental well-being, keeping up with current research initiatives – such as new studies conducted around body image – and learning how best to communicate with those suffering from eating disorders in order to foster healthy relationships between individuals and their families. A great resource to dive into can be found here.
At Avalon Hills we recognize how important familial involvement is during any kind of recovery process; our experienced team of therapists prioritizes involving family members when possible as we understand that strong emotional bonds between patients and their support networks play integral roles in successful treatment outcomes. We hope these tips provide useful guidance for families who are looking for ways to help loved ones suffering from eating disorders find stability again!