For Families
For families, the reality of a child with an eating disorder is frightening. A child with a physical illness can be dealt with the skills of the family physician or a specialist — whatever it takes to get that child healthy is spelled out in a treatment plan, medicines, x-rays, and in more severe case chemotherapy, insulin, surgery — but mental illness brings to mind a different connotation. Mental illness is not unknown to most families; depression from a death, divorce, loss of a job, or anxieties from stress are familiar to most people. Eating disorders are different entirely: they are mental as well as physical and the repercussions can be deadly.
For years, eating disorders were thought to be choice attention behaviors brought on by sexual abuse, dysfunctional family events or the loss of a loved one. The key words in this sentence are "choice attention behaviors" and while there are many situations that contribute to an eating disorder, there are many families and those that suffer that have never experienced these traumatic events. There is no one cause of an eating disorder; it is a combination of many personality traits, cultural expectations, media messages and stress. Remember that eating disorders are not about food. The philosophy of "just eat and you will be fine" minimizes the medical and mental struggle this disease causes.
As a parent, if you suspect that your child is suffering from an eating disorder, educate yourself on the signs and symptoms. Contact Lifelines Foundation for further resources, information and educational materials.
Lifelines Foundation is dedicated to the support of the family as well as the loved one suffering from this disease. Whatever the triggers for the eating disorder, it is not a judgmental issue with Lifelines. The founders of this foundation have walked this walk and knows the pain and reality of dealing with the ramifications of this disease. Our goal is to be there to walk the walk with you to make the journey as supported as possible.
