An eating disorder can take a toll on any relationship. You have promised to care for one another in sickness and in health, but what can you do when your husband or wife is doing harm to themselves? In fact, it’s easy to feel like you are in some way responsible for this condition - that you should have provided more support or noticed signs of a problem sooner. However, don’t forget that an eating disorder is a disease, and - just as with addiction - sufferers often go to great lengths to conceal their behaviors. Thankfully, there are places you can turn to for help.
At Fairwinds Treatment Center in Clearwater, we understand how all-consuming an eating disorder can be for patients and loved ones alike. That is why we take a family-centric approach to recovery that focuses on openness and support. But before you and your spouse can work toward recovery, you have to know when to seek out help, and how to reinforce the positive practices we encourage at our treatment center.
Recognizing an eating disorder in your spouse
While these behaviors don’t necessarily mean that your loved one has an eating disorder, they could be warning signs that he or she has an unhealthy relationship with food. If you observe any of the following trends, consider reaching out to an eating disorder specialist for more information.
- Consistently makes excuses to avoid social events involving food
- Develops strict exercise regimen with no increase in food intake
- Prepares elaborate meals for you without eating anything.
Symptoms of anorexia could include:
- Dramatic change in weight
- Development of new rituals like eating food in a specific order
- Menstruation stops (for women)
- Increasingly stubborn and rigid about schedule.
Symptoms of bulimia could include:
- Hoarding food
- Frequent trips to the bathroom
- Large amounts of food seem to disappear
- Sign of consistent vomiting including stains on teeth change in breath.
How to show your support
Every case is different, but the following dos and don’ts provide a general sense of how you can help your loved one during this trying time:
Do
• Ask for help from a specialist if you are concerned about how to act
• Emphasize how much you love your spouse and that you are there for them
• Focus on non-physical attributes when complimenting your spouse or discussing others
• Listen openly and without judgment.
Don’t
• Blame yourself
• Force food on your loved one
• Make comments regarding appearance (either positive or negative)
• Rush the healing process.
For more tips about how to address this issue and support your partner, contact our eating disorder treatment center in Clearwater, Florida to speak to with one of our experienced and compassionate specialists.
Why choose Fairwinds Treatment Center for eating disorder treatment
At Fairwinds Treatment Center, our team of full-time psychiatrists, nurses and therapists have dedicated years to the study and treatment of eating disorders. We know full well how complex these conditions can be, and how easy it is to relapse without the right supportive environment.
Our eating disorder treatment programs were devised by renowned eating disorder expert Dr. Pauline Powers, who has more than 40 years of experience in this area. Dr. Powers is the Founding President of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), past President of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and a founding member of the Eating Disorders Research Society. She also sits on the Editorial Board of the Eating Disorders Review. She is nationally recognized for her contributions to eating disorder treatment as an author, educator and researcher.
You are in the unique position to catch on to changes in behavior that friends, coworkers and family members may not notice, so don’t hesitate to contact an eating disorder treatment center in Florida if you have any questions or concerns.