Welcome to episode 09 of the Understanding Disordered Eating podcast. In this episode, I wanted to share with you six tips if you suspect a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder. These tips will help us be more educated and be better support for our friends or family who might be experiencing an eating disorder.

Make sure to tune in until the end and check out the links below for more resources. Hope you’ll learn something from this episode and I hope these tips will help!

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Show Notes

[00:01 - 01:35] Opening Segment

• I introduce our topic for this episode

• Helping our friends/family who might have an eating disorder

• Identify the kind of relationship you have with this person

[01:36 - 11:51] 6 Tips 

• First: Ask them, talk to them

• Tell them what you see but not in a judgmental way

  1. Be specific and reassure that you are supporting them

• Second: Ask them if are open to getting more help

• Ask them how you can help in the process of finding a provider

  1. See resources in the links below

  2. Feel free to reach out to me through the links below

• Third: Be the support system

• Fourth: You are not the treatment team

• Being upfront if there are concerns

  1. Stay as their friend

• Fifth: Do your own research

• Sixth: Practice what you preach

[11:52 - 12:32] Closing Segment 

• Check out links below

• Final words

Resources mentioned: 

• NEDA hotline https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

• Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness findedhelp.com

• Relief Resources https://www.reliefhelp.org

• Psychology today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

• Project heal https://www.theprojectheal.org/treatment-access

Tweetable Quotes

“The main point is that we want to help the person struggling and not make them feel uncomfortable or defensive. So we have to do this kind of strategically.” - Rachelle Heinemann

More From Rachelle

Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.

I believe in the power of deep work and its positive impact on your life in the long term. Learn more about how we can work together here.

You can connect with me on Instagram, through my website or email me directly clicking the links below.

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