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Somerset
and Wessex Eating Disorders Association
"Serving those affected by eating disorders" Strode House, 10 Leigh Road, Street, Somerset, BA16 0HA, England, UK |
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 Look out for your mates they may
have an Eating Disorder!
Would you recognise the signs? Would you know what to do? Help is here for you! SWEDA 18-25 Comic Relief Project20 A high Street Glastonbury BA6 9DU 01458 837900 www.swedauk.org How may I know if my mate has
an Eating disorder?
You may notice several of the following indicators that your mate is struggling with food problems: Do they not eat with you? Do they seem not to eat? Do they buy lots of food and it all disappears quickly? Do they become anxious and agitated around meal times? Do they spend a lot of time alone? Do they seem to push you away? Do they seem happier with people who they see outside home? Do you feel like whatever you do is wrong? Do they weigh themselves lots Do they have fixed patterns and routines? Do they seem obsessed with their body Do they spend hours on training for fitness? Do they study for hours and is nothing ever good enough? Do you feel like you do not know them anymore? Do they rush to the toilet after eating? Do they seem very cold and tired? Do they not sleep Have they lost weight? These are all possible indicator signs of an eating disorder Visit www.swedauk.org for more factual information. Or call 015458 837900 So what can I do? It can be very difficult and exhausting for both you and your mate when one of you has an eating disorder. It is important to look after yourself. Being at University is hard, you are away from home and studying in a new environment. A house mates eating disorder can have a huge impact on your life style. It is important that you are able to feel comfortable and at home in your home. It is important that you can put in clear boundaries about what is ok for you. This may be hard especially knowing your mate is having a tough time in the next room. If you don’t put in clear limits you may find that you get angry and resent your mate and that will make it difficult for both of you as the eating disorder will encroach on both of your lives. Being a good Friend. Their eating difficulties are not yours, you are not there to fix them if you think you can do this you will definitely inadequate. No one can make someone better from an Eating Disorder, you can support your mate on their journey, you can listen and be there and support them to get to the med. centre, G.P., Nurse, S.U. Welfare officer or Uni. Counsellor or to contact SWEDA to find what other help is about. What when I feel rejected? Sometimes people have tried to be very kind. They have asked their mate, how did you sleep, how was your day? How are you feeling? All in an attempt to let their friend know that they are there to offer support and that they care. For someone with an Eating Disorder this may seem like you are intruding in their life, and they may become angry and shut you out more.Yet if you ask no questions it may seem like you don’t care? So how do I support them? If you are able to be there when it’s ok for you that will be a great help. If you can sit and watch the TV together without having to talk or ask questions that too can helpOffering to go together out to town/shopping, and accept if they say no being quiet with someone can be the best gift and the hardest to offer. If you find it hard then you can book to see the counsellor or email the18-25 Project. Get support for yourself. Remember in life It is often the people we trust the most who we hurt the most. This does not make it ok to be hurt though. You have the right to say NO. Why won’t they just eat? It is important to know that eating disorders are not just about food. They are a psychological condition that affects the whole inside person. What you see is their way with food and their bodies, this is an indicator of something being difficult inside, things that may have no words. Their ways with food and their body show they are not ok. People with eating disorders often carry a lot of shame, perfectionism, low self esteem, and low self worth. They look better so why aren’t they? Someone may have put on weight and this can often leave the person in a more difficult place. They are trying to manage their difficult inside feelings and to study and try life without reverting back to their old food ways In a place of finding their life solutions your mate may need and be able to a accept more support. Remember having an eating disorder is not like having a small cut that heals outside and is gone. The outside person may seem healed and the inside person may still hurt but there is no plaster to say "I am hurting inside". The pain may be invisible to us on the outside. Supporting people with eating disorders Do stay around when things are tough Bath University students 2003. |
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© 2004 ~ 2011 Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association |
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