It is never easy to live with an eating disorder or an addiction. It is not only the person himself or herself that suffers but it also hard for the people around them. There are many families that have been destroyed because of an addiction or disorder.
If you suspect someone you know may have either an addiction or an eating disorder, it is important that you help them and be a support system. If it is the first time for you to encounter this kind of situation, you may be clueless as to what you can do. Here are some tips you can follow so that you find help.
1. Understand what the condition entails – you need to realize that these are serious conditions that may be life-threatening. If you suspect your friend or loved one, study up on the condition so you can know what to expect or symptoms to find.
2. Look for the signs – if you are suspecting that someone you know may be starting to be addicted to a substance or perhaps have an eating disorder, please look for the signs. See if there is not only a change in their weight or how they look but especially their behavior. For eating disorders, it may start with a simple statement that they are not happy with their body weight. Then you start seeing that they are eating more or less than their usual until it becomes out of control. With substance abuse, you can look for physical changes, such as bloodshot eyes or perhaps they seem more sluggish than usual or they have impaired coordination. Do your research so that you can look for the signs.
3. Talk to the person involved – try to talk to the person and see if they are undergoing something heavy. Perhaps it is what triggered them to do something drastic. It will be good if they open up to you about their condition, then you can offer to go with them to talk to a psychologist or at a hospital perhaps. You can also try talking to the person they are close to, like their families so you can see if it has happened before and you can figure out how to help.
4. Stage an intervention if needed – there are times when the situation gets too drastic that waiting for the person to realize their mistake might take too long and endanger them. But if you are staging an intervention, make sure that you do it properly. Have a good set of people to form the team. You can then gather information and even practice what you will say so that the person will listen to you.
5. Find a facility that can help them recover – a good facility can do wonders for those who would like to stay away and recover from addiction and the effects of eating disorders. Do your research so you can find the best ones. At Ambrosia Treatment Center, for example, they only allow 12 clients at a time. This not only ensures privacy for their clients but also that each person receives personalized treatment for their problems. Click here to find out more about this place that offers healing for those in need.
