When you are a caregiver for someone with bulimia, it’s important to be supportive and understanding. While it can be difficult to watch someone you love suffer from an eating disorder, there are things you can do to help.
Recognize Bulimia Symptoms in a Loved One
The first step in being a supportive caregiver is to learn the signs and symptoms of bulimia.This way, you can be on the lookout for them in your loved one. Some common signs and symptoms of bulimia include:
Preoccupation with food or weight Poor body image Feelings of shame or guilt about eating Unhealthy eating habits, such as bingeing or purging Excessive exercise Using laxatives or diuretics Depression or anxiety Isolation from friends and family Secretive behavior
How You Can Help Someone with Bulimia
Below details the ways in which you can help someone who has been diagnosed with bulimia.
Medical Care
The first step in treating bulimia is to get professional help. This typically includes therapy and, in some cases, medication. If your loved one is resistant to seek treatment, you may need to be supportive and encouraging.
Practical Care
As a caregiver, you can also provide practical care for someone with bulimia. This includes preparing healthy meals and snacks, and making sure that they are getting enough rest. You may also need to help them with household chores or other activities of daily living.
Emotional Care
Below are five ways to provide emotional support to someone with bulimia:
What to Avoid As a Caregiver for Bulimia
Below are five things to avoid as a caregiver for someone with bulimia.
Criticizing Their Appearance
One of the worst things you can do is criticize your loved one’s appearance. This will only make them feel worse about themselves and could further their eating disorder.
Making Comments About Their Weight
Weight is a sensitive subject for someone with bulimia. Avoid making comments about their weight, whether they are positive or negative.
Asking Them to Eat More or Less
Asking someone with bulimia to eat more or less is not helpful. This can trigger their eating disorder and make them feel like you are judging them.
Pressuring Them to Exercise
Exercise is important for everyone, but it can be a trigger for someone with bulimia. Avoid pressuring them to exercise, and let them make the decision about how much they want to do.
Bringing Up Their Eating Disorder All the Time
It’s important to be supportive, but you also need to give your loved one some space. Bringing up their eating disorder all the time will only make them feel more self-conscious and could further their disorder.
How to Talk to a Loved One About Bulimia
Below are five ideas of how to talk to a loved one about bulimia.
Choose a Good Time
When you bring up the subject, make sure to choose a good time. This means picking a time when they are not feeling triggered in any way. It’s best not to bring it up during meal time or around food.
Be Supportive
Be sure to let your loved one know that you are there for them and that you support their recovery.
Avoid Judgment
When you’re talking to your loved one, be sure to avoid any judgment. This includes judgments about their appearance or weight.
Listen to Them
Make sure to listen to your loved one when they are talking to you. This means being respectful and not interrupting them.
Seek Help
If your loved one is feeling overwhelmed, encourage them to seek out help from a professional. This could be a therapist or counselor who specializes in eating disorders.
When to Intervene
If you think your loved one is in danger, it’s important to intervene. This means calling for help if they are purging, restricting their food intake, or engaging in other harmful behaviors. If you are worried about their safety, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for help.
Tips for Yourself as a Caregiver
Below are five tips on how to look after yourself as a caregiver.
Make Sure to Take Care of Yourself
It’s important to make time for your own hobbies and interests. This will help you avoid burnout and will make you a better caregiver in the long run.
Seek Out Support
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, be sure to seek out support from friends or family members. There are also support groups available for caregivers of people with eating disorders.
Take Breaks
Make sure to take breaks when you need them. This could be taking a few minutes to yourself each day or taking a weekend away.
Eat Healthy and Exercise
It’s important to take care of your own physical health as a caregiver. This means eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.
Seek Professional Help
If you’re struggling to cope, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. This could be from a therapist or counselor with experience helping caregivers of people with eating disorders.
A Word From Verywell
If you are the caregiver for someone with bulimia, it’s important to be supportive and understanding. Not everyone with bulimia will want to seek treatment, but as a caregiver, you can provide emotional and practical support. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, be sure to seek out help from a professional. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
