Are you caring for someone who is struggling with their eating? You are not alone in this. We offer support, education and tools to help you through this difficult time.
Our Community Recovery Course
Our 8-session Community Recovery Course has been carefully designed to help individuals and their families walk the journey of recovery together.
Supporting a loved one through these often tough times can be emotionally draining. Our course is unique in that you will meet other carers, learn more about eating disorders from those who have experienced one and recovered, discover practical tools to help yourself and your loved one and, most importantly, a community of people who care.
Our courses are led by fully trained and accredited volunteers with a heart to help others.
Some top tips from other parents and carers
(from our Dos and Don’ts for Carers)
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Seek to empower, not control. Ask them how you can best support them on their journey to health. Always be there when the going gets rough to push them gently along again. The exception to this is if you are dealing with a younger child.
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Love unconditionally.
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Find your own support. It is devastating when someone you love goes through the trauma of an eating disorder. Find out as much as you can, listen carefully and make no judgments. You are allowed to find and receive help for yourself. Friends, family or counselling may provide this for you.
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Do things together you have always done. - Normal activities can distract the sufferer from internal struggles and remind them that life is bigger than their eating-disorder-dominated world.
A man’s perspective on caring - by Graham, Amy’s Dad
‘My dad was a rock through it all. I knew it was hard for him but he kept loving me just the same.’ Amy
I have discovered that many men who are partners or dads of women with eating disorders find it hard to know where to start in their care. Often the first reaction is bewilderment about the condition and confusion over what to do. Many men are natural fixers – ‘tell me the problem and I’ll google for solutions!’, but of course there is no quick fix, so here are some tips that seem to work well:
Continue to love as you always have.
Admitting to an eating disorder is admitting to shame. Show that your love for them hasn’t changed.
Continue to compliment those things that are not about size and shape. ‘I love the shape of your eyes, the way your hair looks, the way you smile.’ If you comment on size and weight you are on to a loser.
Keep asking what you can do to help and if you say something or do something that seems to have the opposite effect, ask why it had that effect.
Separate in your mind the person and the eating disorder. Sometimes the eating disorder will say hurtful things – that will all disappear when recovery takes hold. It might feel personal, but it is just a defence.
Lean on some good and trusted friends or relatives.
Listen to our podcast ‘Parenting and eating disorders’
Read my blog ‘A father’s perspective’
Support your other children - they will be finding it hard too.
A brother’s view
‘It was hard because I had always been good friends with my sisters, but all of a sudden I was being lied to daily. The deception put a barrier between us. Also, I knew that they weren’t coping with peoples’ perceptions of them, so I was uncertain about what I could and couldn’t say – it put me on edge around them.’ Amy’s brother
Graham’s Top Tips:
Don’t let the eating disorder have more of an impact than it needs to. Keep laughing with them and enjoying them.
Make sure you show absolutely no judgement over the eating disorder if you can – this makes it a free and open topic which I think can take some of its power away.
Dos and Don’ts for Carers
These tips are written by parents and friends who have supported loved ones through eating disorders and want to share their experiences. Their advice provides helpful ideas on how to best offer care, understanding, and support during recovery, offering practical guidance from those who have been there themselves.
Feeding the family
In this blog post, we explore the challenges and joys of feeding the family when someone is recovering from an eating disorder. Offering practical tips on meal planning, fostering a positive eating environment, and managing mealtime stress, this guide provides support for carers and families to help everyone at the table feel nourished and connected.
Find a course
The tastelife Recovery Course offers essential resources and practical tips for those affected by eating disorders and those who care for them. The Course provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals and their carers to explore the road to recovery. Participants build a toolkit to help them and their loved one navigate the journey together.
Our podcasts
Tune in to our Back to the Table podcast series, where we explore real stories, expert advice, and discussions on eating disorders, recovery, and support. Listen for inspiration, education, encouragement from those who’ve walked the journey, and help from professionals in the field.