➥ caring for a little with anorexia nervosa ༉‧₊˚✧
Anorexia Nervosa, most commonly known as Anorexia, is an eating disorder that affects both men and women, and results in extreme weight loss and skewed body image. Sufferers will often believe and even see their own body as being overweight, even though they are not. It is a serious mental health condition, and should not be treated lightly. It can be characterised by not eating enough, exercising too much, or both.
˗ˏˋ so, how can i help? ˎˊ˗
༊*·˚ ꒰ 01 ꒱ Sometimes, they may feel more comfortable drinking their food. For example, rather than presenting your tiny one with a plate of food, offer them a delicious smoothie full of their favourite fruits. You could even see if they want to help choose which fruits go inside. They’ll get all the same nutrients as a bowl of fruit, while simultaneously feeling less overwhelmed.
༊*·˚ ꒰ 02 ꒱ One thing that is very important for somebody suffering with Anorexia is that you should try your best to remove all stigma. Sufferers often find it difficult to admit that they have a problem, or that they need help. Remind your little one that they shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to have an eating disorder, and also that it does not define who they are as a person.
༊*·˚ ꒰ 03 ꒱ While some may feel more comfortable being alone, if you can, try to encourage your baby to eat with you. Don’t sit there and watch them, don’t hyper focus on every bite they take, and definitely don’t point out if they should eat some more. Focus on other things, a distraction is a really good idea for someone struggling with an eating disorder, as food is often on their mind.
༊*·˚ ꒰ 04 ꒱ It’s important to maintain your own healthy relationship with food and exercise. If you are particularly picky about what you eat, or hard on yourself in terms of your body image, it can cause added stress and negative thoughts for your tot. Try to set a good example and eat a balanced diet, while also exercising the required amount.
༊*·˚ ꒰ 05 ꒱ Tearing or cutting up food into abnormally small pieces is a very common trait of an eating disorder, and not doing so can often cause extreme anxiety. This is not something you should point out. Don’t tell your tiny that they should try to eat bigger bites - the fact that they’re eating at all is an achievement enough. It can make it less stressful to eat food. Talk to them, ask them if they need help cutting it up, but don’t force it.
༊*·˚ ꒰ 06 ꒱ Try to use ‘I’ statements. Using ‘I’ statements instead of ‘You’ statements can make the person feel less attacked - and if they feel attacked, they will shut down. Here is a short example of I things you can say:
Here are some things you should avoid saying:
“You are making me worried”
“You’re exercising too much”
༊*·˚ ꒰ 07 ꒱ Don’t be afraid to do your own research into their illness. It never hurts to know more about something, and the more information you find out, the more you will understand and start to find ways to help and cope with the situations better.
༊*·˚ ꒰ 08 ꒱ Above all else, don’t forget about yourself. When putting so much care and support into somebody else, it’s easy to forget about yourself, or think that you’re not as important. But this isn’t true. You are just as important - take care of yourself, and make sure your own mental health is okay. Support is always available.
