- Does an eating disorder in adulthood always appear in people who suffered from it when they were young?
- Can an eating disorder appear after the age of 30 without having had symptoms in adolescence?
- What are the causes of the onset of an eating disorder in adults?
- When we are adults, what are the risk factors for having an eating disorder?
- When it appears in adults, can it be cured?
- Is the percentage of cases in women and men the same as in adolescents?
- Is there a relationship between eating disorders in adulthood and experiencing gender-based violence? Can an eating disorder be a physical manifestation of this abuse?
- Where to go if you suspect you have an eating disorder?
- Is the treatment chronic in adults?
- Is it more difficult to treat an eating disorder in adults?
- What is the best treatment for adults?
- If an adult with an eating disorder refuses admission, what should be done?
- If an adult is admitted to a day hospital, is there any difference in success or failure compared to a younger person?
- How does the fact that the affected adult has a long-term or short-term eating disorder affect treatment?
- What are the risks when the disorder persists over time?
- Are relapses common in adults with eating disorders? How are they treated?
- What are antipsychotics used for in eating disorders?
- Is there a greater risk of it becoming chronic if you are diagnosed with an eating disorder in adulthood?
- Is a full recovery from an eating disorder possible?
- How do you know that an eating disorder has disappeared?
- How to manage negative thoughts related to food?
- How to control anxiety before and after meals?
- Is it possible to lead a "normal" life if you have an eating disorder?
- Is it advisable to explain to your friends that you have an eating disorder?
- What can I do to change my negative self-perception?
- Is it normal to lose your identity or not know who you are without an eating disorder?
- Is it normal to feel nostalgic for your former self and your former body?
- Can you provide tools to accept your new body and stop being ashamed of it, which causes a very harmful internal dialogue?
- How to reintroduce exercise without becoming obsessive?
- How to stop binge eating?
- Is it possible to correct the obsession or addiction to sweets in binge eating disorder, without resorting to psychotropic drugs?
- If you have anorexia and become pregnant, what risks are there for both the mother and the baby?
- How can we make someone understand that they have an eating disorder if they deny it?
- How can family and friends help a person with anorexia?
- If a person has an eating disorder and lives alone, how are their eating habits and compensatory exercise monitored?
How can we make someone understand that they have an eating disorder if they deny it?
Don't pressure her. The person will eventually realize it, either through changes in her mood, a lack of desire to see friends, or because she won't have the energy to do anything.
Yes, we can help her emotionally, by communicating with her and seeing what's wrong, always remembering that problems with food are just the tip of the iceberg.
The root of eating disorders
This question is key because only by acknowledging that there is a problem and accepting help can the road to recovery begin. We would like to have a magic wand that tells us exactly what to say at every moment so that the person opens their eyes and sees the problems and their severity, but often, no matter what we say, we can't get the person to change their attitude. And it is at this point that you despair, feel powerless, or even feel anger, which can lead you to blame yourself or the person or other people close to you for what is happening. These are the attitudes we must avoid; it is very important to listen with understanding and empathy, and not to judge or blame the person with moralizing speeches about what is right and wrong, with phrases like: "Don't you realize the damage you are doing to yourself and to others?", "You are in the prime of your life. With how intelligent you are, don't you see that this is going to end badly for you?" Alone, without friends… Is that what you want?”, “You need to hit rock bottom to realize it, when it’s already too late!”, “You don’t realize how thin/fat you are.”
Approach her with great patience and empathy, and with genuine concern, show her you're there for her. Be persistent, but in a gentle and calm tone. Show her you want to help because you know her and you don't see her doing well, due to mood swings or a feeling that she might be suffering (without making physical references). Be patient, just listen, and wait for the moment when she opens up to you, as this doesn't happen overnight.
The important thing is to seek specialized help and share the problem with a trusted circle of people you can rely on.