When someone with an eating disorder feels unwell before, during, or after a meal, it's important that their environment remains calm and doesn't succumb to anxiety or helplessness . Losing your temper when the person is suffering or refuses to eat only makes the situation worse.

• When someone with an eating disorder shows this distress, we must support them and understand how they feel emotionally. Active listening helps them express their feelings and feel supported. Some appropriate phrases might be: "How are you feeling?", "What can I do to help?", or "I understand how you feel."
• It can also be helpful to acknowledge the effort they are making, and encourage the person to connect with their motivations and future plans.
• It is recommended not to urge the person to eat or not to eat , unless this is part of the therapeutic plan indicated by the professionals who care for them.
• Avoid making comparisons with other people; each person is unique and no two bodies are the same.
• Don't let the person with the eating disorder control the situation or negotiate with their behavior. Remember, it's the disorder that's talking.