Help with finding treatment for eating disorders and mental health is available.
Over a few months, I noticed some behavior changes in my daughter, Elizabeth, but at first dismissed them as symptoms of teenage angst or normal behavior. Elizabeth was exercising excessively, skipping family dinners, and dressing in baggy athletic clothes. One day she came home from a school event dressed in regular clothes and I was shocked at how thin she was and how her face looked gaunt. I realized there was a problem and began researching eating disorders.
I found out that weight loss is actually a late symptom of this serious illness and that some of her other behaviors were signs and symptoms as well, such as cooking for others but not eating it, restrictive diets, taking tiny bites of food, chewing gum very often, and social isolation. She was also an athlete and a high achiever – both being risk factors for developing an eating disorder.
I scheduled an evaluation at an outpatient therapy program that specialized in eating disorders. The therapist met with each of us individually and then together and told Elizabeth she had an eating disorder called Anorexia Nervosa. While I was relieved to have a diagnosis and to start a treatment plan, I was also scared because I had learned that Anorexia can be a deadly illness.
Our treatment journey focused on Family Based Therapy (FBT) via a weekly virtual therapy session which included a weight check, group and individual discussions with Elizabeth, me and my husband. We talked about challenges and possible solutions, what we were experiencing and what we should be doing. She never disclosed what triggered her eating disorder. She may not know, but social media may have played a role.
While some individuals with an eating disorder need residential treatment for eating disorder care, we were able to manage her nutritional support at home with the guidance of her treatment team and support from other parents in a similar situation. This involved planning every meal and sitting with Elizabeth while she ate as caloric intake must be monitored and increased gradually.
The treatment process was challenging for us and for Elizabeth. Relationships were strained and I was afraid of failing in giving her the support she needed. But we helped her get into the right specialized treatment program and are so grateful for the care they provided to Elizabeth when she needed it most.
Elizabeth completed her outpatient therapy program 18 months after her diagnosis. She is well again and now thriving at college. I do worry that she may relapse in times of stress. But I now know the warning signs and can recognize the symptoms early so I can support her as needed.
Family, friends, coworkers, and other parents provided great support and guidance throughout this journey. Together with her treatment team we saved my daughter’s life.
Help with finding treatment for eating disorders and mental health is available.
Help with finding treatment for eating disorders and mental health is available.
