HOW TO HELP IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS (OR MIGHT HAVE) AN EATING DISORDER

• DO TALK TO THEM
• DO TELL THEM YOU CARE
• DO GIVE TIME TO LISTEN TO THEM
• DO ACCEPT AND APPRECIATE THEM AS THE UNIQUE PERSON THEY ARE
• DO REALISE YOU CAN’T FORCE THEM TO CHANGE
• DO SEE THEM AS AN UNHAPPY PERSON
• DO TAKE TIME TO BUILD TRUST WITH THEM
• DO REALISE THEIR FEAR OF GAINING WEIGHT AND BECOMING FAT
• DO REALISE THAT IS NOT EASY TO CHANGE BEHAVIOUR
• DO REALISE THAT NON-FOOD FACTORS ARE AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM
• DO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT
• DO TELL SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST IF THE BURDEN COMES TOO MUCH
• DO PHONE A HELP-LINE IF YOU ARE UNSURE HOW TO HANDLE THE SITUATION 
• DON’T FOCUS ON FOOD AND EATING 
• DON’T WALK ON EGGSHELLS, DARE TO BE HONEST WITH THEM 
• DON’T TELL THEM WHAT TO DO 
• DON’T TRY TO GET THEM TO EAT OR STOP EXERCISING 
• DON’T KEEP WATCHING AND QUESTIONING THEM - ESPECIALLY ABOUT FOOD 
• DON’T SEE THEM AS AN EATING DISORDER
• DON’T LECTURE OR NAG THEM
• DON’T BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS
• DON’T BE IMPATIENT - CHANGE WILL TAKE TIME 
• DON’T PRETEND IT WILL ALL JUST GO AWAY 
• DON’T CARRY AN OVERWHELMING BURDEN OF ANXIETY OR WORRY ALONE
• DON’T GIVE CONFIDENTIAL DETAILS TO OTHERS - STICK TO THE FACTS 
• DON’T GIVE UP IF YOUR ATTEMPTS ARE REBUFFED

www.eatingdisordersnetwork.ie