Eating disorder awareness week

 have been meaning to blog all week, well its Thursday and I'm here!! I've posted almost everyday with something encouraging about National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDA). So I thought I would share a few things on my heart regarding eating disorders. A lot of people are suffering and you have no clue and that's because: 1) they are normal weight 2) slightly overweight 3) obese 4) not skinny enough. We identify eating disorders as being skeletal thin. But in reality people are suffering in all shapes, forms, ages, and ethnicity. So you may have no clue your co-worker, cousin, best friend, sister, or class mates are struggling from this evil monster. I know I was able to keep my eating disorder a secret for many years because I was always considered to be "thin or skinny". So you never know whose living in the pain of this struggle. Which takes me to my next point.

Since sharing eating disorders happen in male and female, all ages, all different ethnicity's, all shapes and forms. We need to be careful in how we approach these people who are struggling. Our words can hurt someone whose even in recovery. We don't know what to say or what's okay to say. So here's for a little education for outsiders. This is not to put anyone down but to help those understand.

What NOT to say to someone whose in recovery or struggling with an eating disorder:

1) You look great/healthy/better than ever.
This seems like your helping someone whose struggled with an eating disorder. But healthy in terms of an eating disorder person means "I've gotten fat". Yes this may sound foreign to you who doesn't struggle. So just be careful in how you tell a person how they look.

2) You don't look like you've had an eating disorder.
This recently happened to a close friend of mine. She was at the doctor and he told her that. It really triggered her mindset. So in her mind she was "fat" and doesn't look like shes ever been sick before. The can bring set backs in peoples journey's.

3) Commenting on what they are eating.
People who are even in recovery struggle with this. They feel as if you know their struggle, that you are judging them already for what they are eating or not eating. People are hyper sensitive of their food intake.

4) If you'd just eat _____ you will feel better.
Its not about the food. There's way more to an eating disorder that is deeper. People are struggling with deep rooted things that need to be worked through with a professional and God. God is the only one who can fully heal someone and help them through their struggle.

5) Should you really eat that? You've eaten a lot today.
This can send someone into more of a binge mode. It can hurt them in the long run. They already feel fat so this only makes them feel more insecure about themselves.

6) Negative comments about your body.
People with eating disorders could be comparing themselves to you. Or could make them even more insecure about their own looks. Don't shame your own body or anyone elses this brings more negative thoughts to people with eating disorders or even in recovery.

These are just few things that you can be careful when talking with a friend or family member whose struggling. We all need to be educated in order to help those who struggle! God has a plan for each one of you whether thats a mentor, friend, family member, one struggling with an ED, and counselor. Be as sensitive as you can when dealing with people who struggle!