Notes on How to Save a Life
February 28, 2008 by angelique
Filed under Women's Health
Is it possible that you could save the life of an anorexic, bulimia or binge eater?
Maybe.
You’ll never know if you don’t attack the problem in some small way.
To help you build your anti-ED arsenal, I’d like to suggest that everyone adopt the following philosophies:
#1: “I will not ignore the problem.” Like a raging fire in the middle of the sofa, anorexia won’t go away on its own. You can pretend it doesn’t exist, but it still will.
#2: “I will not blame the victim.” The more you judge the anorexic or bulimic, the less likely it will be that he or she will open up to you when it’s time to ask for help.
#3: “I will not enable a person with an eating disorder.” Does your wife feel sick from not eating and make you call her boss to beg off for the day? Is your daughter using your fights as a “reason” not to eat? Disengage from becoming part of the ED behavior and make the person take responsibility for him- or herself.
#4: “I will not make fun of people who are heavy.” Should I even mention why this is so terrible? I think not. If you think it’s funny to call someone a “hippo” or “pig”, think again. Sure, you might elicit a few giggles, but that doesn’t make it right.
What are your thoughts on how to save the life of an anorexic or bulimic? What has worked (or hasn’t worked) for you?
