Anorexia/Bulemia Mentoring

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2006
Anorexia/Bulemia Mentoring
4
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 2:19pm
I am a mother (of teenage boys), youth worker (until last year), a mentor to young women and girlfriend. My boyfriend's 15yo daughter suffers from an eating disorder. She does admit to having had an eating disorder but tempers it with allusions to having it under control. Although our friendship is just developing I feel I can be direct and open with her and try to give her "food for thought" so to speak, even when she is not in the mood to contribute to the conversation. I have mentored other young women from teenage years into their adult years and find this young lady to be particularly good at hiding her feelings and thoughts. Although the eating disorder world is new to me, I do understand that a lot of it stems from feeling out of control and/or complete and utter frustration in some area(s) of your life. I was hoping someone may be able to give me advise, words of wisdom, internet links, guidance to help me gain information and understanding. My hope is to be a better support system for this young lady or anyone else I may encounter.
Thank you.
Avatar for schitz
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 3:14pm

www.mirror-mirror.org and www.something-fishy.org are good websites.


All I can say is don't rush it. Take your time gaining her trust and maybe she'll be more willing to open up to you. It is hard though if she is under the impression that she has it under control. Or maybe she's just not ready to give it up yet.


I hope others will have much better words of advice, because I seem to be lacking in that department.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-06-2005
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 6:15pm

Thank you, Amanda for posting those important links.


Mom_friend, I would advise you to go to the somethingfishy.org website, and look to the links on the left hand side of the page, to the link that says "Helping Loved-Ones."


Read it thoroughly and take it to heart.

 

 

~Diana~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2006
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 8:42pm
Thank you for your concern. And yes, these things have all been considered and discussed by both her father and I. I am not mentoring her, I am simply being her friend, yes at her pace, and they are talking with the appropriate professionals. If I were taking my relationship with her or her father that lightly I probably wouldn't be trying to educate myself so thoroughly so as not to hurt the situation. Thanks for your concern on her behalf. I think I have it from here. Take care.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-06-2005
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 11:01pm

This is really great news, I'm sorry I sounded mother-bear-ish there, it's obvious to me now you

 

 

~Diana~