|
my daughter
About 4 months ago, I noticed that my teenage daughter was losing some weight, but only a little. As time progressed, she wouldn't stop losing weight, and she was a size 2. I started to worry about her and made sure that she ate dinner every day. However, she constantly made excuses for not eating, so we saw a therapist (this is about a month ago from now). In our second session, she admitted that she was anorexic. She now refuses to go back to the therapist. My question is this. I'm very worried about my daughter and her weight. Forcing her to eat would cause her to possibly develop bulimia and she would start to hate me, so how do I make sure that she eats?
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Health?
Okay, im so sorry that i was so straight forward in my last answer. I was just having a really bad day. So, I just wanted to that i meant that you should let her do what she wants to an extent. If she really does have an ED, she is going to do it (throw up/not eat) no matter what you say. Its a mental disorder that only she can overcome. Dont force her to talk to a therapist or try and talk to her about it because you will just make her angry at you. Just let her do it, unless she gets horribly skinny, or needs to be hospitalised. Then you should step in and help. I think that my parents responsibility to give me what i want and to make me happy, but to also keep me safe. I dont know about you ro your daugter but thats how i feel. Tell me what you think about what you have said, i would really appericate your feedback. Thanks
Cody*
Just leave her alone. I hate when my parents barge in on my business. I cant believe you made her go to a therapist.
]
Make sure she goes to see that therapist. Maybe you should also see a nutrionist. Tempt her with foods that she likes instead of forcing her.
]
You MUST insist that she continues to see the therapist, she must be hospitalized if neccessary. That is the only thing you CAN make her do, and that it a very important step. Do whatever it takes. Other then that, continue to be as supportive as possible and encourage her (gently) to eat and spend time with you.
]
I mean I'm around her age,
and sure I would like to be skinnier than I am,
but the main thing is self control,
if she has the ability to control herself to lose weight, she can easily gain weight too.
In my opinion if I were in her situation, I would need to see the consequences of what can happen. Talk to the therapist about it and ask if you can find a movie based on eating disorders or something like that or pictures of people who go too far with the disease. Scare her back into eating, and making sure that she does eat. Thats what I would want someone to do in my opnion. or you could even google annorexia and click pictures, they are horrifying. And since your daughter isnt legal you can force her to go to counsuling, and even if she hates you, I would say its a risk worth taking especially if it saves her life. The sooner she gets better, the sooner you can mend the relationship, but if you dont, she might not be around long enough to do so.
I hope I helped,
good luck & you will be in my prayers.
<3
]
Hi there, I am a mental health counselor and have worked extensively with people who have anorexia. While for immediate health concerns it is important that your daughter eat this is not the real issue. To ensure she eats you need to tell her that while you understand she doesn't want to the EXPECTATION is that she eats a minimum amount of food every day. You also need to insure that if she keeps losing weight that you take her to a childrens hospital in your area that has a good psychiatric dept. and knows how to deal with youth who have anorexia. If need be they will force feed her in order to limit damage to her heart and organs. Also if your daughter starts eating but increases her exercise this is counter-acting her eating and is extremely dangerous for her heart.
As for the actual disease; this disease is not about eating it is about control. This is the only way that your daughter feels that she has any control in her life. She cannot get well on her own, she will need help and more then you can give her as well.
As a family /youth counselor I feel I must say that it is important for you to realize that while we all want our children to love and respect us being a parent means making the hard decsions and the hard choices. Seeking treatment for your daughter may anger her and she may say she hates you but in the end you are saving your childs life. You need to be the adult and force her to be the kid. She is not old enough, wise enough or well enough to make good decisions for herself right now.
If you need more help feel free to message me.
]
You could try getting info on what being anorexic does to you and show it to her. Emphasize on not only how sick it makes you feel but LOOK as well. Show her how so many famous people who started off like her ended up deathly sick in the hospital.
Although it might seem hard not to, I don't think you should make a big deal about this towards her. Forcing her to stop would probably make her do it more. But she most likely won't be able to stop on her own. Maybe there's something more to it. Does she get alot of attention? Things like that.. maybe if you try spending alot of time with her and do things with her it will take her mind away from it. Keep her busy and watch her alot witout making it obvious. You should try letting her go to the therapist on her own if you haven't already. Let her talk to them in private about it and see if they can find out why without you being there, maybe she doesn't want you to know. There's a number of things that could be the reason so hopefully something helps her. Just make sure you get her some help before it's something she feels like she HAS to do, to pretty much live.
Try making new things for dinner or just snacks even if thats the least that she eats.
Good luck
=] Evy
]
Hey. I am really sorry about your daughter. Anyways not to insult you but I don't think it's in your power to make your daughter eat. You need to call a specialist or an anorexia clinic so she can get real help. If your daughter keeps up anorexia she could get very sick so even if it is hard, taking her for help is the right thing to do. Good luck and I hope your daughter is ok. ♥kelli
]
hhmm thats hard. well i think i know how your daughter feels. i dont know how old she is but i'm 14 years old and i also have the same problem as your daughter. i dont know why but i also think i'm fat and my mom has the same problem as you do. so i would buy your daughter like stuff with low calories and show it to her and tell her that it wount make her fat. thats what my mom did and i always eat that because it has low calories. dont force her to eat though cause that would make it all worse and you can also weigh her and show her how thin she is.
i dont know if that was a good answer but i pretty much have the same problem as your daughter and the only thing i would eat is low calorie food so yeah maby that helpes.
]
More Questions: |