How to help someone with disordered eating?

[funnyfred1932]

Someone I care about is struggling with a few mental problems and I wanted to know if there's anything I can do. They are in their early 20s, female, and struggle with depression, apathy, an obsession with weight and body image, and behaviors like food restriction, binge eating, and purging with laxatives. They are of an average weight but sometimes feel heart pain from the laxatives and fatigue from restricting food. They also suffer from depression and don't seem to have any real goals in their life.
I am particularly worried about the physical results of this, but the mental things worry me as well. Are there any techniques I could recommend to them that are accessible to a non-SS person, such as dietary changes or supplements? I would greatly appreciate it if someone helps me with this. 

 

[Taol]

Fix the mental problems. Then there is a big chance the eating will become normal too.

If this person eats so little, go for quality. That way she will feel better and the nutrients she might be lacking may become less.

 

[funnyfred1932]

Thank you. Are there any specific supplements or other things you would recommend for the mental issues?

 

[centralforce6661]

Mental issues are not resolved with supplements.

Mental issues need to be explored by the person who has them to find out the root cause and eliminate it.

Sometimes just knowing the root cause is enough to eliminate or mitigate its effects on someone's life.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is very useful for identifying irrational beliefs that underly destructive behaviour.

It is the process of asking oneself why they feel a certain way about something continuously until an irrational belief is uncovered.

Ie why do you feel like you shouldn't eat today?

"I'm not hungry"

Why do you not feel hungry?

"I haven't done anything today so I shouldn't eat"

Why do you feel you shouldn't eat if you haven't done anything?

"Because if I eat I will get fat"

(which is the irrational belief)

Of course something like this won't always follow such an easy sequential progression and some may argue that you then have to convince the interlocutor that the belief is irrational but this is often unnecessary, most people will realise this themselves and often no further therapy is required beyond having them consciously know the reason why they feel a certain way.

 

[funnyfred1932]

Thank you, that was very informative. I will look into this more.