Anorexia Nervosa

Continuing good care at home will help you recover from anorexia nervosa. Set goals with your doctor, mental health professional, and registered dietitian. Include goals in the areas of:

• Reference Learning new eating behaviors.
• Reference Learning emotional self-care.
• Reference Developing trust in people who are trying to help you.

Ask your family members to also support your emotional and physical goals for healing. If someone close to you has trouble understanding eating disorders, share what you have learned in treatment.

Although not part of the treatment of anorexia, relieving stress can help you recover, improve your quality of life, and stay healthy.

For family members

All families have patterns that can get in the way of change. To make healthy change easier, have everyone in the family take a look at how they handle their loved one's eating disorder.

• See a Reference family therapist Opens New Window to help you find new ways to handle frustration, worry, grief, anger, and power struggles.
• Reference Helping a loved one with anorexia includes showing support and avoiding power struggles.

Keep in mind that severe weight loss makes a person unable to think clearly or function well in daily life. This is a sign that a loved one needs medical care.

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