Eating Disorders Forum - Bulimic Friend

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Q: Bulimic Friend

asked by: xxmxx on February 23rd, 2007

New User

My friend is bulimic and I really need advice about how to help her.
She makes herself sick after EVERYTHING she eats and I recently discovered a carrier bag full of sick in her room.

I have known about her illness for 3 years now but have failed to anything about it due to fear of losing her friendship. A housemate forced her to tell her mum about her problems 2 years ago but since then she has relapsed and now makes herself sick in private and never spoke to the girl who tried to help her again.

I'm worried that if I try to help her she will also think I am interfering. I want to help her but I just do not have the guts to approach her about the topic as she is very touchy about it. I've contemplated speaking to her mother in private and beg her to get her daughter help - is this a good idea? How can I make her mum understand what has been going on for all these years and rely on her to help her daughter?
Are there any other ways I can get my friend assessed by a doctor?

Any help or advice is majorly appreciated. Eating Disorders don't just affect the individual, they affect their friends and family too and I need to help her. Thanks.

Replies(2)

Catt101

replied on February 23rd, 2007

Experienced User

i think no matter what u should be careful how u approach this, if it were me and u went to my mother behind my back i wouldnt be very happy and prob not talk to you, why not try to understand her at first and start talking to her about it, but if she feeling uncomfortable try not to push her to confide in u, for the doctor its up to her if she wants to go, just try to show her ur there for her first before you go beyond that

cln1812

replied on February 24th, 2007

Active User, very eHealthy

Anorexia very nearly killed me, and bulimia can do the same to your friend. However you approach your friend or her mother, I doubt she is going to like it, at least not at the time. If you approach your friend, she will deny there's a problem until she is blue in the face; if you go to her mom, your friend will be hurt and defensive. It's a no-win type situation. If you could persuade your friend to see a therapist, I think that would be a step in the right direction, but it's not likely to be easy. I had to hit rock bottom for myself and make the decision to recover for myself, no one can do it for you.

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