By Sarah Hrudka, Outreach Specialist at The Emily Program
I remember the terror and anxiety that ran through my veins prior to confronting my friends about their eating disorder(s), because I was so unsure of how they might react. But I once heard the quote, albeit a bit cheesy perhaps, that “I would rather have a mad friend than a dead friend.” Not that I had enough power as a single human to save their life and well-being per se, but instead holding steadfast to the notion that I had enough of a voice to help, because I would rather say “I tried” instead of “I should’ve.”
Once one of my friends began treatment at The Emily Program, I soon realized that there were also resources for Supporters, which quickly became my saving grace. I would attend both the friends and family night, which is offered weekly, as well as Recovery Night that was run once a month. In that I learned so much about not only how to be a better supporter, questions to ask, learning how not to enable behavior, etc., but tools for how to handle what came up for myself personally. A few points to note, that hopefully can help the supporters out there, as well:
The Emily Program continues to offer free support groups for family and friends of those who are struggling with an eating disorder. The groups are open to anyone in the community – your loved one does not have to be getting treatment at The Emily Program for you to participate in these groups. They also hold the monthly Recovery Night in St. Paul. You can get more information about all the Family & Friends groups at our Minnesota and Washington locations here.
Call 888-364-5977 for help now.
The Emily Program is a University of Minnesota Medical School Affiliate
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