Anorexia/Eating Disorders/Daughter with Bulimia

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 1/4/2010


Question
My daughter has bulimia and is currently in treatment with a psychiatrist for meds for her depression and we'll be moving into working with an eating disorder therapist...but until then, how do I work with her on her eating and what should I do to cope with her for her sake, my sake and my other children.  She consumes all of our groceries and it's costing me so much!

Answer

jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Darcy,

There is a great book you can purchase at amazon.com.  Surviving an Eating Disorder: Strategies for Families and Friends.  It's one of the best I've read.  I would really recommend that you get your daughter into therapy ASAP -- make sure she sees an eating disorder specialist at least twice a week.  She'll also need to see a nutritionist.

She sounds serious -- I would also have a complete physical by your doctor to make sure that she hasn't done any physical damage to herself yet.  I would put locks on the kitchen cabinets -- and I would tell her that you understand that she wants to binge and purge -- but tell her that you don't want any eating disordered behavior in your house.  If she's going to do this, she needs to do it elsewhere.

Hopefully the medication will begin to help her -- there's a possibility she might need residential care -- but definitely try working with a therapist first.

Let me know how all of you do!  It's so difficult for a family to live with someone with an active eating disorder -- very unhealthy for your other children too.  that's why I said to tell her to do it elsewhere!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc.
888-520-1700
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
@jeanniemirasol
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannerustmirasol

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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