Caring for Someone With an Eating Disorder: The Importance of Self-Care for Caregivers

Caring for Someone With an Eating Disorder: The Importance of Self-Care for Caregivers

Plane Safety Demonstration Pamphlet
By Lauren Smolar, NEDA Staff

The Importance of Self-Care for Caregivers

During the safety demonstration on airplanes, the flight attendants always remind passengers flying with children to apply their own oxygen mask before they place one on their child. 

Why? You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. 

The Challenges of Being a Caregiver for Someone with an Eating Disorder

Being a caregiver for an individual with an eating disorder is not always an easy task. Your primary goal is to look after that person and provide them with an infinite amount of care, love, and support. 

It’s important to remember that caregivers also need support and to practice self-care. 

10 Self-Care Tips for Caregivers

When you need to take time for yourself, here are a few ways implement the practice of self-care into your daily routine:

1. Check in with yourself:

Woman journalingWhen caring for someone with an eating disorder, it’s easy to channel all of your energy into them instead of yourself. It’s important to have frequent check-ins with yourself to see how you are holding up and what you need. 

When you first wake up in the morning or before you go to bed at night, try journaling to organize your thoughts and feelings.

2. Prioritize taking care of yourself: 

Taking care of yourself is not bad or selfish; it’s a necessity. Don’t be afraid to take time for yourself and give yourself a break. Devoting just an hour a day to yourself can make a huge difference.

3. Ask for help:

People holding handsYou don’t ever have to fight any battle alone. You aren’t expected to always know the next step, so if you feel lost, reach out and ask for guidance. 

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a sign of empowerment and confidence. It’s important to have a support system that you can turn to in your own time of need.

4. Don’t be hard on yourself: 

As a caregiver, mistakes will be made, but it’s important to remember that it’s ok to make mistakes and to not have the answers. Mistakes allow us to learn and to grow, and they are a necessary part of our day-to-day lives.

If a mistake is worth laughing about, laugh and keep going. We aren’t perfect and we aren’t meant to be perfect.

5. Go out in nature:

Woman walking in natureSometimes, just taking a walk around the block or through a local park makes all the difference. Bring some company or go on your own and get lost in the present moment. 

Getting fresh air and feeling the sun on your skin brightens your day and re-energizes you. Being outside can remind you that there is more to the world than the daily battles you face.

6. Make something: 

Whether it is your bed when you first wake up, a cup of tea, or your favorite craft, make something you can be proud of. 

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s an opportunity for you to focus on a single task and remind yourself that you are capable of creating something positive and beautiful.

7. List your gratitudes: 

Today I Am Grateful Journal with PenOne of the best ways to get through a tough time is to write down everything that you are grateful for. These lists can range from something as small as your favorite coffee mug to the people in your life, but it reminds you that there is something good in every day. 

8. Take a break from media:

We are exposed to toxic media sources on a regular basis. Whether it is through social media or the news, we are rarely exposed to stories and images that make us feel good. 

The news exposes us to stories of heartache and disaster, and social media provides false images that we are constantly comparing ourselves to. Detox yourself from those sources for some time. 

Focus on the present moment as opposed to an image that others create of themselves, and focus on the good news.

9. Choose who to spend time with:

You are allowed to be picky about who you spend your time with. Dedicating your time to people who will positively impact you and not fill you with negativity is extremely important. 

Additionally, sometimes the best person to be around when you need to practice self-care is yourself. Spending time with yourself helps you learn more about the incredible person you are.

10. Focus on your breath:

Man meditatingMeditation can be one of the most challenging but rewarding tasks. Even if it is just for five minutes, removing yourself from your stressors and focusing on nothing but your body and mind in the present moment can make a huge difference.  

It’s a chance to hit the reset button and bring back your awareness so that you can continue to help yourself and help others

 

Find Help and Support

Are you concerned you might be struggling with an eating disorder? Take our confidential screening tool

Are you looking for an eating disorder treatment provider? Find treatment in your area or online.

Are financial barriers preventing you from seeking the support you need? Learn more about free and low cost support options to connect with others and provide tools to promote recovery.

Related Posts

Summer Support Blog Banner (1)

As the Mother of Two Kids with Eating Disorders, Here’s How I Tackle Summer Triggers

,
We’re meant to enjoy these supposedly lazy days of summer. Yet, for parents of children with eating disorders, summer is often a time of worry. This is true for me. I have two children, ages 14 and 19, who have been diagnosed with and treated…
NEDAW 2021 Blog Banner

You Have to See the Eating Disorder Beast to Slay the Beast

This blog post is sponsored by Equip.Note from JD: This is my experience as the mother of someone with restrictive anorexia who is in solid, long-lasting recovery after an early diagnosis; we had access to excellent treatment. I use the term…
4k-wallpaper-bubbles-hd-wallpaper-1452701 (banner)

I Never Let Her Give Up, and I Never Left Her Side

I never thought I would ever experience the feeling of crawling to the bottom of a dark ocean floor with my daughter.   The feeling of the cold dark water as I held on to her for dear life, as I kept crawling forward, my hands gripping the…
baby-beach-child-51953 (banner)

More Than Just His Journey

Thank you to Aloria Health for sponsoring this blog post.Being the parent of a child with a mental health diagnosis can be exhausting. Deciding to send your child away from their norm is not only a hard choice but sometimes the choice between…
child-daylight-family-1128316 (banner)

Why Your Teen Probably Won’t Want to Do FBT, and Why You Should Feel Free to Do It Anyway

Editor’s note: Family Based Treatment (FBT) is one of many effective, evidence-based treatments for eating disorders. Treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it should be tailored to the individual and will vary according to both…
EmilyLockBlog Header

Thank You For Everything, Mom.

,
I feel extremely lucky to have a mother that is also my best friend. She has and always will be a source of comfort for me. When I was in elementary school and would come home from ballet class in tears because the teacher made me feel badly…
Screen Shot 2018-05-13 at 1

How My Mom Helped Save My Life

,
I can vividly recall my first day at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital clinic. I had already been sick for 3 years, in which time I had seen more treatment providers than I can count on two hands. I was beginning to lose hope that I would…
plastic surgery banner

Plastic Surgery Apps for Children Exist – Here’s How We Can Stop Them

,
Plastic surgery is not a game - unless you’re a young child with access to a smartphone. Hundreds of cosmetic surgery apps featuring child-friendly, animated characters are available for download via Google, Apple, and Amazon. Using medical…
nedacon faqs

NEDA Responds to Your Most Common #NEDACon Questions!

,
NEDA’s first Regional Conference will take place Saturday, May 12 at Drexel University. #NEDACon is designed to bring together individuals and loved ones who are experiencing eating disorders or wanting to learn more about eating and body…
Sunset People Hugging

Siblings of People in Eating Disorder Recovery Need a Voice

,
Siblings are our longest relationships. Often, a sibling is our first best friend. We love them deeply, hate them at moments and know both their strengths and weaknesses. When a sibling has an eating disorder, there is an impact, but what…
NEDA Conference 2016 (2)

5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Attend a NEDA Conference at Least Once

,
Two and a half years ago, I arrived in sunny San Diego, not knowing a single soul in the area and certainly not knowing what I would experience over the next few days. I was in town for the annual NEDA Conference, the first one I had ever…
PoR_DoctorPatient

4 Ways Providers Can Create a Safe Space for Patients

,
The value of relationships cannot be understated. The relationship the patient has with their bodies and their health care providers are two of the most crucial. So many have felt isolated and ashamed and being able to step into a truly "judgment-free…
mother with children homework at table

Confident Selves for Confident Kids

,
Everyone has something good inside. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there. -Mother TeresaI still think "self confidence" is one of the most important life skills. Self confidence means that I know my worth and innate goodness even if…
asian woman with young daughter banner

A Parent’s Advice on Helping Kids Love Their Bodies

,
I will never forget when, as a young teen, I was told by my mother’s friend, “You have legs just like your dad’s.” Many decades later I can still hear her voice and feel the sting and confusion her comment stirred in me.I had never thought…

This piece originally appeared on the World Eating Disorders Day blog on June 3, 2017.

Updated by NEDA Staff September 4, 2024