Many of us are familiar with the statistics, 10,200 deaths each year in the US alone are a direct result of an eating disorder. This equates to one death every 52 minutes with 75% of first-onset symptoms emerging during adolescence, a crucial developmental stage where family influence is significant (Pithewan, 2022). Thus, suggesting parent and family intervention can be critical in minimizing mortality risks from eating disorders.
As a therapist, I often hear from both parents and adolescents alike that the eating disorder creates even more arguments between them. The malnourished adolescent is physiologically unable to rationalize normally, often desperate to protect their current coping mechanism, the eating disorder. When parents do become aware of the eating disorder, parents are terrified and can’t understand why their child won’t stop these life-threatening behaviors. This only furthers the current power struggles and parental fears of adolescents going off on their own. Often with arguments escalating to the point of both parties losing sight of their shared goal, healing. Leaving one to wonder, how does a parent support their adolescent’s autonomy while also keeping them safe, alive?
From an Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens, the individual mind comprising of various “parts”, each family member’s internal parts interact with others. This creates a complex system of relationships. Family dynamics, therefore, can influence and be influenced by individual parts, including those contributing to disorders eating behaviors. Recognizing and addressing these internal and external interactions are pivotal in the recovery process.
Family therapy with an eating disorder specialist provides parents with the knowledge and insight of what their child is not only experiencing and needing but also how you can be that loving support system you ultimately want to be. Everyone knows there is no handbook when it comes to parenting, so why would anyone expect a parent to know how to manage such a serious, complex disease without the help of experts? By engaging in therapy that addresses both individual parts and family interactions, a more comprehensive healing process can occur.
Pithewan, U. (2022). The impact of family dynamics on eating disorders. Research Archive of Rising Scholars. https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.66
