"What can I do to help my daughter if I think she has an Eating Disorder?" is a question that many mothers ask. They notice that their teenager is taking an obsessive interest in how much she is eating and is restricting her food intake quite severely, but simply don't know what to say or do.

Talk about Eating Disorders

The advice that many counselors would give is to try and discuss it with your daughter. See if she is open to having a talk about her food. You don't need to make it a complete eating disorder intervention but it is important to just voice your concerns about her eating. It's very difficult but crucially important for family members to be able to set aside their concerns and frustrations when having these chats. If your daughter feels judged or threatened you are not going to be likely to be able to make any headway in persuading her to go for treatment.

Find Eating Disorder Treatment

You're unlikely to be able to make any real difference in your first chat, but it will lay the foundation for future discussions. Of course this isn't a journey that you have to walk alone. You should find an Eating Disorder treatment center near you that will offer you help and assistance in planning a way forward.

Eating Disorder Recovery Centers

There are many eating disorder recovery centers that you can choose from. You should look for a treatment center that offers a wide range of therapies and is able to provide a comprehensive medical assessment and care program. People with Eating Disorders are at a higher risk of developing other psychological problems and so any treatment center worth its salt should have a very strong psychiatric and psychological presence on staff.

If you find a center before holding an Eating Disorder intervention it may be easier to persuade your daughter to look for help. You could show her the website and let her look at the pictures and read about the sort of program they offer. Most people are completely unaware of just how comfortable and accommodating an Eating Disorder treatment clinic can be. Hollywood has done therapy a great disservice through its melodramatic portrayals of what is actually a very nurturing and kind experience.