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Helping a Loved One: Families and Carers

A compassionate interactive guide for families, partners, friends and carers supporting someone with an eating disorder. Explore different eating disorders, understand difficult behaviours, practise supportive conversations and create your own reflections and family support plan. Includes 14 chapters, bookmarks and downloadable resources.

Space to Breathe Therapy

Helping a Loved One:
Families and Carers

A compassionate guide to supporting someone living with an eating disorder, while remembering that you matter too.

Understanding, communication, practical support, recovery and looking after yourself.

Your place and written reflections can be saved on this device.

Chapter 1 of 14

Words That Help

Supporting someone with an eating disorder can involve difficult conversations. These examples are suggestions, not scripts that fit everyone.

Choose a situation to consider a more compassionate response.

When you don't know what to say

"I may not fully understand what you're going through, but I want to understand. I'm here to listen, and we can look for help together."

You don't have to find perfect words. Respect, consistency, listening and a willingness to learn can matter more than having every answer.

My Family and Carer Reflection Journal

This is a private space to explore your feelings, concerns and needs without judgement.

Saved entries remain in this browser, not on a Space to Breathe Therapy server. Others using the same device may be able to view them.

What am I finding most difficult at the moment? What might my loved one be experiencing? What have they told me they need? How have I been responding, and what might I change? What do I need for my own wellbeing?

Our Compassionate Support Plan

Where possible, create this collaboratively with your loved one. Respect their consent, privacy, wishes and capacity. Professional treatment plans should always take priority over general suggestions.

What helps my loved one feel safe and supported? What tends to increase distress? How can we respond when things become difficult? What professional support is in place or needed? What will I do to look after myself? Our next small, realistic step

Finding Additional Support

In the UK, a GP can help arrange an assessment and referral to appropriate eating-disorder services. Children and adults may require different referral pathways.

Eating disorders can be medically serious at any body weight. If there is fainting, chest pain, severe weakness, dehydration, concerning physical deterioration or another urgent symptom, seek urgent medical care. Call 999 for an emergency or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

For specialist information and support, visit Beat Eating Disorders.