What are some of the first steps involved when someone seeks to overcome an eating disorder?
Health care providers (HCP) should first try to make some kind of connection with the person who reveals their eating disorder. It often takes a lot of courage for someone to first admit their unhealthy and destructive behavior patterns regarding food, for example binging and purging or only eating very small amounts of calories per day. Sometimes it is just about listening and assuring the person that you understand or at least are trying really hard to understand. The HCP should certainly make the person feel rewarded that they have mustered up the courage to reveal their behaviors which they sometimes feel a lot of shame about. It is important for the HCP to not add to that shame by coming across as blaming or being judgmental of the person. Once the HCP has started on the road to building a sense of trust with the patient/client, then they need to provide some sense of hope and reassurance. They should be able to assure the person that they will work with others in a treatment team
