Trying to support my friend.

[semiunbalanced]

Backstory:

My friend has a history of binging and making himself throw up. I remember when I first started to get close to him he used to hide behind the theatre during dress rehearsals for our musical trying to relax after throwing up. Sometimes I don't think he meant to, other times I wasn't too sure. He has diabetes and has landed in the hospital a few times for different reasons (though I'm not sure his eating disorder has ever actually been the reason but it does make me extra concerned). He started to get more comfortable with his relationship with food but he still feels his weight is rather unhealthy. He isn't the most lazy kid in the world (he'll walk just about anywhere and give him a bike and he'll ride it for days) but he still feels the need to try to lose weight.

Anyway, he texted me and said he hadn't eaten for a while and suddenly binged. After he binged he felt too horrible and made himself throw up. One of our close friends has been asking why he has bags under his eyes and I respect his decision to keep this away from her because he doesn't want her to worry. I'm extremely worried about him and I don't know what I can do. I have told him that I am here for him and I am trying to support him as much as I can but I feel like for now there's not a whole lot I can do to help. Is there anything I can do that doesn't involve telling a doctor or parent about this situation? Is there something I can say that helped any of you recover or have helped you start to recover? I just really want to help my friend. I'm so worried about him.

[rosaleah]

Well me personally didn't want anyone but my best-friend knowing that I had an eating disorder. And it helps a lot to talk about your problems. So you should bring it up and it might make him feel better if he knows he is not alone, and that you are there for him.

But he also may not want to talk about it. So if you bring it up and you can tell he feels awkward talking about it, then maybe you should slow down.

[Angel]

Hey Kimmi. :)

It's really great that you want to support your friend through this. Eating disorders can be so difficult to overcome on one's own, and having a friend for support can mean the world to a person. While you feel as though you cannot do much, you can be a good friend to him. Let him know that you support him, and that you are there for him whenever he needs to talk. I'm sure it means a lot to him that you are doing this.

Best of luck to your friend. x

[semiunbalanced]

Thank you. I'm scared because I haven't been able to contact him. Last I heard he wanted nothing to do with food. If I do get ahold of him and he has not eaten food, is there anything I can say that might make him wish to eat again?