When your child was anorexic, there were certain signals that gave it away. Every child with an eating disorder has ideologies and behaviors in common, though your child most likely displayed elements of their illness that were unique to them. You know what these unique elements are and how to deal with them.

1. ANOREXIA NERVOSA: WHAT TO DO IF YOU
THINK YOUR CHILD IS RELAPSING?

2. Early recovery can be a very tenuous time. It is especially scary for parents,
but parents, "Do not let your hearts be troubled."
There are ways to stop relapses and stop them quickly.
If you used family-based outpatient anorexia treatment to help your child get
better, all you need to do is re-institute the principles you used when your
child was anorexic.

3. When your child was anorexic, there were certain signals that gave it away.
Every child with an eating disorder has ideologies and behaviours in common,
though your child most likely displayed elements of their illness that were
unique to them. You know what these unique elements are and how to deal with
them.

4. OUTPATIENT ANOREXIA TREATMENT
You played a central role in your child's recovery. You took the time to get to
know your child in a new way. You learned the way they thought and the way
they spoke while they were in the grips of an active eating disorder. The words
they used before, the way they spoke, the way they questioned everything
about food and the utter disgust they showed when food was placed before
them will be hauntingly familiar again. It is possible they looked depressed,
they may have reacted with anger, thrown food, or stormed off to their room
when their anorexia nervosa was in control — these kinds of behaviours that
were all too common before, you may be seeing them again.

5. EATING
DISORDER
THERAPIST
IN LONDON
When your child was in an active anorexic
mode, you were also able to tell by observing
their emotions. Anger or crying was, of course,
the easiest to notice, but other feelings such as
nervousness and underlying anxiety may have
been less apparent. Anorexia Nervosa can be
very cunning indeed. It may morph subtly and
maybe slightly more difficult to recognize.
Remember, it wants to survive, and it wants to
flourish. If you really question what you are
observing, contact the eating disorder
therapist in London who helped you before.

6. Go with your gut instinct. Remember what you have learned and trust
it. All of the knowledge you gained about eating disorders, all you have
learned about your child; these are the things that will help you see a
relapse is coming. It does not mean you need to freak out and panic,
but it does mean you need to increase your vigilance. If your instincts
are telling you to take back control of what and when they eat, don't
hesitate. Do it. Reinstate all the things you did before that helped your
child get better. It is always better to be safe than sorry. You do not
want to be in a position later where you say; "If only I had listened to
my gut!"

7. You are the parent, and
you know your child. It is
because of you they got
better in the first place,
and it will be because of
you that they will not slip
back into relapse mode!
Pay attention, catch it
early and act. You know
what to do. You've been
doing it all along.