Reddit mentions of Brave Girl Eating: A Family's Struggle with Anorexia

> Do I try to speak to the people (like her parents) that are ignoring the psychological side and just forcing her to eat?

Are you certain she (and/or her parents) are not working with professionals?

I ask this, because there is at least one successful evidence-based method, known as the Maudsley Method that emphasizes weight restoration and parental control over eating in the early stages of treatment for Anorexia. This is because many of the common AN behaviors are the same types of behaviors that develop in people who are subject to involuntary semi-starvation, so they're not purely psychological. Getting a patient out of a semi-starvation state can at least eliminate its side effects, and make the patient more receptive to treatment of the primary ED issues.

You'll find an interesting account of one family's use of this method in this book

If you are close with her parents, and comfortable talking with them, you might ask if there's anything you can do to help, but I would recommend not questioning their methods.


> A lot of the time that I see her eating stuff its junk food which is awesome that she is eating but I worry that if that is all she eats in a day she isn't getting enough nutrition and I am not really sure if I should say anything/ what I should say in this situation?

I'd definitely stay clear of that. You don't want to do anything to give her an excuse to avoid a particular food. Some foods that are commonly considered to be "junk" food are included in a feeding plan for a reason. For example, calorie dense foods like ice cream are commonly used for weight restoration. Some foods are also included as "challenge foods". My daughter had to include chocolate in her diet one week because it was something she was fearful of eating.

> I want to talk to her about my own stresses but I don't know if that a good idea. I also would really like her to realize that I care a lot and am trying really hard to help her even if it isn't obvious but I feel like that is less important to bring up at the moment.

I think it can be helpful to someone struggling with a mental disorder to recognize that we all have things that need fixing, and that asking for help should be considered a sign of strength rather than a sign of weakness. The fact that you are getting better, and you feel positive about that, can also be an encouragement. My one caveat is that you should be careful about making her feel that it's her job to fix you.