Confiding in Your Roommate About Eating Disorder Struggles

Contributor: Courtney Howard, BA, writer for Eating Disorder Hope

As you have probably already realized, college roommates can be a blessing and a curse. However, if you have a healthy relationship with your roommate, you might be able to open up to him or her about your struggles with your eating disorder.

Is It Safe to Share?

If you have been living with your roommate for a while, he or she has probably already noticed your disordered eating. As much as you try to hide it, this is very difficult to do when living in a tiny dorm room or off-campus apartment. In fact, he or she might even have confronted you about it in the past.

While you should definitely find someone to open up to about your disorder, only do so with your roommate if you feel safe. This means that you are confident your roommate will not judge or shame you, which would likely be triggering and do more harm than good.

What Can My Roommate Do?

Your roommate can be a support for you as you begin to open up about your eating disorder and decide to seek help. Even if this means simply listening to you so you feel heard, this can be liberating if you have been hiding disordered thoughts for a long time.

There are likely on-campus resources from which you can benefit, but you might be scared to reach out. Your roommate can pick up pamphlets at the student union or even attend meetings with you if you are afraid to seek help alone. Letting him or her help you can be the first step you make toward your new life free from your disorder.

Disordered eating and other behaviors that often accompany it can be very isolating. By confiding in your roommate, he or she will likely have more sympathy for your plight and not be as critical if your behaviors are unusual.

Be Prepared

There is an unfortunate stigma surrounding eating disorders, largely due to the many misconceptions and myths out there. Be prepared for these issues to come up when you first share your story, as preparation for this can prevent it from being triggering.

Whoever you decide to share your struggle with, know that it is important to speak to someone and not hold it all inside. Though this likely goes against what your eating disorder is telling you, remember that your eating disorder is not your friend. Speak to someone and get help today.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

Did you open up to your roommate about your eating disorder? What advice do you have for those looking to do the same?

About the Author: Courtney Howard is the Executive Assistant for Eating Disorder Hope and Addiction Hope. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. from San Diego State University, holds a paralegal certificate in Family Law, and is a Certified Domestic Violence Advocate. After obtaining her certification as a life coach, Courtney launched Lionheart Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching in 2015 and continues to be a passionate advocate for awareness and recovery.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on May 13, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com