Visiting Your College Student Who is Recovering from an Eating Disorder

Having a loved one who is recovering from an eating disorder can be challenging, even overwhelming at times. This might be especially true for parents who have an adult child that no longer resides with them yet who is recovering from an eating disorder.

Depending on your particular situation, your child may be going back to college after eating disorder treatment, after taking leave to seek professional treatment or attending for the first time since in recovery from an eating disorder.

Whatever the scenario may be, you may feel uneasy or worried about the success of your college student on multiple fronts, including the preservation of their health and wellness under the pressures of the college life.

Depending on where your college student is studying, you may find that you are unable to see your child as frequently as you would likely, especially if your loved one has relocated for school. However often you are able to visit with your college student, you may find yourself particularly anxious leading up to the time in which you are able to spend time with your child who has been recovering from an eating disorder. Living apart, there is only so much you feel as though you are able to do and contribute, and you may wonder if your child is doing what is necessary to remain in recovery.

Open Communication Lines When Recovering from an Eating Disorder

Keeping in regular communication with your college student can help continue the bonds of your relationship, even when separated by distance. Making the time and effort to stay in touch regularly can keep your relationship strong during the times you are unable to spend together. Asking open ended questions out of love and care can help convey your desire to support your college student as they learn to care for themselves more independently. Ask about their meal plan, support group, circle of friends, and more to engage in healthy conversation and accountability.

College Visits

When visiting your college student in person, you might consider refraining from directly commenting on their appearance, which may have changed since the last time you visited.

Encourage conversation by discussing various aspects of your child’s life as a college student, not only their recovery efforts alone.

Being part of their treatment team before they transition to college can also help you understand what is expected of them while in school in order to stay focused on recovery and can help you identify those things that should be regularly implemented. Whether close or far in proximity, you can continue to be a valuable part of their support system as they recover from an eating disorder.

About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her nutrition private practice.

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 June 27, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com