Fighting For, Not With, Your Teen in Anorexia Recovery

"For most parents, raising a teenager means learning to step back to allow space for independence, growth, and separation. We're taught that this is how teens develop autonomy and confidence. So when a teen develops an eating disorder, everything about effective parenting suddenly feels upside down. The idea of stepping in, taking control, and limiting independence can feel counterintuitive, even risky."

"But when anorexia clouds a teen's ability to make sound choices about food and health, parents can be instrumental by stepping in to help restore safety and stability. In this context, a parent's job shifts from fostering independence to providing protection, structure, and connection until their teen is well enough to reclaim autonomy. Across treatment approaches, one truth holds: Teens do best when parents are present, involved, and honest."

When anorexia compromises a teen's decision-making about food and health, parents should prioritize safety, structure, and emotional connection until the teen regains autonomy. Presence, honesty, and active involvement—whether through meal support, firm boundaries, or direct conversations—strengthen recovery across therapeutic models including family-based treatment. Parental firmness combined with compassion can restore safety and counteract secrecy, while transparency and open dialogue reduce isolation and diminish the illness's power. One consistent protective factor is a steady, loving adult who offers courage, empathy, and clarity. Recovery progresses as parents lead with care rather than control, then gradually return independence as stability returns.

Read at Psychology Today