ABSTRACT

For many of my patients, con®ding in family or friends is critical in recovery. Telling friends that you have an eating disorder may not surprise them. Often these matters have been an open secret for months or years. Making the issues explicit can come as a tremendous relief to everyone. Families and close friends can be powerful allies in the ®ght against these dreadful illnesses. As I write this book, several leading experts in the ®eld of eating disorders are experimenting with the training of family and friends to act as `therapists'. However, this only works if you stand shoulder to shoulder. Therefore it is important to consider timing and context of sharing the secret.