Key Takeaways
- Siblings play a unique role in recovery by altering family dynamics and motivating individuals to enact change.
- Instead of forcing people to do things, Motivational Interviewing for Eating Disorders encourages them to work together and understand each other.
- Siblings often go through a variety of experiences, so they need time to process their feelings and figure out how to cope with them.
- Family therapy helps siblings improve and also strengthens the entire family.
- When siblings learn how to best help their teenage sibling, their long-term recovery gets better.
What is motivational interviewing for eating disorders?
Motivational Interviewing for Eating Disorders is a kind of therapy that lets people decide how they want to get better. It doesn’t try to make people do what it wants; instead, it helps people change by using empathy, open-ended questions, and reflective listening. This strategy works well for adolescents who might not want to use traditional methods because it makes them feel heard and understood.
When siblings are involved, the effect can be big. For example, a sibling with anorexia nervosa might not want to eat with the family. Still, if another sibling listens to their fears instead of making fun of them, it can help ease the tension and resistance. Programs that utilize motivational interviewing and place a strong emphasis on family involvement can help you learn more about this approach.
How do brothers and sisters help teens get better?
Siblings are often the first to notice changes in behavior, such as not eating, withdrawing from socializing, or becoming obsessed with body image. These little signs can help doctors find out if someone has an eating disorder diagnoses early on. Their perception of the illness and their shared family life can both help and hurt them.
Brothers and sisters may feel bad, frustrated, or guilty about what happened to them. When they are caring for a sibling, they may feel like no one is paying attention to them or that they have to stay the “well siblings” who don’t add to the stress. Even with these problems, positive sibling relationships can help a teen in recovery stay stable. Having a sibling around every day makes the adolescent feel like they belong and helps them feel less alone.
Why is family therapy important for getting siblings to take part?
Family-based treatment models demonstrate the significance of incorporating siblings into structured therapy sessions. Family-Based Therapy helps siblings discuss how the disorder has impacted them, learn healthy coping strategies, and enhance their communication with each other.
This approach strengthens the family system so that parents and doctors aren’t the only ones who have to help with recovery. Therapy helps siblings of individuals with eating disorders deal with their feelings and restore balance to family dynamics. This shared space helps people work together and reduces conflicts over time, which improves treatment for everyone.
How do siblings feel about this?
It can be hard for siblings to deal with an adolescent who has an eating disorder. They might feel bad for being angry and upset, or they might be envious of the attention their sibling gets. In such situations, siblings often struggle with conflicting feelings while still wanting to help.
Sometimes, siblings of individuals with eating disorders may feel like they have to take care of them as well. Caring for a sibling is meaningful, but it can be hard if you don’t set limits. External studies from the National Center for Biotechnology Information highlight how important it is to include siblings in treatment planning to protect their mental health and strengthen the family system.
How can siblings learn to handle things healthily in the future?
If siblings want to help a teen get better, they need to take care of themselves, too. Setting limits, practicing self-care, and getting help from a therapist or friends are all good coping strategies. These tips help siblings stay helpful without getting too stressed out.
Resources like MI for Eating Disorders demonstrate how motivational approaches can help siblings learn to communicate with each other in ways that reduce conflict and foster cooperation. Not only do programs that involve siblings help teens recover, but they also promote the long-term health of the whole family.
Conclusion
Siblings can be a big help in getting better from an eating disorder, but they are often forgotten. They can help things move forward when they are given the right direction, as they are close, see each other every day, and have a lot of knowledge about family life. Families can utilize motivational interviewing to help siblings become more understanding, resilient, and supportive of one another.
To learn more about programs that focus on recovery, contact Virtue Eating Disorder at (725) 777-2619 or use the contact form on the website. Families can work together to create a safe place where healing can last.
FAQs
How does motivational interviewing help people with eating disorders get better?
It emphasizes empathy and collaboration, fostering intrinsic motivation for change among adolescents rather than imposing it upon them.
What issues do siblings face when a family member suffers from an eating disorder?
Siblings may feel jealous, guilty, or angry while trying to be there for each other and deal with their own feelings.
Is it possible for siblings to attend family therapy?
Yes, most family therapy models encourage siblings to participate so they can communicate with each other, share their thoughts, and strengthen the family.
What are some good ways for siblings to set boundaries?
They can take care of themselves, ask professionals for help, and be honest about what they need to keep from feeling overwhelmed.
Is it always beneficial for siblings to help each other improve?
Yes, most of the time. Therapists, on the other hand, closely examine how the family functions to ensure that having a sibling in the picture is beneficial for both the teen and the well sibling.
Resources
Vella-Zarb, Rachel A., et al. “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Motivational Interviewing + Self-Help versus Psychoeducation + Self-Help for Binge Eating.” International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 48, no. 3, Apr. 2015, pp. 328–332. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24753120/
“Use-and-Abuse of Dissociative and Psychedelic Drugs in Adolescence.” Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 28 Jan. 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11578551/
“Family Therapy and Adolescent Eating Disorders.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8166282/
