Being there for your loved one

Everyone involved in your loved one’s recovery has a different role. The support and encouragement of family and friends is vital. It can be helpful to reach out for information, support and connection to help with understanding your role as carer and how you can support your loved one with their recovery.

As a family member or friend, you cannot deal with all the problems associated with the disorder. Your role as a family member or friend is unique and something that a therapist can’t be, just as the therapist’s role is something a family member or friend can’t take on.

When things get too emotional between you and the person you are caring for, it’s best to pause, explain that you need ‘down time’ and remember the big picture.

To help manage carer stress and fatigue, it is helpful to set aside time for enjoyable and meaningful activities. These might be with friends, family members, partner, or by yourself.  Finding ways to recharge is important and beneficial for your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. 

It may be helpful for you to access a counsellor for yourself or a support group to connect with other carers.

There are a number of Carer Peer Support Groups – some specific to eating disorders (Butterfly Foundation and EDQ), some for mental illness (Richmond Fellowship Qld and ARAFMI) and other general carer groups (Carers QLD).

• F.E.A.S.T around the dinner table forum is also a great support to many carers.
• Butterfly Foundation Support groups Parents and Adult Carers Groups are for any adult who is a carer of someone with an eating disorder; this may be a parent, partner, grandparent, friend or other carer.  Conversation will focus on the carers’ experiences, and on topics that may help carers to cope better with an eating disorder in the home. Second Monday of the month from 7:00pm –  8:30pm AEST.
• Develop some resilience in yourself Mental Health Resource for Carers. Online program designed to support carers of people who have a mental illness living in Queensland. An easy to work thorough series of sections to reduce confusion around the mental health system and some skills and strategies for coping and doing the right thing.

The process to eating disorder recovery can take years. It can also affect your financial security. So taking care of yourself financially is helpful to both you and the one you are caring for.

• Centrelink
  If you are doing a lot of support you may be able to access Centrelink payments via the ‘Carer Allowance’. There are a number of rules regarding this process. So it may be helpful to talk with one of the resource workers from Carers Queensland.They have valuable knowledge of the system and managing its intricacies.

• Health insurance
  It is helpful to look into health insurance, your loved one may be eligible for health insurance rebates depending on their coverage or if they included in your policy.

• Free Sessions: Mental Health Treatment Plan
  A GP should develop a Mental Health Treatment Plan (and/ or and Chronic Illness treatment plan) for the person with the eating disorder. This process entitles a number of medicare rebate mental health sessions and/or complementary health sessions with eligible practitioners.
  Note: Your GP can also develop a mental health treatment plan for you if you are stressed. This will give you access to services to help manage the stress and the impact a carer’s responsibilities can have on your life.

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
  The NDIS supports eligible families and carers of those looking after a loved one with an intellectual, physical, cognitive and/ or psychosocial disability. For more information on the NDIS, click here.

• ARAFMI
  ARAFMI has developed a Carer Coach training series to support carers navigate the NDIS. For more information, click here.