I've talked about this before, but recent discussions about the role of alcohol and anorexia reminded me of
this paper on death rates.
"anorexia patients' five-fold increase in deaths due to gastrointestinal diseases may have been due, at least in part, to the indirect effects of alcohol abuse since 4 out of 6 deaths in this category were from liver cirrhosis. Moreover, other researchers have found that a number of patients with anorexia do not have alcohol problems during the first part of their illness, yet develop them later. Thus, anorexia patients should be carefully monitored for signs that they may be developing alcohol dependence."
Parents are understandably eager to return to 'normal' after initial recovery, we are often told to back off, and the patients almost always want us to let them move on and move out. But it is clear to me that eating disorder patients, even after recovery, deserve a higher level of vigilance on the part of loved ones. Not suspicion or distrust or babying: loving vigilance. Checking in, ongoing medical monitoring, open communication.
"anorexia patients' five-fold increase in deaths due to gastrointestinal diseases may have been due, at least in part, to the indirect effects of alcohol abuse since 4 out of 6 deaths in this category were from liver cirrhosis. Moreover, other researchers have found that a number of patients with anorexia do not have alcohol problems during the first part of their illness, yet develop them later. Thus, anorexia patients should be carefully monitored for signs that they may be developing alcohol dependence."
Parents are understandably eager to return to 'normal' after initial recovery, we are often told to back off, and the patients almost always want us to let them move on and move out. But it is clear to me that eating disorder patients, even after recovery, deserve a higher level of vigilance on the part of loved ones. Not suspicion or distrust or babying: loving vigilance. Checking in, ongoing medical monitoring, open communication.