My husband was diagnosed with anorexia in high school; he is now 33. He now projects his eating disorder onto me and tries to control my eating habits.
He wants to stop, but we cannot find any resources out there to help us with this sort of "projected" anorexia. Can you please offer suggestions?Answered by:Evelyn Attia
Recovery from anorexia nervosa generally aims to help individuals regain their normal weight AND normal ideas about body shape and weight not just for the patient, but for those people around him or her.
With that said, many individuals with a history of an eating disorder have residual ideas that relate to their history of illness. When symptoms affect other family members, there may be a role for family therapy or couples therapy to identify problem patterns and help develop solutions.
Evelyn Attia, M.D.
Director, Eating Disorders Research Program
Dr. Evelyn Attia is The Director of The Columbia Center for Eating Disorders at NYSPI/CUMC, and a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.
Dr. Attia received an A.B. from Princeton University, and an M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. Formerly the director of NYSPI's inpatient eating disorders program, Dr. Attia is currently studying the psychobiology and treatment of anorexia nervosa. She has received a Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD),...
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