skrankzNew Contributor
How to help someone when they won't admit they have a problem
I have a friend who I have known for a long while. We are currently both undergoing our final year of schooling and her perfectionist tendencies are leading her to her own self-destruction. She, for as long as I have known her, has been unhappy with her weight; this being said, she has never been overweight or unhealthy. However, in what feels like just months (probably in the last 6 months) she has approximately halved her body weight. I know through personal observation as well as what the many other people who are concerned about her have said, that this has not been done in a healthy manner. She does not eat and works out excessively for increased periods of time. I have spoken to the counsellors at our school, however, they have informed us, that they have now exhausted all resources and done all they can without breaching the appropriate perametres of their jurisdiction as a learning facility. Her rigorous study schedule means we do not see her often and thusly, are unsure what to do in regards to talking to her about the condition she so evidently has. My biggest concern, however, lies in her mother. She is, for lack of a more appropriate term, a horrible human being. She demands perfection from her daughter and cares not about her wellbeing. She dictates the life of her daughter and doesn't allow her to do the things she enjoys. Many have said that it is imperative that support for my friend begins with speaking to her mother to ensure a support system is in place at home, however, I feel as if this would not be a successful step, nor a step in the right direction. I am now in a position where, being 17, I have exhausted the immediate resources that I possess. I am asking for advice on how one goes about helping a friend when they and their family don't seem to think that anything is wrong.
