It would be a good idea to show him some information on eating disorders. you can get loads of it off the internet. Have him read up on it and get educated. If he's informed, he'll understand better what's going on.

i too am finding it hard , people at work dont understand if im feeling 'faint and ill' from not eating they dont understand why i cant just eat, obvious solution but not the easiest!
good luck

I know it is hard to hear why wont you eat and most people do not understand and it is hard for us to even explain. however, if you can get your dad to read info on the internet or a book if he prefers that it would help a lot. do you see a therapist? if so think about having him come with you. my family has given up saying anything and that is sad too, they don't know what to say anymore and it wasn't working anyways. they are starting again with hints about eating more, I am 57, and still my parents worry. as a parent myself I know ne will never stop worrying about our children. I hope you can get him educated and remember that he loves you so much.

Brittanie,

This is a tough question, and I think it's something that all of us struggle with. Eating disorders do not make any logical sense, even to the sufferer, so it is tough for people who don't have one to understand.

As others have mentioned, maybe you could see if he would read some information on it? There are plenty of books out there for friends and family members of those with eating disorders, and even more information online. Do you think he would be willing to read about them?

Also, are you seeing a therapist? I think I remember you saying you were from another of your posts, but I cannot remember for sure. Have you ever done family sessions? It might be a good idea to have him come to a session (plan this out with your therapist first). Also, just letting him know what is and isn't helpful to you might be beneficial. Let him know how he can support you in your recovery. I have no doubts your dad loves you!

My dad is the same way. I don't know if it's a generation thing, a male thing, or just never experienced it thing but his logic is "just don't." When I was on medication for depression he would always ask me how I was doing on the way to the doctor and if I said anything that wasn't positive, he would tell me to not tell the doctor and to say I was fine so I could get off medication. This is a reason why I haven't told him about my eating disorder because I know he wouldn't help. When it comes to everything else I try to be as honest as I can with him, and try to explain my situation. I know he doesn't understand but I know he wants the best for me. So maybe your dad won't understand but as long as you get it across you are trying everything you can to get better, are safe, and maybe that it won't be right that these thoughts will go away but maybe that's all you can do. It is sad but not everyone is going to understand. I know others have written that you should give him information or bring him to a therapist which are good ideas but also keep in mind they only work if he wants them to. I know my dad doesn't fully understand the point of therapist and wouldn't feel like reading anything because that's just who he is. If yours will that would be wonderful. Just remember you can't really make someone change their mind or make them understand without them wanting too. I do agree with telling him that you don't feel like you are getting support but ya. I hope this helped in some way. Good luck hun!

It might help you to understand that he is probably thinking the exact same thing as you. How do I get my daughter to understand me? How do I get her to eat? How can I express to my daughter that I don't want her to die?
No, I'm not a loved one of someone who has an eating disorder, I actually had eating disorders myself, and yes, I used to think the same but even when I suffered from it I had at least some realization that there was nothing understandable about what I was going through which led me to for the most part keep it a secret from my loved ones.
The truth is, your thoughts are diseased, delusional and insane, your thoughts are not understandable in the least to any person who is not suffering from this terrible disease, so why would you expect somebody to understand?
People need food to survive, people need to eat - that is what is understandable to people.
In all the years that I suffered from eating disorders, I have never been able to convince people that my disease ever made sense. Because it never did.
Maybe it's putting unrealistic expectations on our loved ones?
As you may know, there is nothing sane or logical about Anorexia Nervosa. It makes no freaking sense at all!
Of course he doesn't understand, not to mention if he agreed with you, that would make him officially the worst father in the world.

How would it be good if he said, "oh, I understand, go ahead and starve yourself"? The real issue is that your dad is probably worried sick, stressed out over the fact that you could die anytime. The truth is that he is realizing the aweful truth that you are slipping away from him and there is nothing he can do.
The truth is, it is all your decision. You CAN make the choice to try harder. You can make the decision to eat.
I know that is is hard, but I also know that it is possible to beat this disease, because I did. I suffered from anorexia for 13 years of my life. I guess some people just really have to hit rock bottom before they genuinly want to get better.
You can't lie to yourself. Just because you say you want to recover, doesn't mean you want to. I am going to bet that when you say that you are trying there is still always a tiny voice inside you mind saying, "but I still want to be thin".
Every time you say, "I want to be healthy again" you will counteract that with "but as soon as I get healthy, I'll be able to also be thin".
But true recovery comes when you can finally, finally gain the desire to WANT to recover, despite realizing the fact that you can never, ever be thin and be healthy at the same time. It's scary. But if you really want to recover from this, that's what you have to realize. You have to let go of that desire the disease has put inside your mind to want to be thin. I'm not even saying "work on underlying issues" to this one because literally anorexia nervosa is the weirdest disease I ever had to overcome. I was working on the underlying issues before that but there was still that messed up delusional voice in my mind that kept saying "soon, soon to perfect" and although it might have been caused by me feeling helpless in my life, it was certainly the most difficult thing I've ever had to overcome. Now that I'm healthy I find it so strange that I ever thought that way, as if I was actually posessed, if you know what I mean. Whatever those thoughts were, they were not mine, nor were they sane in any way shape or form. You might think so right now, but I can bet that nobody around you will ever understand what you are going through because there is nothing sane about it. There's nothing sane about wanting to starve oneself to death.

I'm in the same boat. My family tell me it's all in my mind. And to just get over it. Doesn't matter what I show them they think I'm just trying to get attention.