Father’s Day: a day to celebrate the men we love.
September 3 is the day to acknowledge the special men in our lives. Those men who care for, support, protect and provide empathy to a loved one with an eating disorder. Whether they be a father, stepfather, grandfather, older brother, or beautiful friend, men experience helplessness, fear, grief and concern while they watch their loved one battle an eating disorder.
Father’s Day is also a day when we need to recognise those who have challenging relationships with their own fathers or never had a father, as well as the step-fathers, those who have lost their fathers, and the dads whose children have passed away.
It’s a day to recognise those who act as fathers to others, who step in when no one else is available in that role, those who identify as men, and let’s not forget, our grandfathers.
In 2023 eating disorders are still viewed as a female disease. The stereotype is: girls suffer from them, and mothers are the carers. This generalisation is inaccurate and unhelpful for many reasons:
– Men and boys experience eating disorders
– Fathers and family men are largely engaged carers
– Fathers play an important role in family based therapy (FBT) and treatment outcomes.
Most research in the eating disorder field focuses on the mother, while still overlooking the father. Even in the 21st century, the impact of fathers and eating disorders is poorly studied. This is despite the father’s role having changed considerably over the decades. Dads are much more involved, both in hands-on parenting and in their relationship with their child.
However, men find it much harder to seek support for emotional problems. It is crucial that fathers and family men who feel overwhelmed, anxious or depressed seek help, especially when they are managing a loved one’s eating disorder. It ensures they thrive, and it demonstrates good self-care for their loved one, partner, and family.
Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) was founded by a group of parents who have cared for, and are caring for, a loved one with an eating disorder. EDFA’s charter is to include all carers and families of those of any age with an eating disorder. This includes fathers, mothers, partners, siblings, grandparents, and friends.
EDFA offers an online support group, specifically for me because we understand how important they are to the recovery journey and how much they also need their own support and education when it comes to eating disorders.
Held every two months, EDFA’s Men’s Support Group is one of our most popular as it provides a safe place for dads, grandfathers, partners, male friends, and those who identify as male to talk with those in a similar situation.
On Father’s Day, EDFA wishes all the significant men in our lives a day of gratitude and recognition.
Written by EDFA Volunteer, Karina Smith.
