Learning to take care of yourself when all you want to do is take care of your adult child

Becky Henry, President of Hope Network, Inc., became an “unwilling expert” when her daughter’s eating disorder took over the family in 2000. During those times of fear, trauma and drama, and extreme uncertainly about their daughter’s health and safety, Becky was often tempted to curl up in a ball and rock forever–but she refused to let the eating disorder win. How does a parent live through the terror of watching her child being consumed like that? Becky learned how to take care of herself so she could take care of her daughter and rest of the family. She educated herself about the disorder and soon became an advocate for other families. For several years she has conducted workshops for parents and professionals, giving them language to promote health. She learned to take the most terrifying experience and use it to rise above her circumstances and live her life with passion, and now coaches family members how to live fearlessly with this scary and demanding illness that is an eating disorder. From more than 40 family interviews, Becky has written a collection of their stories in Just Tell Her to Stop: Family Stories of Eating Disorders.