Most of us would agree that it's a good thing to be able to negotiate what is and isn't OK in your relationship. This may include anything from how we behave with other people we may be attracted to, or who may be attracted to us, to the more mundane level of who does what at home (housework, parenting etc). 

But many people find it difficult to either make these agreements in the first place, or once they have been made, to stick with them, or to enforce them when they have been breached.

So what gets in the way?

It may not seem like the obvious thing to think about - you're in love, everything's wonderful, you or your loved one have popped the question and are sitting in the happy afterglow. If you've only been together a short time, you may still be in the 'honeymoon phase' where everything seems perfect!

We are all emotional as well as intellectual beings. Our brains are superbly designed to read and respond rapidly and accurately to emotions - we rely on this for our survival, as well as for connectedness and security. According to neuropsychiatrist Daniel Siegal, when we are emotionally flooded - that is, we have a strong emotional reaction to someone or something - a disconnect takes place between the emotional part of our brain and the part that controls reasoning, planning, reflecting and so on.

Discovering that your child has an eating disorder can be an extremely confusing, frustrating and painful experience. It is an extremely difficult role for parents to play as they feel they need to maintain a strong demeanour in order to provide the support and love necessary in caring for a child with an eating disorder.  Parents often feel distraught, helpless, guilty, defeated, confused and exhausted.

The following list provides recommendations to help parents manage their child’s eating disorder in a way which  promotes their recovery.

Communication