We have a friend, a second grader, who was put in the hospital for 2 weeks for food phobia. She has now been released, however is hooked up to a feeding tube, as she is still refusing to eat. We would like support information for her, especially being a child this young. We are aware there has been sexual abuse at an early age. She is currently in a safe home environment, and the abuser is in jail. She is suffering what we feel is the trauma from her past abuse. Our church is praying for her and we would like to give additional help. Can you advise? Thank you. – C. and L.
Dear C. and L.,
Wow. Words are limited when hearing of a small, second grade, child apparently underweight and refusing to take basic nutrition. Food is a life sustaining provision. It is usually received by those who want to live. The deep betrayal and spiritual pain inflicted by a perpetrator can change that young soul’s will to live. Multiple questions must be posed on this young girl’s behalf:
How do you trust again? When someone is incarcerated because of “you” what do you do with that? When adults want to talk about “what happened” how do you know you are more then what has happened to you?
Realize that this young victim is probably less than three feet in height and just learning how to read a Weekly Scholastic Reader. In the small space that comprises her, and with the narrow experience of life she has known, how does she begin to believe in her self?
It is possible that a young child, abused at an early age can become withdrawn, depressed, anxious, and fearful. Although the actual abuse events ceased with the perpetrator’s incarceration the haunting continues in her young mind and body.
In the late 1990’s Peggy Claude-Pierre received widespread press for her approach to working with anorexics. Ms. Claude-Pierre has not been without controversy; however, I do believe aspects of the treatment protocol offer some merit. What Peggy highlighted was some times the focus should not be so much on food or re-feeding but about helping this girl reinterpret her world. The antidote to abuse, it would seem, is unconditional regard, nurture, respect, and appropriate touch to remind her brain that she indeed deserves to live. Ms. Pierre believed in holding, rocking, and feeding young restrictors by hand–morsel by morsel–while letting appropriate physical touch and verbal affirmations (from the caregiver) shower the young person. She would literally cradle them during meals and serve up continual reassurance that they had the right to eat, to taste, and to live.
Please understand that there are very few quick fixes. Prayer is a scientifically proven positive intervention. I encourage all persons to continue to pray. Finally, consider a collaborative approach by contacting the medical/psychological and parental caregivers and state your desire to be a significant helper. Perhaps you could suggest they review aspects of Peggy Claude-Pierre’s approach and determine if there are any parts that may be helpful.
Regards and blessings to you,
Leanne