Externalization Part 2 - The Analogy of the Solar Eclipse

During FBT treatment, it is important to consider the child’s capacity to make decisions. There are many analogies to help the parents understand that the eating disorder has made the child incompetent to have the age appropriate food control, and that they need to take responsibility. A classic analogy, which also illustrates the concept of externalization of the illness is a solar eclipse – refer to figure 1.


Figure 1 depicts the analogy of the solar eclipse. Whereby light blue refers to the adolescent that the family has known and loved; and bright blue refers to anorexia (the eating disorder) that tends to compare, negotiate, and manipulate

Here you would ask parents which of these scenarios resonates with them. It is not unusual for parents not to have the same perspective, and so it would be about having a conversation around this.