4 Things To Know About The Help You Get At An Eating Disorder Treatment Facility

An eating disorder can be harmful to your health and even lead to death in severe cases. Eating disorders are often challenging to treat, and professional help is often needed. A variety of eating disorder treatment facilities are available and ready to offer assistance so you can regain your health. Here are four things to know about seeking help for an eating disorder.

1. Different Treatment Approaches Are Available

Depending on the type of disorder you have and how badly it has affected your health, you might undergo hospitalization treatment, residential treatment, or outpatient therapy. Eating disorder treatment facilities differ in their programs and approaches. The important thing is to obtain professional help with your condition and to establish an eating pattern that helps you overcome your resistance to eating or your desire to binge.

2. Treatment For Associated Problems Is Often Needed

An eating disorder often develops along with other mental health problems. Sometimes an eating disorder is a way of self-treating emotional problems. Before you can change your old patterns of disordered eating, you may need to undergo therapy for past trauma or receive treatment for depression, a bipolar condition, or addiction.

As you manage your underlying condition, you may find it easier to cope with your eating disorder and manage it too. If you have an emotional, physical, or mental problem that contributes to your eating disorder, look for a treatment facility that can treat you for both conditions.

3. An Eating Disorder Requires Lifelong Management

Just like an addiction is considered a lifelong condition, you may need to manage your eating disorder for the rest of your life. That doesn't mean you'll struggle for the rest of your life, but it could mean that you'll need to stay alert for triggers and learn how to correct your course of action if you start to fall back into destructive patterns with eating.

Part of the treatment for an eating disorder is learning why you have the disorder, what triggers it, and how to fight the triggers so you can avoid succumbing to the disorder in the future. You may need periodic visits to the treatment facility for monitoring and checkups once you've completed your treatment program.

4. Dietary Counseling May Also Be Needed

When you go to an eating disorder treatment facility, you'll probably have a variety of therapy sessions including individual and group counseling. Many of these are led by psychologists and other mental health professionals experienced in treating eating disorders. You may also need to undergo counseling from a dietitian or nutritionist.

When you have an eating disorder, you can lose sight of what's considered normal when it comes to portion size and nutrition. By learning about the nutrition your body needs, you'll understand how harmful your disorder is and how eating too much or too little hurts your health. With this knowledge, you can plan your future around scheduled meals that are nutritionally balanced so you have a much healthier body and mind.

Share