Most people who have an eating disorder try to manage it on their own, go to therapy, see a registered dietitian or discuss it with their medical doctor. They may spend needless years of suffering trying to recover. The key to recovery is to start with a solid foundation of recovery at an eating disorder treatment center then step down to seeing a therapist, medical doctor and/or registered dietitian. If you want help for your eating disorder, it can be hard to decide which treatment center to go to. Here are some tips that will help you make the best choice:
1. Make sure the entire staff knows about eating disorders, not just one person. Many programs treat chemical dependency but employ only one or two staff members with some experience in eating disorders, or they may have a simple eating disorder track.
2. Although many people with eating disorders do have co-occurring disorders, it is almost always true that the eating disorder came first and is primary for the client. Substance abuse and other co-occurring disorders can be addressed in a good eating disorder treatment program.
3. Therapists need specialized training to treat eating disorders, not just alcohol and drug training. It takes a team to treat eating disorders. The medical staff must understand the health complications that are caused by eating disorders and the proper medication, labs and testing protocols; the registered dietitians must understand re-feeding and nutritional maintenance for an ED client in addition to understanding the clients themselves and their difficulties in making a paced shift to a healthy relationship with food; and the therapists and clinical support staff have to understand the vast difference in treating the ED client verses the chemically-dependent client. Most eating disorder clients want help and are motivated, but have a hard time getting out of their own way -- this is part of their need for perfectionism and the constant eating disorder dialogue in their head. Empowerment, encouragement, understanding and commitment to go the distance from ALL staff are needed to help the eating disorder client make a lasting shift.
4. Ask if they have a registered dietitian, psychiatrist, medical doctor, and licensed therapist who has been certified as an eating disorders specialist (CED). Ask about their philosophy and approach to treating someone with an eating disorder.
5. Make sure there are different levels of care so the clients can transition to real-life experiences. Most clients can abstain from their eating disorder in treatment because of the close supervision, but without the supervision they relapse. The real recovery comes while doing "real" life without using the eating disorder.
6. Eating disorder treatment can be expensive -- ask the treatment center if they accept insurance. Billing for eating disorder treatment in some cases is more likely to be covered by an insurance company than chemical dependency treatment. Be sure the program you choose is set up properly to support the financial options for care for an eating disorder client.
7. A good program will have a strong family component. Family participation, healing, and growth are extremely beneficial to someone on their recovery journey. A strong family component should include family therapy sessions at the appropriate point in the client's care, family support groups, and family participation and communication throughout care as well as in discharge planning.
If you're struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorders helpline at 1-800-931-2237.
For more by Rebecca Cooper, MA, MFT, CCH, CEDS, click here.
For more on eating disorders, click here.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
