What to Expect When Seeking Treatment for an Eating Disorder

 

Do you or someone you care about suffer from an eating disorder?  Struggling from any one of the eating disorders means being obsessed with some aspect of eating, health, weight, shape and/or exercise.  Perhaps you or your loved one has been trying to fix it him or herself for a long time and are ready to reach out for help.  But seeking therapy can seem a little scary, if for no other reason than it is new.  Here is what you can expect if you have made the courageous decision to try counseling and begin to heal.

 

Start by working with someone who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. Insurance companies will have lists with the therapist's specialties or you can search the internet.  At your first appointment you will start by filling out paperwork that provides the therapist with some basic information about you.  If you are using insurance, they will also need your insurance information.  The goal of the first session is to get a general idea about your difficulty and why you have come to counseling.  It may also determine if you are an appropriate candidate for outpatient therapy or, in some cases, if you may benefit first form hospitalization (e.g., if you weight is dangerously low.)  During this first session it is important that you sense that you sense that the therapist is listening, and that you feel understood and not judged.  A good therapeutic fit is important!  It is likely that you will be asked about your family history, your present life, and details about your eating disorder be it anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating or orthorexia.  Orthorexia is a newer eating problem that consists of an obsessive, chronic desire to eat only "purely healthy" food to the degree that it interrupts an individual's lifestyle.

 

Eating disorders create terrible suffering and can be tough to beat.  To help the process move forward as quickly as possible, I highly recommend creating a treatment team of an M.D., a nutritionist and the therapist to provide appropriate support, learning and specialized expertise.  For example, because an eating disorder can wreak havoc on your health in ways that can be fatal, it is important to obtain a chemical assessment from you physician to analyze your electrolyte balance.  Also, an eating disorder can make it difficult to know how to eat normally again.  A nutritionist can help the individual return to normal healthy eating and provide support through the healing process.

 

Future sessions with the therapist typically focus on learning new coping skills and strategies to replace the eating disorder symptoms.  Also, the purpose of the eating disorder is often explored.  Many times an eating disorder develops to help the individual avoid other issues.  Thsese issues need to be addressed and resolved to prevent relapse and improve quality of life.

 

I hope this article will help you feel more comfortable if you, or a friend or family member, could benefit from an experienced licensed professional who specializes in treating eating disorders.  An eating disorder can be very challenging to let go of, and the sooner you seek treatment the better!  So please consider getting professional help if you believe you are struggling with an eating disorder so that you can heal and move on to a more fulfilling life!