Best Eating Disorder Medical Treatment

Eating disorders can be a difficult and isolating condition to live with. They can affect your health, your social life and your ability to work or go to school. Fortunately, there are effective ways to treat them and recovery is possible.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Most people with eating disorders have mainly outpatient treatment. These treatments usually include counseling, nutrition education and medication. They may also be referred to an eating disorder clinic or specialist.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common types of eating disorders. They are characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight, restricting food intake, bingeing, and purging (eating a large amount of food or using laxatives, diuretics, and excessive exercise). Look for more facts about counseling at https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/guidance-and-counseling.

There are several different ways to get help with an eating disorder. Depending on your needs, you can choose from outpatient, partial hospitalization, or residential treatment.

Outpatient: In this type of program, you meet with your treatment team at a clinic or hospital 2 to 3 times a week for hours. You sleep and eat at home, but you attend the treatment sessions.

Partial hospitalization: This type of treatment at this link includes sessions that are longer than those in an outpatient program and happen most days of the week. You can also stay overnight in a residential treatment facility, which is specifically aimed at treating eating disorders.

Inpatient: You can be admitted to a hospital for an eating disorder if your condition requires around-the-clock care. This is especially helpful for children or teenagers who have serious medical problems.

Residential: You may need to stay in a residential treatment program if you have a severe eating disorder and you have had trouble getting treatment or recovering. This can be short-term or long-term.

Treatment aims to restore your physical and mental health, change your behaviors related to your eating disorder, and create strategies to manage relapses. It also teaches you how to manage your emotions and cope with stress.

Psychotherapy: Talk therapy is an important part of eating disorder treatment, and it can help you understand your thinking and feelings. It can also teach you new coping skills and help you build a support network.

Family therapy: This type of psychotherapy from this homepage involves talking with your family about your eating disorder. It can help you identify family members who may be contributing to your eating disorder and helping you to resolve conflicts.

Medications: Medicines, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, can help you stop feeling depressed or anxious and get back to a healthy weight. These medicines can also help with other symptoms that go along with an eating disorder, such as body image issues.

The right combination of treatment can be extremely effective. Your provider will help you develop a treatment plan that works best for you.

Your doctor may refer you to an eating disorder specialist or a clinical psychologist to work with you on your treatment. They will review your medical history, evaluate your symptoms and decide on the right treatment for you.