Anorexia Inpatient - What You Can Expect
An Average Day In Eating Disorder Treatment

Anorexia inpatient treatment can be quite intense at eating disorder clinics. Based on my own personal experience, this will give you an idea of what an average day is like for an anorexia inpatient.

Due to the life-threatening medical and physical effects of anorexia nervosa, sometimes patients require around-the-clock care until health is stabilized.

Clinics will often recommend a stay of 30, 45, 60, 90 days (or even more) in order to have a good start towards eating disorder recovery.

I believe they determine the length of each stay on a case-by-case basis, depending on finances, plus the overall medical and emotional health of the patient.

When you're an anorexia inpatient, you can expect to have your every move monitored pretty closely. This is obviously for the patient's own good, but it certainly doesn't seem like it at the time.

Besides the obvious mealtime supervision, trips to the restroom are also monitored.

At Remuda Ranch, we were not allowed to use the restrooms for a certain length of time after meals - and even then, we had an "escort".

I think this is a common practice at most -(if not all) - eating disorder treatment centers.

We were never away from the watchful eyes of nurses or mental health technicians, and patients stayed together in a central area at all times.

Doctor's visits, or individual/group therapy sessions were the only reasons we were allowed to leave the central area - and this was only after our physician or therapist showed up to escort us.

It sounds a bit like a prison (or worse!), and it definitely takes some getting used to. But in the end, it's really not that bad. They do cut you some slack if you're showing progress in treatment and you are medically stable.

Aside from supervised free time, actual eating disorder therapy takes on many forms while you're in treatment.

Anorexia Inpatient - Drawbacks And Benefits Of Group Therapy

There can be many benefits of group therapy, and a few drawbacks, but for the most part, it's worth it. Part of the treatment at Remuda Ranch includes snack and restaurant challenges where the Dietitians take small groups to the local ice cream shop or restaurant.

For people with eating disorders this is a huge challenge. Anorexia symptoms include food restriction, and high-fat foods like ice cream are often first to be cut.

With the support of other group members and the Dietitian, you learn how to deal with food anxieties, such as eating in public, and consuming foods that are typically on a patient's "banned list".

The Dietitian is also there to show you healthy portion control. Restaurants usually serve much more food than is actually required by our bodies. By learning how to portion off proper amounts, it can really help to ease some of the anxiety.

While those kinds of outings may or may not be part of the treatment plan at other clinics, it seems safe to say that all eating disorder treatment centers provide some form of group therapy for the anorexia inpatient.

Anorexia Inpatient Support Groups - Eating Disorder Therapy

In Group Therapy, the number of anorexia inpatient participants is kept to a manageable level.

At Remuda Ranch, there were never more than 12 girls in my particular group, and at all times we had three therapists facilitating.

One of the primary benefits of group work is that it diminishes social isolation and anxiety.

Individuals feel less alone and more connected when they hear others' stories. Hope is instilled when they see their peers making progress towards eating disorder recovery.

When group members respond to each other with empathy, this helps to reduce shame and uncover suppressed emotions. For the anorexic, there is much to be learned, especially with regards to interpersonal skills and communication.

Some physicians and therapists have expressed an important concern in the area of group therapy. It's the fact that group members may (directly or indirectly) teach each other new weight loss techniques or unhealthy thought patterns.

Occasionally there are feelings of competitiveness for who can be the thinnest. Therapists try very hard to prevent such interactions by imposing group rules - no numbers (referencing weight or calories), no specific talk about weight loss, etc.

Anorexia Inpatient Support Through Individual Therapy

Individual therapy is referred to as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or just Cognitive Therapy.

Because most people with anorexia (and other eating disorders) display varying degrees of cognitive distortions, one of the treatment goals is for the therapist to challenge these distorted beliefs.

The therapist will also teach the patient the finer details about eating disorders and educate them with regards to its effect on their body.

With the therapist's support, the patient is encouraged to share their innermost thoughts and feelings about their illness, or life in general. Although this would be challenging for anyone, to those with eating disorders - (particularly anorexia) - it seems like an impossible task.

Anorexics can be so malnourished that they're completely detached, numb and devoid of any emotion. Just recognizing the fact that they even have emotions is an accomplishment unto itself.

Through individual therapy and support, the anorexia inpatient will focus on increasing self-awareness, self-confidence and improving their sense of control.

Family Therapy During Anorexia Inpatient Treatment

Family therapy can take place at any time during the course of anorexia treatment, whether it's part of the treatment plan at the eating disorder clinic, or it's encouraged as part of the outpatient recovery process.

At Remuda Ranch, some of the session time with your primary therapist is dedicated to planning things that you might want to discuss with your family during Remuda's "Family Week".

Early in the family therapy process, sessions are held without the anorexic patient. Parents and siblings are educated about the causes of anorexia and given health and nutritional information.

Myths about eating disorders and the concept of cognitive distortions are also discussed. Treatment goals are then laid out, and the family is encouraged to voice their fears and concerns regarding their loved one, or the therapeutic process in general.

Therapists employ different methods to family therapy, depending on whether the anorexia sufferer is a younger person still living at home, or if they're older and living away from home.

For those who are young and still living at home, the therapeutic process takes on a problem-solving approach and parents will learn ways to take charge of their child's eating disorder behaviors by re-negotiating family 'rules'.

In cases where an individual has moved out of the home, then family therapy can be thought of as a direct extension to the anorexic's individual therapy.

Apparently, not as much research has been done on those who no longer live at home, but there can still be positive results (better communication and understanding) for anyone who sticks with it.

Overall, the primary goal of anorexia inpatient family therapy is to explore the issues that may have contributed to the eating disorder, and those that interfere with recovery.

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