Anorexia Treatment- Have You Been Turned Away?
Share Eating Disorder Treatment Stories!

Anorexia treatment (or any eating disorder treatment) is usually denied to those who do not have the funding or monetary resources, and it seems to be happening more and more. Did this happen to you or someone you love?

If so, click here to go right to the form to share your story, vent, ask questions, whatever you need :)

If you're looking for specific anorexia treatments and what life is like at eating disorder treatment centers, jump over to my page on Treatments For Anorexia.

Lack Of Resources And Funding For Anorexia Treatment

Due to the lack of funding and resources for anorexia treatment, I got the run-around when I was trying to find an eating disorder treatment center in Canada. I was told that there was a 2-3 year wait for entrance into a treatment facility if I needed government assistance or funding.

I was also over the age of 25, which limited my options severely.

Eating disorder treatment centers here in Canada are (in my opinion) inferior compared to what clinics in the United States are offering.

For example, I have yet to find somewhere in Canada where you can receive eating disorder treatment and treatment for another disorder (i.e. anxiety, depression, PTSD) at the same time.

Instead, you are required to enter group therapy, or individual therapy, for each 'ailment' separately - which could be at an entirely different venue, and potentially with different therapists for each. There's no continuity, which is a problem given the severity of eating disorders like anorexia.

It creates such a disjointedness, and lack of support throughout the whole treatment process, as far as I'm concerned.

If someone were to participate in these groups, your fellow anxiety patients (for example) would probably not be able to fully identify with your anxieties as they relate to your eating disorder or 'food issues'.

Physicians usually praise the whole group therapy process because one of the critical benefits is that you'll be with others who can support you and identify with you. However, that is unlikely to happen in this case.

Given the fact that a number of people battling eating disorders also suffer from other co-occurring disorders, I was stunned to learn that there's no place in Canada for these issues to be dealt with concurrently. If it is out there, I haven't found it yet.

Monetary Challenges For Anorexia Treatment

If it weren't for my parents pulling every string they could -(in addition to dipping into their retirement funds), I would still be waiting for anorexia treatment.

In addition to the issue mentioned above regarding long waiting lists for those who need government assistance, there are also major issues surrounding out-of-country treatment and the urgency of financial assistance to enter those facilities.

In my case, I was told that I was "too sick" to be accepted into one of the anorexia treatment facilities close to home, but the government classified me as "not sick enough" for them to assist with treatment costs at clinics where there was no waiting list and I could get in right away. Most of these happened to be outside the country.

My entire digestive system had basically shut down, but because they said there was no proof that death was "imminent" the government denied funding assistance.

These days OHIP (Ontario Canada government) is no longer even considering funding for out-of-country eating disorder treatment, regardless of how sick you are. I suppose their argument is that there are plenty of facilities in Canada. In that case - re-read what I said above. The facilities here are not the same and cannot be compared to facilities in the U.S. I don't know why they can't see that?!?

In any case, let's just say that this entire fiasco did nothing to help my self-esteem or anxiety levels! I wish I had been stronger to fight it back then. Well, as I get better, that will change. I promise :)

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