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Question About Evaluation for the Treatment of Anorexia?
Question : Question About Evaluation for the Treatment of Anorexia?
I am beginning recovery for anorexia, and am going to be evaluated next week to decide which treatment program is right for me. I am currently 17, 5’4 and 81lbs, but i eat around 1500 calories a day. I do not purge or overexercise, nor do i take any pills. I have also had bloodwork and EKG tests done and everything is normal, so i am in no immediate danger.
So my question is, what kinds of things do they take into account when deciding what program to put me into? I know my weight is very low, but will they take my eating patterns and such into account as well? I believe i will either be doing a partial hospiatlization which requires more days/hrs a week or an outpatient which is only 3 days a week. I’m scared about what they are going to say… Which program do you think i will have to do?
anorexia treatment programs
Best answer:
Answer by Holy, Hot Peppers, Batman!
This site looks pretty cool.
I hope this helps and you are getting better.
I am a male recovered anorexic and did residential treatment, impatient, and outpatient. First, a little education.
Treatments (from most relaxed to most intense)
1. Outpatient: Basically therapy. You talk with people and/or join groups. Things like gaining weight, however, is all up to you
2. Residential: Mostly comes after impatient but some less severe cases go here first. You stay a while and you focus on growing and gaining weight.
3. Inpatient: An intense experience usually happening in a Psych place. Don’t be afraid- it is not the steryotypical psych ward with crazy people. If you go to an eating disorder unit, you are with normal people with problems. It actually feels like college as you meet so many great people.
For you, I would say trying outpatient first. It is the cheapest and it tests your motivation. I did outpatient first and lost weight. I was not motivated so I needed impatient first and then residential. However, if you stick to the outpateint program, you may like it more.
The downside with residential and inpatient is that you must leave your normal life for a while. I was in an inpatient unit for 10 weeks and was at residential for 20 weeks. I was an extreme case as I had to gain about 50 pounds. You will have to gain some weight, but not 50 pounds so it will be less time.
I hated inpatient but loved residential. Inpatient is intense with lots of food. I have an incredibly fast metabolism (120 when the average is 80) so I was losing weight on 7,000 calories at one point. It was emotionally hard but I loved the people I met. At residential, you truly make a life for yourself. I met my boyfriend there and though we have gone through many difficult circumstances, we are getting married soon (in CA!). Whatever you decide, just do yourself and be honsest at the evaluation. Good luck and if you have any questions, please e-mail me at MSQ3881@aol.com