Successful Bulimia Treatments

The treatment facility that you choose when you’re ready to overcome an eating disorder may be one of the most important choices you make. To make sure that your bulimia treatments have the best possible chance of lasting success, consider whether an inpatient facility or an outpatient facility makes more sense for you. Read on to find out exactly what you should be looking for and what to keep in mind.

As a recovered bulimic, I know one of the most important choices in your bulimia treatments is the treatment facility you select. It can be an intimidating thought; how can you possibly select the right facility that will hopefully mean full and effective recovery from an eating disorder?

So how do you go about picking a bulimia treatment facility? What are the things to look for and what should be kept in mind? I’ll share a few suggestions to get you started.

First, consider whether you want an in-patient or outpatient facility. This important decision should be based upon on several factors:

  • The severity of your condition the rule of thumb is that for severe cases, or for those of us in a particularly fragile state, an in-patient facility with round the clock monitoring and constant medical attention makes more sense. Since an inpatient facility will offer more intensive and a wider range of bulimia treatments, it may be more effective for more severe cases.
  • Round-the-clock support consider the fact that with an outpatient facility, you will have to put in more personal effort to make your treatment successful. You know yourself best. Make an honest assessment of your situation and whether being in your everyday life will be better or harder on you during this challenging time. If you’ve tried going it alone for more than 2 years, it may be time to consider an in-patient facility instead.
  • Cost is likely to be a big factor most in-patient facilities will provide you with lodging, meals and round the clock attention meaning it will be a lot more expensive.
  • Follow up support consider what types of support the inpatient treatment offers after the completion of the program. Typically one is rather protected and controlled in an inpatient facility and rejoining the real world can be traumatic. What are their plans to make sure that a relapse is avoided?

Once you make up your mind about inpatient versus outpatient treatment facilities, look at some specifics about the facilities themselves to make an informed choice.

  1. Look at the background of the facility – how long have they been around?
  2. Do they have a proven track record and experience in offering bulimia treatments?
  3. Trained, experienced and competent staff is what makes a treatment facility successful after all.

– Examine the design of the program and the treatment model look into whether there is going to be physical monitoring offered as part of the treatment. Ideally, parameters such as metabolic markers, nutritional therapy and chemical balance need to be monitored to effectively gauge the type of treatment needed and to check how much progress you’ve made.

Is this is specialist treatment facility? Do they provide treatment for only those with eating disorders or do they cater to other additions such as alcoholism, drug abuse and so on? Generally speaking a treatment facility focusing only on eating disorders may be a better option because the staff there is likely to be more experienced specifically with regard to bulimia treatments.

– Look at logistics distance to the treatment facility from home is an important factor and there are several things you should consider here. Access and availability of family support (more difficult if you are far away). Whether it is an in-patient or an out-patient facility how will your family interact with you during recovery and is being closer to home, or at home, a positive or a negative factor.

– Look at the program(s) offered are there one-on-one or individual sessions offered as part of the treatment plan or is it all group therapy? Do they offer the services of a nutritionist or a dietician? If these do form part of the program, how often are these sessions offered?

All of the facets of the treatment facility that you are considering should be weighed carefully to make sure that your bulimia treatments have the best possible chance of succeeding.