Going to an Eating Disorder Clinic

If the person with an eating disorder is more cooperative, an eating disorder clinic is a much better alternative than the temporary treatment one would get at a mental hospital. This is because eating disorder clinics are usually designed on a residential basis, making the experience much less institutionalized than what one would have at a mental hospital. They also tend to offer treatment over a longer period of time.

The environment of a typical eating disorder clinic is designed in such a way to make the patient feel as if they are at home. However, this does not mean that eating disorder clinics lack elements similar to hospitalization. Patients must still interact with doctors, nutritionists and psychologists just as they would at a mental hospital. They are also more restricted to some degree.

For example, after meals patients are monitored to make sure they don't vomit up their food.  In extreme cases this could mean actually having to be watched while they go to the bathroom.  Yet, most are trustworthy enough that they can go on the bathroom on their own.  When they finish the nurse will check the contents of the toilet to make sure it contains no vomit… hence, patients must not flush after answering the call of nature.

All of the meals are eaten in a meeting room, similar to the eating arrangements done at mental hospitals. Patients are expected to eat all of the meals, each of which are prepared according to their eating preferences. For example, a vegetarian would be given fare that contains no meat. The only type of food that is not allowed during meals or otherwise are diet products… this is the case even if a patient was overweight. Since the meals are designed to be nutritionally sound, patients do not need to worry about controlling their calorie intact, watching their carbs or all of the other things dieters are concerned about.

In terms of therapy, eating disorder clinics place great emphasis on patients networking with one another. During community groups eating disorder sufferers don't have to feel like they are alone, since everyone at the clinic is suffering from the same types of problems as they are. This is in contrast to if they had gone to a mental hospital, which tend to have more instances of patients suffering from more 'stereotypical' mental illnesses such as mania, schizophrenia or depression. They may not feel as much of a connection with these types of patients.

How can a person find an eating disorder clinic? Most of the major ones will be advertised in the phone book and/or on the Internet. Yet of these venues, the Internet tends to offer the most in terms of specific information. One of the best sites a person can turn to for finding eating disorder clinics is EdReferral.com. To use this site, all a person needs to do is provide the state in which they reside. EdRefferal.com will then display all of the eating disorder clinics that are in the area. From there a person can call the centers, write to them or visit their website.
 
Treating eating disorders does not end with a stay at a mental hospital or an eating disorder clinic. Even if a person shows significant progress, they may still need additional psychological or psychiatric care to prevent a possible relapse. This care can be provided through weekly or monthly visits to a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

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