Hi,
sorry this isn't anything to do with your questions, but as i read you've been an inpatient. Could you explain to me a little about inpatients and outpatients and all that?.....Also how bad does an eating disorder have to be for doctors wanting you to go as an inpatient?.....Also do these hospitals help and what do you do as inpatient all day???
Sorry for all the questions but i'm really interested becuase i think i really need either of these as nothing, i dont think is going to help with my ed.
Thanks .......and sorry for not answering any of your questions....

Hi
Welcome here.

First thing to believe: you're not to much trouble. You can keep things up and be healthy again!
But you have to fight for it!

well theres a lot of different options as far as treatment

there's outpatient, inpatient and a little thing inbetween most people call partial.

Outpatient is all different it can be seeing your therapist 1-5 times a week. Or it can more intensive. Where you have group therapies with it. It just depends.

Partial is next in line. It's partial hospitalization. Its kinda like inpatient. But you get to go home to your bed at night. Its like 6-8 hours a day... with group therapies. ad fun therapies like art therapy and yoga. movement therapt, music etc.

heres the description of the one i was in.

"The Day Partial Program provides a more intensive structure for group therapy meeting five days a week (Monday - Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Friday 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) These groups include two meals a day, as well as psycho-educational and psychodynamically oriented group therapy. A personalized treatment plan, including individual, family and group therapy, is designed to address each client's specific needs and goals. Psychiatric evaluation and medication are available, as well as regular medical evaluation to assess progress"


and then inpatient is just like above just more intensive and you have to stay there.

As far as "how bad you have to be". I dont really know... nobodyd does... it really depends on the person. If its taken over your life... then its time to seek an opinion. One thing i will say is weight doesnt matter. As many times as ive been inpatient ive been in there with girls of all sizes... trust me. Ive been inpatient at normal sizes and even overweight sizes... as well as underweight... weight doesnt matter....

I know what that is, I've been through groups and therapy as well. But I'm sure that you will get better. You can count on us to help you - even if you just want to be listenned to.
Have you already established any kind of goals for now? Reasonable goals, please.

I know how you feel about the hospital. Have you tried DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy)? It's a new form of outpatient treatment that helps people with difficult lives. they work with eating disordered people as well as programs for other psychiatric issues. It's not in every area, but check it out (google DBT) and see. If you're stable healthwise, and can find a true DBT therapist, it might help. It's helped me, and I've got a ways to go, but it seems to be working. I've been inpatient, partial, and outpatient over and over for the past 12 years, and am finally getting better with it.