Eating Disorder Treatment

Drug Abuse and Eating Disorder Treatment Combined

When an eating disorder occurs in conjunction with drug abuse, eating disorder treatment must address both problems. Research shows that people admitted for eating disorder treatment often abuse amphetamine, crystal meth, cocaine or diet pills in an attempt to manage or l ose weight.

Eating disorder treatment can be provided in a number of different settings ranging from inpatient treatment in a hospital to outpatient treatment in a therapist's office. The type of eating disorder treatment that seems to have produced the best results, however, is residential treatment . In residential treatment, patients are in a less restrictive environment than a hospital but are provided more structure than in an outpatient program.

Recovery is Possible with Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating disorders share a number of common characteristics with drug abuse including obsessive behavior, cravings, secretiveness and rituals as well as sudden changes in mood. There are also many common risk factors such as:

• Family history
• History of sexual or physical abuse
• Low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, impulsivity
• Susceptibility to messages from advertising and entertainment media
• Transition or stress
• Unhealthy parental behaviors and low monitoring of children's activities
• Unhealthy peer norms and social pressures

The best type of drug abuse and eating disorder treatment is a dual diagnosis program in a residential facility. Dual diagnosis programs treat both conditions simultaneously to prevent the risk of relapse. Research has shown that when only one problem is treated, the other tends to get worse. Treating both conditions at the same time helps ensure a more successful recovery.

Patients in a dual diagnosis program within a residential eating disorder treatment center learn to live drug-free lives as well as how to manage healthy food intake. They learn how to shop for food, prepare food and understand the dynamics associated with a healthy eating plan. These practices best prepare patients for life after treatment and become part of their relapse prevention plan. 

Restoring a Healthy Body Image through Eating Disorder Treatment

One of the main issues addressed in any type of eating disorder treatment is body image. Distorted body image is often seen in patients suffering from bulimia or anorexia. Patients with a distorted body image continually view themselves as too fat and go to extremes in order to reach an image acceptable to them. They learn in eating disorder treatment that that image does not exist and learn how to accept a healthy image .

Often times the patient's weight will play a role in his or her body image as well. Eating disorder treatment centers continually report that patients judge their self worth and body against how much they weigh . They believe that if they are able to reach a certain weight "all will be well." This is, of course, an illusion because that weight does not exist. Through therapy and group counseling, eating disorder treatment helps patients accept what "normal weight" is regardless of how they feel.

Let us help you find effective eating disorder treatment to meet your needs. Call us toll-free at 1-800-708-4156 for a free confidential consultation with a qualified professional 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.