eating disorder residential help young adult

Challenging Feelings of Hopelessness When Fighting an Eating Disorder

eating disorder residential help young adultAs a licensed therapist, I have worked with many clients who struggle with their eating, and many times I see them feel very hopeless. Food is something that we have to face daily, and unlike many behaviors in our lives, we obviously cannot give up eating. We have to work on a balanced and healthy relationships with food. So how do we do this? How do we challenge that fear, anxiety, and frustration? How do we keep going when we feel so tired and defeated? How do we create a voice that is stronger than the eating disorder to build hope?

Whether, you are struggling with anorexia, bulimia, exercise addiction, binge eating, or EDNOS, the core issue can be much of the same: a internal struggle that feel unable to cope with, thus we turn to food issues or exercise. This can mean that the internal world we are experiencing feels so chaotic and out of our control, so we turn to something we can control, that being our relationship with food and also, in some cases, exercise.

Here at OPI, we like to work with our young adult participants in a well-rounded approach to target not only the food piece but what is also driving the behavior. First there is the therapeutic process. This allows the client to work individually with his or her therapist to express and work through emotions, feelings, and struggles verbally rather than using food and exercise to push these down.

These are the very things that tend to drive the eating disorder, and the goal is to allow the client to have a voice and take up space without being self-destructive.

Clients will also be teamed with a dietitian that will allow them to begin their journey of what it means to have a healthy relationship with food. This does not just involve meal planning, but also looking at how we can turn to food, or lack of in some cases, and exercise when certain emotions arise. Clients in their disorder may have created food rules and things they need to follow in order to feel in control. Their work with our dietitian can help identify and break these while also dealing with the emotions that can arise from breaking such rules.

Our Life Coaches also play a role in how we treat the eating disorder. They have the ability to take the therapy to the outside world and beyond the office walls. They can go grocery shopping with participants, eat meals together, and attend meetings with them if they are struggling with these commitments to their recovery. It’s having a helping hand to battle feelings of hopelessness, fear, anxiety and anger. Creating that voice of the “healthy self” vs “the eating disorder self.”

Outside of the individual work that is one-to-one, clients can also get some peer support from groups and outside meetings. These can often help with the feelings of hopelessness and being alone in their eating disorder. Here at OPI, we offer a “Food and Feelings” group that addresses feelings apart from the food and how this can then create that relationship to turning to food. The process provides valuable insights.  It also focuses on body image issues that are often present in those struggling with eating disorders. Additionally, we have participants attend meetings in the community where they can build a support network in their recovery. This can be Over Eaters Anonymous, ANAD, and or EA.

Struggling with an eating disorder can take up a lot of time emotionally as well in our day to day lives. One can forget about the things they are passionate about, that bring them joy, and that allow for some freedom to just be themselves. We encourage participants to find these passions that can hopefully serve to replace the eating disorder. The goal is to create a life that can push out the eating disorder so that the client will have a full enough life that leaves no room for it anymore. It’s about building a life worth living.  Participants do this in various ways. One example is working with our extra-curricular department. Here they are able to explore their interests and create an identity outside of “having an eating disorder.”

For those struggling with these issues, it takes a team approach. As mentioned earlier, the battle can also be met with feelings of hopelessness and frustration. Food is in our lives 24/7 and at the least, 3 times a day. This can create a lot of anxiety for those that struggle, and a well versed support team consisting of, therapy, dietitians, life coaches, groups, and meetings provides an element that can lift those feelings of hopelessness in the goal of gaining a sense of strength in their recovery. The goal is to create a voice that is louder than the eating disorder that can build confidence and a sense of hope. A team effort is how we challenge and create this.

Concerned about coping effectively with eating disorder triggers over the holidays?  Check out our free, 90-minute webinar on the topic:

coping triggers holidays webinar

 

At OPI, we offer compassionate, clinically sophisticated intensive residential help for young adult men and women who suffer from eating disorders, including genetic testing to determine the best course for medications, if needed. Rather than a sterile, hospital-like environment, we offer beautiful accommodations in luxury apartments just outside of Los Angeles.  At OPI, we treat the individual, not the diagnosis.  Our clinical team is made up of a diverse community of passionate, highly skilled individuals working together with you to help you find your joy and express it.   For more information on OPI Intensive residential programs and our measures to help young adults with mental health and failure to launch issues, call us at (888) 814-5985 or click HERE to submit an online form. We’ll be in touch promptly.

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