Do I Need Residential Eating Disorder Treatment?

Get Answers on Seeking Inpatient Rehab for Disordered Eating

“Do I need residential eating disorder treatment?” is a frequently asked question among those with eating disorders. You may not believe that you’re “sick enough” to need help, or you may feel intimidated by the thought of attending treatment in a residential setting.

In reality, everyone with an eating disorder deserves treatment that offers support. After all, eating disorders are recognized disabilities that can come with severe health consequences, the kind that can be fatal if left unaddressed. So, what should you know about getting help?

First, let’s talk about the definition of residential treatment for eating disorders. Then, we’ll go over how to know if residential eating disorder treatment is right for you, what to expect in treatment, and why choosing treatment at Icarus for disordered eating can make such a difference!

What is Residential Eating Disorder Treatment?

Residential treatment is a type of inpatient treatment that provides 24/7 supervision and support in a non-hospital setting. In residential eating disorder treatment at Icarus in New Mexico, you will eat, sleep, and live on-site for the duration of your program.

Residential treatment is often recommended for eating disorder recovery because it removes you from your daily life environment and triggers temporarily. Eating disorder behaviors are tough to identify much less to address and overcome, on your own. Prior to treatment, you may find that you have trouble refraining from eating disorder behaviors long-term.

It can be challenging to remember what it’s like to eat “normally” without the eating disorder voice getting in your way. You may have forgotten what it’s like to have a healthy relationship with food entirely.

In residential eating disorder treatment at Icarus Behavioral Health, you’ll solidify healthy patterns, express emotions, and learn new skills. For example, coping skills, plating adequate meals, and how to set boundaries. If applicable, we’ll help you work through past traumas and co-occurring mental health issues, which are prevalent among those with eating disorders.

You will also build a support system and learn to navigate triggers in Icarus Behavioral Health’s residential treatment program for eating disorders, which you can stay connected to even after treatment through alumni support.

Before you graduate from our residential program, we’ll help you make a relapse prevention plan to promote lasting recovery.

Do I Need Residential Eating Disorder Treatment?

Residential treatment programs are thorough and associated with a greater likelihood of recovery in research. You can attend residential treatment for any type of eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia, other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), binge eating disorder (BED), avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), exercise addiction, and related concerns.

Icarus also offers a co-occurring disorder track for clients who have substance use disorders alongside disordered eating issues.

Since eating disorders are some of the most potentially deadly mental health conditions, getting help is essential. Residential eating disorder treatment may be right for you if:

• You have an eating disorder diagnosis from a clinician.
• You would benefit from 24/7 supervision, structured meal times, and daily therapy sessions.
• You can’t refrain from eating disorder behaviors such as excessive exercise, restriction, binging, or purging while living at home or in an outpatient program.
• It would aid your recovery journey to remove yourself from daily life triggers temporarily (so that you can develop new patterns while in treatment, with support from staff).
• It is possible for you to take time off of work, school, or other obligations (e.g., caring for your family). We can help you create a plan to make this possible.
• You are medically stable.

Eating disorder symptoms can be insidious. We live in a world where diet culture is so pervasive that it can be hard to parse out what’s healthy for you. Residential treatment at Icarus helps you discover how to care for your mental and physical health long-term.

Are There Other Treatment Options for Eating Disorders?

There are other treatment options for eating disorders at Icarus Behavioral Health. If you need to live off-site while in treatment, you may benefit from our partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient treatment options.

Clients needing medical stabilization may require hospitalization before residential care at our treatment facility. Talking with one of our staff members over the phone can help you determine the right care level for you and prepare for treatment.

What to Expect in Residential Inpatient Treatment at Icarus

Before you enter our residential program, we’ll let you know what to bring to our treatment facility for your stay (e.g., clothes, personal items, and toiletries) and answer any questions you have about our treatment facility and programs.

When you get in touch, we can also help you verify your insurance coverage for treatment, answer any other questions you may have, and start the admissions process.

Daily Schedule and Activities

Clients in our residential inpatient program for eating disorders all get an individualized treatment plan. You will set personalized goals in treatment and work with staff to meet them. As you progress in treatment, what you work on may change.

Depending on your treatment needs, you may engage in any combination of the following activities while at our treatment center in New Mexico.

• Structured meals and snack times
• Group therapy (including process groups)
• Skill-building opportunities
• Medication management
• Dietician appointments
• Individual therapy
• Family therapy
• Recreation

If you live with one or more co-occurring mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or a substance use disorder, we’ll help you address them alongside disordered eating behaviors. This may inform what your personal daily schedule in residential inpatient treatment is like.

A Comprehensive Treatment Team

The professionals at Icarus Behavioral Health are experts in the treatment of eating disorders and related concerns. Staff will communicate with one another and work with you as an individual to help meet your specific needs in treatment.

One of the benefits of treatment centers with residential inpatient programs like ours is that you will have a comprehensive treatment team. Your treatment team may consist of therapists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, a dietician, medical doctors, nurses, and a psychiatrist.

Aftercare Planning and Relapse Prevention

Aftercare looks different for everyone. Your relapse prevention plan might include continued outpatient therapy and dietician appointments, support groups, psychiatry, and a crisis plan for challenges in recovery that may emerge post-treatment.

While it’s not always the case, many clients choose to transfer to a lower level of care, such as partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient program, after residential eating disorder treatment. This is called a “step-down approach.”

The idea of a step-down approach to eating disorder treatment at Icarus is to help you transition back into everyday life smoothly, with a lower risk of relapse.

Why Does Eating Disorder Treatment Matter?

Eating disorder treatment can feel overwhelming, but that is not a reason to avoid it.

In many cases, long-term consequences of eating disorders present themselves unexpectedly, even if you have engaged in disordered behaviors for many years. While the specific consequences of an eating disorder vary from person to person, the truth is that no one with an eating disorder is immune.

Some of the most widespread consequences of an untreated eating disorder include but aren’t limited to:

• Problems in interpersonal relationships, including romance, friendships, and family life.
• Health concerns, such as gastrointestinal issues, osteoporosis, kidney failure, or organ damage.
• Financial, work, or school-related problems.

The good news is that eating disorder treatment can help you avoid further complications and live your life to the fullest.

Our residential treatment program for disordered eating will help you build a healthy relationship with food and exercise while developing the resilience necessary to achieve long-term healing. Even if you have struggled with disordered eating relapses in the past, we can and will assist in a lasting recovery for you or your loved one.

Get Residential Treatment for Eating Disorders at Icarus

Residential treatment is an invaluable resource for those with eating disorders. If you’re looking for a residential eating disorder treatment program for yourself or a loved one, contact Icarus Behavioral Health today.

Our highly effective programs provide a healing experience that helps clients reach lasting recovery.

To get in touch with Icarus Behavioral Health, call our admissions line today. If we miss your initial call or message, a staff member will reach out shortly. All calls are kept strictly confidential, so please reach out to get support options today!

FAQs on Inpatient Rehab for Disordered Eating

How low does your BMI have to be to be hospitalized?

Despite common misconceptions, you don’t need a low BMI to be hospitalized. Hospitalization can be necessary for anyone with an eating disorder, regardless of your weight.