Preparing Yourself for Eating Disorders Inpatient Care

Entering eating disorders inpatient treatment involves immersing yourself in a structured environment that’s tailored to promote healing and recovery. This usually happens with a lengthy admittance to a specialist eating disorders clinic, or a psychiatric hospital with a specialist eating disorders unit.

These settings provide for intensive and comprehensive treatment, addressing both the physical symptoms and psychological underpinnings of an eating disorder. The aim is to be in an intensive supportive space where you, and a treatment team of specialists, can focus entirely on your wellbeing and safety.

But if you’ve never been admitted for inpatient treatment, this process can provoke a lot of anxiety and stress for some. Handing over control to others feels daunting, especially if you don’t know exactly what to expect.

So in today’s blog, we’ll look at some of the practical and emotional aspects that come with being admitted to an inpatient unit for eating disorders treatment. If you’re considering inpatient treatment, hopefully the info provided can help demystify the process and reduce the anxiety you may be experiencing.

Addressing Concerns and Fears Before Starting Treatment

Most people have concerns and fears before beginning eating disorders inpatient treatment. These feelings are a normal part of the process. It’s not every day you take a life changing step that will affect many, if not most areas of your life going forward. If you have specific worries, such as fear of weight gain, unfamiliar surroundings, or the intensity of therapy program, discuss these openly with the treatment team and your family. Writing down your questions before you speak to them can help you gather your thoughts and concerns in a way to help them understand your concerns.

Readiness to change is a crucial predictor of treatment outcome. Resisting treatment, when your health and medical status clearly indicates you need it, is unconstructive and does not serve you, or your family, in any way. Openness to consider others’ genuine concerns for your health may be necessary. Try to be open to the process, and trust that your family, and treatment team, are helping you in your best interest.

Preparing Your Emotional Readiness

Preparing emotionally for eating disorders inpatient treatment is a vital step towards your recovery. It’s perfectly normal to experience anxiety or fear about entering an unfamiliar setting and confronting deep-seated issues. Recognising these feelings and allowing yourself to feel them without judgement is an important part of the process. These feelings are valid and signify that you are taking a courageous step toward healing.

One way to manage such emotions is by practising some mindfulness. Mindfulness can help you stay present and focused, reducing feelings of being overwhelmed by what lies ahead. Simple practices, such as deep breathing exercises or short meditation sessions, can make a significant difference in your emotional state in the moment.

Self-compassion is equally important. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer a loved one in a similar situation. Accept that it’s okay to feel vulnerable and that recovery is a journey with its ups and downs. Self-compassion can help you maintain a positive attitude, even during challenging times.

Building emotional resilience is another key aspect of preparing for inpatient treatment. Resilience involves developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks and to approach obstacles with a problem-solving mindset. You can cultivate resilience by setting small, achievable goals and celebrating your progress, no matter how minor it may seem. Every step forward is a step toward recovery.

Lastly, prepare for the emotional ups and downs that will inevitably come with treatment. There will be good days and challenging days, and both are part of the recovery journey. Remind yourself that healing is not a linear process, and it’s okay to have setbacks. With emotional readiness, you are equipping yourself with the tools to navigate this journey with courage and determination.

Medical Monitoring and Daily Structure

In the initial stages, medical monitoring becomes an integral part of inpatient care. This ensures that any physical complications arising from your eating disorder are addressed. There is a myriad of physical complications that are associated with inpatient eating disorders recovery, and having a full compliment of medical staff addressing those difficulties does not just make the road easier, but it can also be life-saving in extreme cases. This is a key benefit of inpatient treatment – i.e. the constant availability of professional support. The 24/7 access to care provides a safety net, ensuring that you always have resources available to manage difficulties as they arise. This can be particularly reassuring during moments of vulnerability or crisis, offering immediate assistance and guidance.

Although each inpatient unit will be unique, the daily schedule in an inpatient programme is designed to ensure a balanced approach to treatment. Generally, the treatment will follow fixed treatment protocols and structures that plan out the day’s activities. Daily activities often include, but aren’t limited to, attending individual- and/or group therapy sessions, receiving nutritional counselling, as well as personal time where you can reflect on your feelings and thoughts. All these elements are aimed at helping you rebuild a healthier relationship with food through education and guided practice. The structure may seem rigid at times, but it helps to create a rhythm on the ward where everyone knows what is happening and expected for the day ahead.

Structured Eating and Nutritional Counselling

The structured environment also means that meals and snacks are planned and supervised, reducing anxiety around eating and providing a routine that supports nutritional rehabilitation. Depending on your specific diagnosis and treatment, your meals and snacks will usually be tailored to meet your body and medical needs for rehabilitation. In cases where weight regain is necessary, the prescribed meal plan will ideally be tailored to your needs. Some individuals find this extremely anxiety provoking, as they must surrender control over their food choices. But others find this part of treatment very relieving, as they do not have to obsess over food choices anymore, or try to plan when and what they will eat next to the finest degree.

In comprehensive treatment, nutritional counselling will be provided to help you learn about balanced and nutritional eating that feeds your body and provides all the sustenance needed. Having an open mindset that is geared towards treatment and recovery will help you best here. If you consider that treatment is trying to help rid you of an eating disorder, then changing some of your core dietary beliefs and habits is probably part of the journey ahead. Recovery progress will be limited if you approach this with a closed mindset. As best possible, you should be willing to consider food from a different perspective, which allows for a healthier relationship to develop. This is what nutritional counselling will focus on primarily.

Psychological Therapy

Various therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), may be utilised to help reframe negative thought patterns and develop healthier coping mechanisms. These therapies can be applied during individual- or group therapy.

Individual therapy allows for intense focus and discussions on your thoughts and your beliefs about you and your life. Whether focussing on your eating disorder, or other primary issues that need addressing, therapy allows you the space to start engaging with a qualified person who is trained to listen, provide feedback, and apply psychological interventions to assist you with your most difficult struggles. Once again, an open mindset and a willingness to engage with serve you well. Therapy is like most endeavours in life – what you invest is related to the rewards you will reap.

Connecting with others during group therapy who understand what you are going through can be immensely helpful. Knowing that you are not alone can lessen the burden of your worries. Sharing with others your thoughts and feelings who are going thought a similar experience, can help provide relief and a sense of camaraderie.

Different treatment programs will differ in their application of individual- and group therapy during treatment. Some will focus exclusive on one modality, whilst other programs will utilise some combination of the two. Both have been shown to be effective and helpful in eating disorders recovery.

The Importance of Self-Kindness and Patience

When entering eating disorders inpatient treatment, nurturing self-kindness and patience will become important. The journey to recovery is a gradual process, often filled with ups and downs. It’s a long and arduous journey, and you’re going to need to learn to be there for yourself – whether it be encouraging yourself, coaching yourself, or supporting yourself.

Maintaining a positive outlook, even when faced with setbacks, can help a lot. Although easier said than done, be gentle with yourself in times when you’re struggling. Inpatient recovery is certainly not easy, and being gracious towards yourself in these periods can really be key in helping you embrace your difficulties and struggles.

Again, cultivating self-kindness is key here. Replacing self-critical thoughts with affirming and positive self-talk will be important. Focusing on your strengths and successes, instead of focussing on your weaknesses or mistakes, will form a foundation whereby you can start building a better relationship with yourself. It can be helpful to keep a journal where you note down daily achievements and positive experiences, reinforcing your progress and boosting your self-esteem. Take note how you “talk” to yourself, and try to start correcting these statements as best you can.

How Friends and Family Can Support Your Journey

Friends and family can be pivotal in aiding your recovery journey by being informed, patient, and compassionate. One of the first steps they can take when you are admitted to inpatient treatment is to educate themselves about eating disorders. Understanding the complexities involved in your specific diagnosis, and the treatment you’ll receive, helps them provide more informed support.

Offering emotional support is vital. This can be as simple as being present, actively listening, or offering words of encouragement. In general, family and friends should avoid giving unsolicited advice or making judgemental comments, as these can be counterproductive. Instead, taking the lead from the treatment and the team will help them validate your feelings and experience of inpatient treatment. This, in itself helps, build trust and open communication going forward.

Eating disorders do not only impact the individual, but family systems too. Some inpatient units offer family therapy sessions as part of their inpatient treatment provided. This is usually the case in units where younger individuals are treated. Family therapy can be very beneficial, offering a structured environment to discuss dynamics and challenges, guided by a professional who offers strategies for better interaction and support. During these sessions, take the lead from the facilitator whilst you try to share your concerns and feelings about what you are going through, and what you need from your family. Your family will also engage in this process, and listening to their feedback and replies may be challenging at times, but is certainly necessary to help in healing any negative impacts you, and the family have experienced.

Other Tips

Here are some other tips that can help you during your inpatient journey:

• Connecting with others who have been through inpatient treatment can be beneficial. Speaking to former patients, or perusing their stories online through videos or blogs,  or even reading a complete autobiography of a recovered person who underwent inpatient treatment can all provide valuable info on what to expect. These insights can help ease your mind and provide a sense of calm over what’s to come.
• It’s also important to communicate with your friends and family you trust about your upcoming treatment. Their understanding and support can be invaluable. Let them know about your specific needs and how they can best assist you during this time. Perhaps you need them to contact you multiple times per day, or perhaps you need more space? Whether it’s emotional support, practical help, or simply being available to listen, having a robust support network that knows what you need from them during your admission can really make a significant positive difference.
• Preparing a list of personal items to bring with you can offer a sense of comfort. Familiar objects, such as photographs, a favourite blanket, or books, can make your space in the unit feel more like home and provide emotional solace during your stay.
• Don’t compare yourself to others in the unit. Recovery is a highly individualised process, and comparing your progress to others can be discouraging. Try to stay focused on where you’re at in your own recovery journey. Also, don’t let others in the unit sway you from the goal of recovery (yes, sometimes others can actually encourage you to NOT recover). Write down your recovery goals and what you want for your future, and remain 100% focused on these.
• Lastly, remember to focus on the reasons you are seeking treatment. Reminding yourself of your goals and the long-term recovered life you want to achieve can help to keep you motivated, even when facing fears and uncertainties.

The Journey After Inpatient Treatment

Although inpatient treatment can be very daunting, it’s important to understand that this is merely one step in a long road of recovery. As your health improves in inpatient treatment, discharge from the unit will become more of a reality.

When returning home, practical support from others can be incredibly beneficial. This may include receiving help with daily tasks or chores that may seem overwhelming, or even keeping an eye over you when you’re struggling with urges like restriction or exercising. Don’t feel intimidated to ask for help from those you trust, as those who love you will certainly want to see you succeed in your recovery. They won’t see these requests as impositions, but rather providing help to someone they care for.

Conclusion

Being aware of the various elements that comprise inpatient care can make the experience less daunting and more manageable. Understanding the structure and support available can enable you to embrace the process more fully, providing a solid foundation for your recovery journey.

Remember, seeking help and committing to inpatient treatment is a brave and commendable step. It’s a testament to your strength and determination. By being kind to yourself and exercising patience, you can create a supportive inner environment that enhances your healing journey. Treat yourself with the same care and compassion that you would offer to a dear friend in a similar situation.

During your inpatient treatment, stay focused on your own unique path and pace. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s normal to encounter challenges. Be patient, and allow yourself the time needed to work through your difficulties without feeling pressured to meet unrealistic expectations. Be open and honest with your treatment team and your support network, as you take the first step of this long, yet completely valuable journey that will benefit your long-term health and happiness.

If you’re considering inpatient treatment for eating disorders, remember that it’s a courageous step toward recovery. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Please contact us to schedule a FREE consultation and learn how we can support you during this transformative process. Take the first step towards healing today—your recovery is worth the effort.