How to Enter an Eating Disorder Treatment Center for Bulimia

Choosing the appropriate eating disorder treatment center can be an overwhelming experience. Because bulimia treatment centers are not so common and cannot be found everywhere, choosing to enter one may require planning well in advance and taking charge of different details before you can begin your treatment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Nutritionist
• Psychologist

1. Choose the right bulimia treatment center to enter. Depending on your financial situation, your location and the type of treatment you require, there are many centers available around the country. Some specialize in outpatient treatment, while others require a stay of a certain minimum of nights in order to complete the treatment.
2. Call different centers and ask questions before you make the final decision. Make sure the center has experience working with bulimia patients. (Anorexia is the number one problem treated in eating disorder centers, so some may not have much of a background treating bulimia.) Ask what professionals are working there (a psychologist and a nutritionist are essential), what the treatment entails (meetings, diet advice) and how long you are expected to be there (20 days is the standard in many places).
3. Research the cost of treatment. Most medical insurances do not pay for inpatient treatment for bulimia, so you may need to research other means to cover the expenses. If you choose a facility away from your city, you will also need to consider travel costs and accommodations on the days surrounding your entry and exit from the center.
4. Share personal and medical information openly and honestly with your doctors and support group at the center. The first step in checking in to a bulimia treatment center is being willing to take control over your body. This will entail a series of medical and psychological analyses, which may require the center to request your past medical history in order to decide on the best treatment option for you.
5. Get your affairs in order before checking in to the center. Since you may be required to stay there for a few weeks, you need to ensure that everything is taken care of so you can concentrate on your recovery and not worry about what is going on at home or work.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for a center that employs more than one type of therapy to treat bulimia. A combination of medical, psychological and other types of treatment (such as art or music therapy) offer the most chances for success.