The teenage years can be incredibly difficult for some kids to navigate. And while some teens may engage in alarming behaviors as an act of rebellion, you should know some habits could be symptomatic of an underlying issue. Eating disorders are particularly prevalent among teenagers contending with mental health issues. However, unlike some illnesses and conditions that can be treated with prescription medication, eating disorders require a specialized treatment plan that's tailor-made for your teen's individual needs. To help you discern the forms of medical interventions that could be required, this article outlines a few treatment options for eating disorders to consider for your teenager.
Outpatient Treatment
As implied by the name, this eating disorder treatment will often require you to take your teenager to an eating disorder treatment center to receive therapy. Usually, this option is ideal for patients capable of meeting their societal obligations, for example, going to school, due to being medically stable. However, if your teenager is struggling with keeping up with their care, you could consider enrolling them in an intestine outpatient program. Similar to the standard outpatient treatment, your teen gets to come home each day. Nonetheless, they will be required to spend several hours at the treatment center daily, and this may warrant taking time off school.
Partial Hospitalisation
Despite the name of this eating disorder treatment therapy, your teenager is not admitted to the hospital. Instead, your teenager will be required to spend the entire day at an eating disorder treatment center for a week or more, depending on the recommendation of their healthcare provider. While undergoing treatment at the center, your teenager will take part in cognitive behavioral therapy to improve their relationship with food. A partial hospitalization program is also beneficial for teenagers with low body weight since the in-person support provided by the treatment team can help oversee meals and deter negative behaviors such as self-induced vomiting.
Residential Treatment
If your teenager is not willing to accept help for their eating disorder, you may want to contemplate residential treatment as the best course of action for several reasons. Unlike outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization, residential treatment requires your teenager to live at the eating disorder treatment center. Hence, you are guaranteed they will receive round-the-clock care from the treatment team. Residential treatment is also advisable for teenagers who are experiencing conflicts both at home and school due to their mental health disorders, as this facility sequesters your child from the public. Hence, your teenager can focus on overcoming the eating disorder rather than having interpersonal relations interfere with their treatment.
Share30 June 2022
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