When you have an eating disorder and need to start treatment, outpatient treatment may not be the best option. There are reasons you might have a better chance at recovery with inpatient eating disorder treatment instead of try outpatient care.

You're In The Danger Zone

Although all eating disorders can become dangerous, there are certain signs you may need medical intervention. The most obvious sign is an unhealthy body weight. Once your weight becomes dangerously low, you increase your chances of going into cardiac arrest. Your heartbeat can slow to the point of stopping abruptly. People with eating disorders may engage in other unhealthy behaviors beyond not eating. They may purge, use laxatives, or exercise obsessively. Purging and using laxatives can cause dehydration and serious damage to your digestive system. In addition to erosive damage to your esophagus from purging, you may be incapable of using the bathroom normally because your body is dependent on laxatives. Obsessive exercise can lead to exhaustion, heat-related illnesses, or muscle breakdown. All of these behaviors may eventually lead to organ failure.

You Need Psychiatric Care

Although eating disorders are classified as a mental health concern, many people with an eating disorder have other psychiatric needs. It is easier to treat clients with complex psychiatric needs in the inpatient setting. Sometimes eating disorders stem from unresolved family problems, childhood traumas, or bullying. These underlying issues need to be identified and addressed. Eating disorders frequently co-occur with mood, personality, and anxiety disorders, which each require different treatment approaches. You may need medication to help with affective disorders. Therapy is often used for all types of mental health concerns, including eating disorders. Without adequate treatment of other psychiatric conditions, the likelihood of recovery is low.

You Can't Be Trusted With Outpatient Care

If you have prior experience with outpatient treatment programs and were not successful, going back to an outpatient setting is not a good idea. Sometimes, people with eating disorders have a hard time following the recommendations of their care providers in outpatient treatment. They may lie about their eating behaviors, but their weight continues to drop or remains dangerously low. In the outpatient setting, it is easy to avoid the issue and stop attending appointments and therapy sessions. The inpatient setting helps minimize triggers and other distractions that can make recovery harder.

Any treatment for eating disorders is better than none at all. For some people, the best chance at recovery will come from going into an inpatient treatment program.

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