If you are reading this, I imagine you are already in some kind of outpatient eating disorder treatment. And I want to point out how brave that is. It means you took the first step into healing from your struggles with food. I can also imagine that while outpatient care might be the first step, there might be some questioning of is it the best step? Maybe it’s your own questioning, or maybe it was spearheaded by members of your treatment team, friends, or family. Either way, this can be a confusing, overwhelming, and maybe even scary thought. And you are not alone. In this blog, we will discuss some signs that outpatient care might not be enough for you and you need a higher level of eating disorder treatment.
1. Your eating disorder behaviors feel out of control or are getting worse
If you are in treatment and you still notice eating disorder behaviors worsening, this could be a sign that more support is needed. Sometimes when people start treatment, talking about behaviors can make you more aware of them. It’s important to have enough support to be able to manage these behaviors as they ebb and flow. A higher level of care provides more structure, support and supervision that is not always possible to get in your own home.
2. You feel stuck even though you are trying SO hard
Recovery is not linear and there will be bumps in the road. However, if you have been in outpatient care for a while and are still feeling stuck in the same patterns, it could be a sign to increase your level of care. It doesn’t mean you failed. But it could mean that your environment is not providing enough support for the kind of change you need to make.
3. Your physical health is declining
Our bodies are resilient, and have one job- to keep us alive. And when our body starts showing signs that it’s getting worn out, this is something we need to listen to. If you experience medical complications like dizziness, fainting, changes in heart rate, digestive issues, or lab abnormalities, these can be serious signs that you need medical monitoring in a more structured setting. It’s never “too dramatic” to take your physical symptoms seriously. Higher levels of care are designed to help your body stabilize while also supporting your emotional and nutritional healing.
4. Your daily life feels consumed by the ED
Whether it’s work, school, family, or friendships, if you notice the ED impacting areas of your life that are really important to you, this could be a sign that a higher level of care is needed. Higher levels of care allow you to have more structure to practice recovery oriented behaviors before returning back to your normal day to day life.
5. You’re exhausted from doing it alone
Fighting against an eating disorder is a full time job. And you likely already have one of those. Planning meals, managing anxiety, resisting urges, attending therapy and nutrition appointments, while also trying to live your normal life- it’s exhausting. A higher level of care allows you to not have to manage every aspect of your treatment on your own. It provides not only professional support but peer support as well. Peer support can be helpful in realizing you aren’t alone.
Final Message of Encouragement
It was really brave of you to seek out support for your eating disorder. And it’s equally as brave to consider that you might need additional support when what you are doing doesn’t feel like enough. Seeking out additional support is not a failure or a set back, it’s a step towards healing. If you still aren’t sure if outpatient is best fit for you after reading this, talk with your therapist, doctor and dietitian. There are several different levels of care and the best way to help figure out what is best for you is to get an assessment. This does not have to be a decision you make alone!
How Galen Hope Can Help
Galen Hope is a physician-led program providing individualized eating disorder and mental health treatment for adolescents and adults across a wide range of diagnoses. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, or disordered eating, we’re here to help. We offer care ranging from day treatment (PHP and IOP) to 24/7 residential care, depending on what’s needed. Our integrated team includes therapy, nutrition support, psychiatry, and family involvement through our Family Integration Model. We also collaborate closely with outpatient providers and families to help each client find the right fit, especially when symptoms feel too intense to manage with weekly appointments alone. Galen Hope has locations in South Florida and serves clients from across the U.S. and beyond. We accept a range of insurance plans. Learn more at galenHOPE.com and reach out for a complimentary assessment. About the Author: Kathryn Karukas is a weight-inclusive, anti-diet eating disorder dietitian at Courage to Nourish. Courage to Nourish is a HAES aligned, weight inclusive practice of dietitians who specialize in eating disorders and disordered eating. Kathryn specializes in working specifically with young adults, athletes, and individuals recovering from ARFID, MCAS, EDS, POTS and other chronic illnesses. Kathryn sees clients in person at the Columbia, Maryland office and virtually throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, DC, California, Arizona, Michigan, Maryland, and Florida.