People suffering from eating disorders believe that the use or control of food is necessary for the relief from uncomfortable moods and feelings. Destructive eating behavior can be triggered by external pressures to maintain a certain weight. On the surface, the desire to be thin appears to be the cause of the disorder, but food is not the real issue. The real issues are underlying fears, doubts, insecurities, low self-esteem, and anxiety. The eating disorder victim believes that use or control of food is necessary for relief from uncomfortable moods and feelings.
Food is a drug for the person with an eating disorder.
Nationwide experience shows that eating disorder victims almost always suffer from depression. About sixty percent come from homes where there is a history of chemical dependency, and some experience family violence. Many have suffered some form of sexual abuse, and more than half of bulimic patients experience intermittent periods of substance abuse and are at high risk for chemical dependency. Our complete Inpatient treatment program begins with a medical and psychological evaluation to determine whether there is an eating disorder, and whether there are any other complicated issues that need to be addressed. We treat all aspects of the disease in a controlled setting where we provide nutritional management by a registered dietitian, individual and group therapy, special subject discussions, and the psychological services needed by our eating disorder patients to deal with their complex problems and develop a healthy body image.