What are residential eating disorder clinics like?
A really good friend of mine is about to be admitted to an eating disorder clinic, but she really doesn’t want to go. She worries she’ll have her freedom taken away and be thrown in with a group of younger girls. Can anyone tell me from experience what these clinics are like?
Can people visit?
Can you go home at all?
Can you use mobile phones/computers?
Do the employees use tough love, or are they more understanding?
What is a normal length of time to stay?
Do you get much time to yourself?
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She doesn’t have to worry about the freedom thing. Its nothing like a clinic at all! Its just like staying in a nice big house with lots of people who understand what your going through.
The place I stayed at was really nice. It wasn’t clinicy at all! You didn’t feel like some sort of ill freak. It was very relaxing, and also an amazing time in my life.
Can people visit?; In the clinic i stayed at, i was aloud visitors once a week. The people who work there only want whats best for you, and will do pretty much anything to make you feel happy/comfortable.
Can you go home at all?; This depends really. Im only 14, and seen as though im not old enough to make my own decisions, my mother got to decide this for me. I wasn’t aloud to go home at all, because my mothers choice was to keep me there for my own good. And i could go home once i got better.
Can you use mobile phones/computers?; Once again, it all depends on which ED clinic your at. One of them i was admitted to, they let me use my laptop if i had been "good" And I could use my mobile whenever i wanted to. They want to make you feel happy, and having the support of a friend/family member will do that.
Do the employees use tough love, or are they more understanding?;
They are extemely understanding, but they don’t treat you like a freak. (if that makes sense) They wont talk to you like your a baby, or a retard etc.. they understand your situation, and treat each individual specially.
What is a normal length of time to stay?; This all depends on two things.
Your age? if your under 16, or 18 (cant remember) your parents make all your medical decissions, and they decide (with help from the doctors, employees) whats best for you.
How you progress? You could be in there from 2 months to 2 years. It all depends on your situation, and how good your recovery goes.
Do you get much time to yourself?; You can pretty much do anything you want. There are usually huge gardens and stuff like that, so there are plenty of places for you to be alone and things like that.
The only time you dont have this time for yourself is when your with your shrink, or in a support class, school, with a doctor, etc.
(believe me, its not as chaotic as it sounds)
I wish your friend all the best on her trip to recovery. Make sure your there for her as much as you can be. And remind her constantly how great shes doing
Also.. she doesnt have to worry about being "thrown in with lots of younger girls"
There are women of all ages there. Its very comforting, and everyone there understands what your going through.
This could be one of the best things that has ever happened to her.
I was an inpatient for an eating disorder in feb/march this year but I was in an acute psychiatric ward as there is no eating disorder clinic near me. I was allowed visitors during visiting time and after a week I was allowed to go off the ward. I was allowed to use my mobile phone whenever I wanted to. The nurses were very strict with me at first and I was very distressed but they explained why they had to be like this and spent time talking to me about my treatment and talking about how to get control back. I had a lot of time to myself but I had to attend the different groups that they had on. For the first 4 weeks I had to remain in the sitting room for an hour after every meal to ensure I didn’t try to purge or exercise and that was horrible and very boring. I was the only person in the ward with an eating disorder, most of the others had depression or bipolar disorder. I was in for 5 1/2 weeks but I was not seriously underweight when I went in so it didn’t take as long for me to get to a healthy BMI.
Each clinic or hospital is different and they’ll have different rules. It is scary going in but the staff are there to help and they will do what they can to make you feel ok there and not distressed. I hope your friend gets on ok.