Anorexia
treatment works to restore clients to healthy body weight. The treatment
also involves studying the root causes behind anorexia such as trauma,
emotional triggers, self-image, and the person’s feeling of anguish and
hopelessness.
A Wide Range of Anorexia Treatment Techniques
• Cognitive-Behavior Therapy – Focuses on thoughts or cognitions
and replacing negative thoughts with positive or neutral ones.
• Medication – Medication with therapy is preferable to taking
medication alone. Antidepressants, SSRIs, beta blockers, and anti-anxiety
drugs are examples of medications that are often used in conjunction with
therapy.
• Hypnosis – This therapy may be carried out along with CBT therapy
and takes the patient into a state of deep relaxation. The hypnotherapist
makes use of various therapeutic methods to help the patient have a more
positive thought process and to courageously face his or her fears.
• DBT (Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy) – DBT combines cognitive and
behavioral therapies to educate eating disorder patients on healthy
methods of handling feelings by utilizing the methods of acceptance and
change. Eating disorder patients work to recognize the trigger factors for
disordered eating. They learn to cope with stress better by identifying a
healthy distraction, involving themselves in an emotional timeout, or
doing breathing or relaxation. Patients are also provided education on
mindful eating.
• Family Therapy – The condition of an individual with an eating
disorder can affect that individual’s family life. Family therapy may be
utilized to educate the family and can provide them with skills for
conflict resolution, communication and support, with which they can help
their loved one who is affected by anorexia.
• Exposure Therapy – This therapy enables the patient to face their
fears in a safe, controlled setting. Through a set of real/examined
exposures to the fear trigger, the patient develops more control. Frequent
exposures to the fear trigger cause the anxiety to diminish.
• Nutritional Therapy – Providers of nutritional therapy handle
treatments relating to particular foods, exercise, and weight associated
behaviors.
To conclude, a component of anorexia treatment is to restore healthy body
weight; however, it is important to provide follow up and continued
therapy lest the patient should fall into a relapse situation.
About the Author:
Anorexia Treatment - Castlewood Treatment Center is a residential
eating disorder treatment center in Missouri for people suffering from
eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive
over-eating and binge eating disorders.