cont. from

How long does it take to recover?

A few people who refuse professional treatment do eventually recover, but it may take several years or even decades. Most make little or no progress without help. Up to 20 percent do not survive.

People who do get into treatment, and stick with it, in general do much better. About half recover completely. Another 25 percent make significant progress. Unfortunately, the last 25 percent remain chronic sufferers, even with treatment, and a few die from consequences of their disordered behaviors.

With treatment, a few people recover in a year or less. For the vast majority, though, treatment and the recovery process take three to seven years, and in some cases even longer. Recovery takes however long it takes. For most people, changing entrenched food behaviors and resolving the issues that underlie them is a formidable challenge, perhaps the greatest challenge they will ever face.

Usually treatment is more intensive at the beginning: several therapy sessions a week and perhaps even hospitalization. As progress is made, sessions are scheduled less frequently until, at the end, there may be only two or three a year.

Relapses, especially in the beginning, are to be expected. The person learns to cope with life without depending on food and weight manipulation but then encounters a problem. The new coping skills are overwhelmed, and the person, feeling frantic, resorts to old familiar patterns: i.e., binge eating, starving, or purging. A common scenario involves a person receiving treatment, leaving treatment, being successful for a while, relapsing, and then returning to treatment. The cycle may be repeated several times before recovery is stable. There should be no shame in these lapses. They are learning experiences that point out where more work needs to be done.

An outcome study at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Wisconsin indicates that in the case of anorexia nervosa, the longer the person remains in a hospital program, and the closer his/her weight is to normal at discharge, the greater the chances of long-term, stable recovery. If you want a copy of the study, call 1.800.767.4411, extension 309.

Where to find help for an eating disorder

Finding a counselor, physician, and treatment team that you trust, and with whom you can work effectively, is an important part of the recovery process. Here are some tips to get you started.

• If you are in crisis, call 9-1-1 or a crisis hot line. (Find the number in the yellow pages under "Crisis Intervention.") If it is safe to do so, go to a hospital emergency room and tell the staff what's going on. Be truthful. They are not mind readers.
• If you are not in crisis, ask your family doctor for an evaluation and referral to a counselor. Don't let embarrassment stop you from telling the physician all the details. Doctors, nurses, and counselors have heard the eating disorder story many times before.
• You can also ask people you trust, and who have been in your situation, for the names of physicians and counselors they found helpful.
• If you are a student, check with the school counseling center. Services may be low cost or free.
• If your income is limited, or if your insurance will not cover treatment for eating disorders, look for community service agencies in the "Counselors" section of the yellow pages. The organizations listed there may not provide formal eating disorders programs, but they do offer basic assistance to people who have few other options.
• If you believe your insurance company is declining payment of a legitimate claim for eating disorders treatment, you may want to speak with an attorney. Sometimes insurance companies are open to negotiation, but unless you know how to do this, we recommend you let an attorney handle it for you. These discussions do not always lead to payment of claims, but some families have had success with them.

Questions to ask a counselor before you begin working with him/her

• What is your treatment approach?
• What can I expect to happen during sessions?
• How much experience have you had working with people who have eating disorders?
• What are your training, education, and licenses?
• How long do you think treatment will take?
• How often will we meet?
• If I think I need to, can I call you between sessions?
• What are your thoughts about using medications in the treatment of eating disorders?
• Could I be put in a hospital against my will? (This is a common fear. Get the facts at the beginning so you will know what to expect.)
• How much do sessions cost? Do you take insurance? What if my insurance will not cover all the costs of treatment?
• If I don't think I'm improving fast enough, I may feel like either you or I am failing. What can I do if that happens? (Be sure to ask this one. Don't just drop out if you get discouraged. Overcoming "stuckness" in treatment is a major victory.)

Best wishes as you continue your journey to health and happiness.

next: How To Begin Recovering From an Eating Disorder

top . pages 1 2 . send to friend . eating disorders site map

Reviewed: 03/2006