You don’t know what to do. You love college life, but juggling your double major, on-campus job, and social circles is a lot. The straight A’s you knew in high school are now harder to come by; self-care is even harder. The pressure is suffocating.
If your relationship with food and your body is becoming increasingly disordered, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed. You may try to minimize the situation – to write off the issue as temporary or even “normal.” You tell yourself that you can take care of this. You’re the one who “has it all together,” after all, and you can handle this on your own, too. Besides, you reason, help is for those who are sick – and you don’t feel sick, even though your friends and family may be worried.
Please know that if you are suffering at all, you deserve help. Your pain and your experience matter. There is no question that it is hard to face the reality of an eating disorder, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to help as soon as warning signs emerge.
Eating Disorder Treatment: Where to Begin?
The Emily Program provides safe, structured, evidence-based support for people of all ages struggling with eating disorders of all types, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Our partial hospitalization and intensive day programs (PHP/IDP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are early intervention services that help you recover sooner. These programs offer greater structure and support than non-intensive outpatient treatment, but more flexibility than 24/7 care. Depending on your current needs, you can admit directly into PHP/IDP or IOP as a first step – well before around-the-clock care is required – or move into PHP/IDP or IOP from a different level of care.
Your recovery can begin now. Here are three reasons PHP/IDP or IOP may be right for you today.
3 Benefits of PHP/IDP and IOP Eating Disorder Treatment
1. Get back to your life faster.
Earlier treatment means less time missing out on school, work, family responsibilities, and social activities—the things that matter most to you. We know from research that early intervention reduces the length of treatment stays and increases the likelihood of lasting recovery. Quick intervention can lessen your eating disorder’s impact on your life.
PHP/IDP and IOP allow you to live at home (or at our PHP lodging accommodations) while receiving the support you need throughout the week. Outside of programming hours, you’ll have the opportunity to practice coping and relapse prevention skills in a real-world environment, facilitating a smoother transition back into your social, vocational, and educational commitments. Virtual care options are available in Washington, Minnesota, Ohio, North Carolina, and Georgia, making treatment even more accessible. You can immediately apply recovery skills in the environment where the eating disorder has previously thrived.
2. Challenge the eating disorder before it becomes stronger.
A delay in taking action can strengthen the hold of these illnesses. Once an eating disorder is established, it is increasingly difficult to separate from its firm emotional and physical grip. The longer a person suffers, the more deeply entrenched the illness can become.
With an individualized approach, focus on family and community-of-support involvement, and emphasis on relapse prevention, The Emily Program’s PHP/IDP and IOP services help you take back your life before the eating disorder takes more control. We’ll empower you with the guidance and support necessary to build a strong foundation for sustained recovery.
3. Prevent serious complications from developing or worsening.
Eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate of any mental health illness in America, with one eating disorder-related death occurring every 52 minutes. When left untreated, eating disorders can quickly intensify, increasing the risk of long-term health problems.
But eating disorders are treatable, and people find healing every day with the support of a multidisciplinary care team. At The Emily Program, our clinicians can also address co-occurring issues like depression, anxiety, or trauma that may contribute to or maintain the eating disorder.
Harness the Power of Early Intervention
Don’t spend another moment of your life battling an eating disorder by yourself. Whether you have struggled for ten months or ten years, you have struggled enough. The sooner your recovery begins, the less you have to struggle on your own. Sooner you’ll find hope, connection, and peace of mind – everything your eating disorder has taken from you, and then some.
Our PHP/IDP and IOP eating disorder treatment programs may be the right care for you. Take our free eating disorder assessment now to start finding answers.
We know you can recover. Let us join you on your way by giving us a call at 888-364-5977 or starting the process online today.