Why Seek Treatment
Eating disorders have devastating consequences for sufferers and their families. The decision to get professional help for an eating disorder is an important process. Even though the process of recovery can be complex and emotionally draining, there is real reason for optimism about achieving lasting recovery with proper treatment. Research has shown that successful treatment of some eating disorders can be achieved with several months of proper outpatient therapy; however, many of those with serious eating disorders will require more time to develop the necessary skills to break free from the self-defeating behaviors that have come to dominate every aspect of life. There are several common roadblocks to recovery that interfere with the decision to seek treatment. We have listed those below along with information that we hope will be helpful in overcoming them.

Eating disorders cloud judgment about the need for treatment.
An eating disorder usually starts when a person begins restrictive dieting to lose weight. At first, dieting is not a matter for concern and it may even lead to compliments from others.  The initial focus on weight loss or control of food intake may lead to increased self-confidence, feelings of self-control, and positive social feedback.  In some cases, dieting and the focus on weight control may function by numbing the person from certain negative feelings.  However, with time, the attempt to control weight becomes progressively unrealistic and there is limited ability to adverse psychological, emotional, social and physical consequences. As the eating disorder advances, there is often growing rigidity in thinking, depression, anxiety, mood fluctuations, and social withdrawal. Later, the physical and social consequences may become even more pronounced even though blood tests remain normal and intellectual performance remains intact. Ultimately, depression, social isolation, and progressive physical decline lead to failure to achieve educational, employment, and social goals. However, the conviction that weight control is desirable and serves an essential purpose becomes so powerful that even the strongest suggestions to seek treatment are rebuffed.

"You have to want to get better before you seek treatment."
This is a common but mistaken belief since hesitance and uncertainty about recovery are key features of the eating disorder. Waiting until you "want" to get better may be too late. On one level, those with an eating disorder understand that symptoms are destructive but, on another level, there is often panic about the implications of recovery.  The motivations in favor and against recovery are usually complex. For example, eating disorder symptoms may serve a positive function of increasing the person's self-control, self-confidence, or self-protection. At the same time many people suffering from an eating disorder understand the negative consequences but feel helpless to change in the midst of self-hatred about their physical experience. The anxiety about making changes in eating patterns may be even harder because of feeling of social insecurity and incompetence in other areas. Moreover, people with eating disorders need to know that they will probably feel worse at the beginning of treatment. Thus, those suffering from eating disorders need to know that the experienced professionals providing treatment do not expect them to be entirely positive about treatment in the beginning.  The treatment team needs to provide both continual encouragement and methods to improve motivation during recovery.

Medical Complications are significant, potentially irreversible and life-threatening.
The medical complications of eating disorders are significant and persist among those who are not successfully treated.  Medical symptoms affect almost all organ systems and can be viewed as a consequence of starvation, vomiting, laxative abuse, binge eating and over-exercise.  Medical symptoms are not only evident during the acute phase of the disorder but, but there is an increased risk for a wide range of physical and emotional disorders years later.   The mortality rates for anorexia nervosa exceed the expected incidence of death from all causes among women 15-24 years of age by 12-fold and are about three times higher than other psychiatric disorders². Mortality rates for bulimia nervosa are much lower but still not insignificant. Psychological and physical impairment are common in long-term follow-up studies.  However, studies have shown that proper treatment can have a positive effect on these grim statistics.  As mentioned above, treatment along the road to recovery is one of the most difficult challenges in life; however, it is also life-saving.