Leave the physical and emotional turmoil of bulimia behind. It’s possible to live a life free from the clutches of your eating disorder. At The Ranch, our bulimia treatment center combines evidence-based treatment with compassionate care.
What is Inpatient Bulimia Treatment Like?
The Ranch eating disorder treatment center offers a nurturing, nonjudgmental space where women can explore the issues that fuel bulimia. These often include:
- Shame
- Family roles
- Interpersonal challenges
- Attachment issues
- Loss and grief
- Poor self-esteem
- Distorted body image
- Mental health issues
- Trauma
- Biological and environmental factors
The Ranch treatment plans consider your unique needs and interests. At our mental health treatment center, every individual receives their own unique training plan that addresses their personal history and any individual needs.
One-On-One Therapy With a Counselor
People struggling with bulimia often have emotional issues that stem from past trauma or challenging relationships. An experienced counselor will help you identify and work through these issues. They’ll draw from a number of approaches that help you change unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. These may include approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.
Group Therapy With Peers in Bulimia Recovery
Interpersonal issues are common in people who suffer from bulimia. Group therapy helps you connect with others with bulimia or similar struggles like anorexia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Group therapy can help you work through relationship issues you have with people outside of treatment. Sometimes people experience similar interpersonal challenges with group members that they have with loved ones. A group leader helps you navigate these interactions. They’ll also bring topics to the group that are relevant to you and your peers. These may include:
- Shame
- Body image
- Self- esteem
- Coping skills
- Nutrition education
- Relationship struggles
Family Therapy for You and Your Loved Ones
The Ranch treatment programs include family therapy and family programs. By participating in the programs at a bulimia treatment center, your loved ones gain a better understanding of the disorder. They’ll learn that the underlying issues of bulimia symptoms go well beyond a desire to control weight. Mental health professionals will help you discuss difficult topics so you can begin moving past them. You’ll learn to communicate better and support each other.
Treatment From Eating Disorder Experts
The Ranch eating disorder team has years of experience in bulimia nervosa treatment. You’ll receive expert behavioral and medical care. Your team may include staff such as:
- Physicians
- Psychiatrists
- Therapists and other mental health professionals
- Nutritionists
- Nurses
Alternative Ways to Heal
The effects of bulimia touch all areas of your life. We treat bulimia from a whole-person approach. Bulimia treatment options include approaches that go beyond talk therapy. Alternative treatments help you heal the physical, mental and spiritual wounds of your eating disorder. Your treatment plan may include alternative treatments like:
- Equine-assisted therapy
- Adventure therapy
- Gentle physical activity
- Native American healing approaches
- Psychodrama
- Mindfulness
Meal-Time Support
Mealtimes are stressful for people with bulimia. At our bulimia treatment center, we provide mealtime support to help you navigate trigger foods and fear foods. You’ll work with a nutritionist to plan meals that are well-balanced. We’ll integrate stressful foods at a pace that feels safe. We’ll help you change your relationship with food to one that’s about nourishment. You’ll develop healthy eating behaviors and eating habits.
Simultaneous Treatment for Mental Health Issues
Bulimia nervosa is a complex disease requiring treatment that targets the biological, psychological, interpersonal and social contributors. Many people with bulimia also suffer from co-occurring disorders such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Personality disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Bipolar disorder
Simultaneous treatment of co-occurring disorders is necessary to break the binge-purge cycle. The Ranch eating disorder treatment program addresses any underlying mental illness that propels symptoms of bulimia. Bulimia and anorexia treatment includes appointments with our psychiatric team as appropriate. We’ll determine if medications may improve mental health disorder symptoms. You’ll have regular follow-up to gauge improvement and side effects. We’ll make sure you understand how to take your medications correctly. People with bulimia also commonly struggle with a dual diagnosis of substance abuse. As needed, The Ranch will provide addiction treatment as well.
A Focus on Relapse Prevention
Recovery from bulimia can be a life-long journey. Inpatient treatment of eating disorders provides you a toolbox of relapse prevention skills to help you maintain recovery. You’ll learn about healthy eating and watching out for other compensatory behavior such as excessive exercising. We’ll teach you healthy coping skills to help prevent you from self-medicating by bingeing and purging. We’ll also make sure you have proper resources in place to support you after you leave us. The Ranch helps you build an aftercare recovery program that may include resources like:
- Therapists
- Psychiatrists
- Bulimia recovery support groups
- Nutritionists
- Step-down levels of care if needed (i.e., partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs)
- The Ranch alumni network meetings and events
Home-Like Environment
The Ranch bulimia treatment center feels more like home than a treatment facility. You’ll live in a cozy cottage with peers also undergoing eating disorder treatment. Rooms include en suite bathrooms and plush bedding and decor. Residences have welcoming gathering areas and kitchens. You’ll also enjoy soothing views of the rolling hills of Tennessee and passing wildlife.
Why Inpatient Bulimia Treatment Is Necessary
A person with bulimia often tries to break the binge-purge cycle on their own many times without success. Just like issues such as substance abuse, it’s extremely difficult to discontinue these behaviors without intensive professional help. Residential treatment for bulimia gives you space and time to focus on yourself. You’ll have ongoing access to evidence-based treatments for bulimia. This helps you determine which approaches work best for you. You’ll also learn what triggers binges and purges and have access to professional and peer support when you’re feeling triggered. Time in an inpatient bulimia treatment center can help prevent more damage to your physical health. Bulimia nervosa can be extremely harmful to the body. The recurrent bingeing and purging cycles can impact the entire digestive system. Purge behaviors can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Depending on the severity and duration of your eating disorder, treatments for bulimia can help curb or prevent some of the effects of bulimia like:
- Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death (electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium and sodium from the body as a result of purging behaviors)
- Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting
- Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting
- Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse
- Gastric rupture (an uncommon but possible side effect of binge eating)
- Weak pulse and low blood pressure (from electrolyte imbalance)
Does Insurance Cover Bulimia Treatment?
Insurance plans with behavioral health coverage consider bulimia to be a mental illness. Many will cover treatment of bulimia nervosa in similar ways as they cover other health conditions like diabetes. Your insurance may cover all or a portion of the cost of bulimia treatment. Sometimes you must meet a deductible before they begin covering the cost. Other times they cover treatment of eating disorders at a percentage of the cost. The Ranch recovery advisors will work directly with your insurance carrier to determine your benefits. We’ll make sure you understand any out-of-pocket costs. Contact us for a free verification of insurance benefits.
Break Free From Bulimia
You’re more than your eating disorder. You can overcome this, and we can help. Eating disorder recovery is possible. Call The Ranch bulimia treatment center today. Take the first step to a new life: 1.844.876.7680