In-patient treatment

Many young people have questions about  in-patient treatment.

These questions might be about what will happen, school work, eating, rights. It might be the case that a  large number of the questions that you have can only be answered by the people providing your in-patient treatment.

Here are a few we can answer: 

Will I be treated as an individual?

Everyone is an individual so every eating disorder is but the people providing your in-patient care will have knowledge of treatment plans that work. These are often tailored to fit the individual. Your treatment plan should be discussed with you and you may be asked to agree to certain terms.

Will they just make me gain weight or will they help me with my feelings?

Often for someone suffering from anorexia a target weight will be set. It can also be that you need to reach a certain weight before the emotional side of your treatment can happen. This is because being a low weight can affect your ability to take part in therapy. This does not mean that you should go through the process of gaining weight unsupported though.

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"I want to get better, but first I have to feel ok about putting on weight, and that's difficult."

Will I get a choice about what I eat and will I have to eat with other people?

This can depend on your treatment plan and your health. You may be able to agree some foods that you wont have to eat although it is likely that you will have to eat some foods that you do not feel comfortable with. Remember that not liking foods or feeling that they are 'unsafe' is part of an eating disorder and that the people caring for you are there to help and support you. Whether you eat with others or not can also depend on your health and stage of treatment.

What will the other people in there be like?

It can depend where you are treated. If you are on a general ward or a psychiatric unit there could be people with different illnesses and health problems. If you are in a eating disorders unit, there could be people with different eating problems and behaviours often at varying stages of treatment and recovery.

Will my friends and family be able to visit?

Friends and family are often allowed to visit but here may be times when they aren't allowed and there may be certain times for visitors.

How long will I have to stay there and can they make me stay?

This can depend upon your state of health and the length of your treatment plan. If you don't feel like your treatment is working or that you would like to leave it's important to tell the people around you although it is important to remember that having an eating disorder can cause you to resist treatment and to think that you aren't being helped. The perspective of others could be that you are being helped.

Although you have the right to refuse treatment, if it is agreed that the patient needs to be admitted to hospital as a last resort where other treatment has failed, and it is decided that it is a life threatening case, under the Mental Health Act 1983, the treatment can be administered without patient consent. Or if the patient is under 16 then the treatment can be administered under the Children’s Act 1989. Although parental consent can override a young persons consent, it is advised that legal proceedings are followed instead.