Use Support Groups to Treat Anorexia
In addition to psychotherapy, family therapy and medicinal treatments, support groups can be an excellent supplemental tool to treat anorexia. The patient's doctor will be a key source of information on locate and use support groups to facilitate the patient's recovery.
Instructions
Find a Support Group for an Anorexia Patient
1. Use the resources available to the patient through her team of health professionals. Generally, a medical doctor as well as a mental health professional and a dietitian work in tandem to treat an anorexia sufferer. Between the three of them, it should be fairly easy to locate a local support group to help the patient treat her condition.
2. Wait until the patient has recovered a healthy body weight and is on the road to psychological recovery before enrolling her in a support group. The patient's doctor or psychiatrist will be able to offer specific guidance as the appropriate time for the afflicted person to take part in group therapy.
3. Attend the support group along with the patient, if permitted to do so. It can help the afflicted individual feel more comfortable if she doesn't feel like she's alone in the support group.
4. Maintain close contact with the director of the support group in order to compare the patient's reports of progress against the expert opinion of the group moderator. Because group settings can pose challenges to anorexia patients, it is important to keep lines of communication open with the professionals in charge of the support group.
5. Make sure the patient continues to follow her treatment regimen in addition to the group therapy. Even if the patient is showing physical and mental signs of recovery, all treatment protocols must be followed until a doctor says otherwise.
Tags: support group, group therapy, Groups Treat, Groups Treat Anorexia, patient doctor