A quick guide to telepsychiatry services for eating disorders

A quick guide to telepsychiatry services for eating disorders

Eating disorders are mental illnesses associated with irregular food intake to cope with feelings and other stress-causing factors. A sufferer needs to overcome eating disorder symptoms with the help of effective treatment plans. Therefore, Inland Empire Behavioral Group offers telepsychiatry services to treat your eating disorder symptoms effectively. The primary focus is on the flexibility and convenience in attaining appropriate treatment for eating disorders. So, if you are looking for online eating disorder therapy, then Inland is an ideal choice for you. This article covers all the essential factors associated with virtual eating disorder treatment.

What is virtual eating disorder treatment?

Eating disorders are severe health conditions that impact both your physical and mental well-being. It includes negative thought patterns regarding food, eating habits, weight, and body shape. You can acquire the benefits of virtual eating disorder treatment via various online modes such as video conferencing, audio calls, and online chat. Such treatment methods are most appropriate for treating different types of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other specified eating disorders. The primary objective of online eating disorder therapy is to provide the same quality mental healthcare as traditional in-person treatment. Still, the difference lies in its benefits, which include accessibility and convenience.

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What are the components of online therapy for eating disorders?

An effective virtual eating disorder treatment comprises the following:

Individual Therapy:

Online therapy for eating disorders consists of one-to-one consultation with experienced eating disorders therapists focused on determining the underlying psychological factors causing eating disorders and, eventually, exploring different coping strategies after setting recovery goals.

Group Therapy:

Virtually eating disorder treatment is necessary for another reason: it allows you to connect with other people experiencing similar mental health challenges. Virtual group therapy sessions offer you a supportive environment where you can share your experiences with others and learn about the ways to overcome the negative impacts of eating disorders. In addition, group therapy offers mutual support and great learning from one another.

Nutrition Counseling:

Counseling experts offer online nutrition counseling to help you develop healthy eating patterns, learn about nutritional needs, and, most importantly, address food-related anxieties or myths. In addition, family support plays an integral part in getting rid of eating disorders. Virtual family therapy sessions aid in educating the family members about eating disorders. It also enables different family members to communicate with each other more effectively.

What are the benefits of Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment?

Virtual eating disorder treatment can be beneficial for you in so many ways. Some of the compelling benefits are:

Accessibility:

Virtual eating disorder treatment diminishes geographical barriers, allowing a person in need to access high-quality mental healthcare remotely through online platforms. It is most beneficial for people who lack the resources to attain the required mental healthcare.

Convenience:

Many people do not prefer to step out of their homes to acquire mental health treatment due to several physical constraints. This is why virtual eating disorder treatment is best for such people, as it allows them to experience high-quality mental healthcare from the comfort of their own homes. It also reduces the need for travel and makes it easier to attain mental health care despite busy schedules via eating disorder online support.

Continuity of Care:

In life, there may be certain factors that can be the leading cause of not receiving mental healthcare, such as relocation, travel, or health concerns. Virtual eating disorder treatment ensures that mental healthcare is not compromised and continues until needed.

Cost-Effectiveness:

Virtual eating disorder treatment is beneficial in treating eating disorders as it eliminates the significant barriers acting as obstacles in attaining mental health care, such as travel expenses, session fees, etc.

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Which eating disorders are treated in virtual treatment?

Virtual eating disorder treatment is an ideal choice for treating the following eating disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating caused by a persistent fear of weight increase and unrealistic body image distortion. You can gain the following benefits from online eating disorder treatment for anorexia:

1. Regaining healthy weight
2. Managing the various health issues accompanying the low food intake leading to malnutrition
3. Reconstruction of negative thoughts about body weight and shape into positive ones
4. Controlling the anxiety and phobia associated with various kinds of foods
5. The identification of various psychological causes that are likely to mark the onset of anorexia and ways of dealing with them
6. Diagnosing any other mental health disorder that may be accompanying, such as anxiety or depression
7. Helping in acquiring appropriate coping skills
8. To minimize any interpersonal conflicts that may be responsible for the sustaining of anorexia

Bulimia Nervosa:

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating and purging behaviors. In addition, the sufferer may show signs of vomiting and excessive exercise to get rid of the extra eaten calories. Virtual treatment for bulimia involves:

1. Addressing medical issues from purging behaviors, such as chemical imbalances and tooth decay.
2. Changing the pattern of thoughts and beliefs related to body shape and weight
3. Development of healthy eating habits
4. Identification of the psychological factors that help in the onset of bulimia.
5. Treating comorbid psychiatric disorders, including depressive or bipolar disorders or the coexisting substance use disorder
6. Elevating the self-esteem of the sufferer
7. Getting familiar with coping skills linked to prevent relapse

Binge Eating Disorder (BED):

Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder that involves episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short time, even if the person is full. Virtual treatment for BED involves:

1. Maintaining a balanced diet
2. Dealing with any physical outcome of binge eating
3. Getting familiar with emotional triggers and ways to deal with them
4. Exploring any psychological factor associated with the onset of binge eating disorder
5. Awareness about the cues of being whole and hunger
6. Identifying any personal and social factors triggering the onset of binge eating disorder

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID):

It is an eating disorder that combines several aspects related to food intake, such as choking/vomiting or lack of appetite, which results in inadequate nutrition and weight loss/weight maintenance. Virtual treatment for ARFID involves:

1. Gradual exposure to the feared food
2. Getting rid of unhealthy eating habits and encouraging the right nutritional behaviors
3. Identifying sensory issues linked with food, like the texture or smell
4. Acknowledging the caregivers about the positive mealtime environment
5. Familiarity with effective coping strategies for anxiety and phobia related to specific foods

Last thoughts!

An eating disorder is a mental health illness in which you consume food to cope with feelings and other situations effectively. Unhealthy eating behaviors may include eating too much or too little or worrying about your weight or body shape. The most prevalent way of getting rid of eating disorders is the virtual eating disorder treatment. This approach brings several benefits that can be useful for treating eating disorders. You can now be stress-free and stop looking for a reliable mental health platform. Inland Empire Behavioral Group brings forth an effective yet convenient way of treating your rigid eating disorders with online eating disorder treatment. So, wait no more and connect with our mental health platform to attain maximum benefits from our virtual eating disorder treatment.