Sick enough: Should treatment begin only after my child fits the criteria of an eating disorder?

I know of no other illness where the question of being “sick enough” enters the dialogue when establishing a treatment protocol.  When I was diagnosed with cancer, treatment was immediate and did not end until remission was achieved.  I saw my oncologist for ten years to assure no recurrence.  When my husband Tom experienced a heart attack, immediate steps were taken.  He continues to visit his cardiologist regularly for monitoring over nine years later.

Eating disorders can be just as life threatening and life altering as cancer and heart disease.  They can be just as insidious.  Yet, some professionals and even some hospitals give the message that the individual cannot receive treatment until they are “sicker.”  And then when the “appropriate” level of wellness is achieved, the individual is expected to walk out the door without the decade-long follow-up that both my husband and I were told was necessary for our full recovery.

A young sufferer with whom I’ve had an ongoing email relationship wrote me a few weeks ago:

I wanted to do intensive outpatient [IOP] but my insurance wouldn’t cover it and denied the coverage so I’m not going to end up doing it. I guess that I have to prove to them that something is wrong with me, so because of this I went out and bought [details removed]…half the box is gone just from that day when I found out the 'bad' news. The intake person at the IOP told me to appeal the decision but I’m not sure. If they don’t think I have a problem then I mustn’t have one. I’m not sure what to do anymore.

It would be impossible for me to count the number of times I’ve heard a similar scenario.  An individual finally awakens from their denial and is willing to jump into treatment only to get the message that they do not fit some ill-defined criteria of symptoms that justify treatment per their insurance provider.

As parents, we need to understand that the specific criteria are not important.  If even the most minor symptoms are evident, treatment is needed.  It may take a while for us to find a professional or institution that “sees” our child’s illness, but we must not stop trying.  It is extremely harmful for us or for professionals to wait until our child gets “sick enough” to begin the process of healing.

Blessings until next time,

Doris

Comments

[Palmtreechick]

I often say that to myself. I don't think I need any help because I'm not "sick" enough, meaning "emaciated." I don't know why I feel like I have to weigh 80 lbs to have a problem.