Healing the Core of Addiction Hawaii Eating Disorder Treatment

What Are Eating Disorders?

Disordered eating is a medical condition affecting a person’s relationships to food, weight, eating, and body image, with a profound impact on their physical and mental health. Individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder often experience co-occurring disorders related to untreated trauma or other underlying issues affecting mental health. While women are more likely to be diagnosed with EDs, both men and women can be diagnosed with eating disorders that demand professional support and a dedicated treatment plan to address.

According to MedlinePlus, “Researchers believe that eating disorders are caused by a complex interaction of factors,” including:

• Genetics
• Environmental factors
• Physical health
• Social connections
• Psychological health

EDs interfere with all areas of a person’s life and often require multiple levels of care and months or years of therapy to manage successfully.

Different Types of Eating Disorders

People experience different forms of disordered eating, and your (or your loved one’s) relationship with eating and specific needs throughout eating disorder recovery will be unique. The clinical team utilizes assessments and screening tools to diagnose eating disorders and assist clients in selecting the most effective treatment options for them in their recovery journey to treat the whole person effectively.

Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ is prepared to work with you to address an array of eating disorders and challenges, including:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Binge eating disorder
• Pica
• Rumination disorder
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
• Purging disorder
• Night eating syndrome
• Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED), such as orthorexia

The disorders are often severely debilitating and, if left untreated, lead to malnutrition, organ damage, and potentially death, in addition to the complicated emotional effects of EDs. Such emotional effects can include anxiety, depression, compromised self-image, self-loathing, and even fear surrounding food, weight loss, weight gain, or other effects of eating. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Eating disorders are serious and sometimes fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person’s eating behaviors.” The compassionate care team guides clients struggling with EDs through identifying and addressing issues related to self-image.

Overcoming the effects of eating disorders while addressing the underlying emotional needs that inform a person’s relationship with food is paramount for lasting recovery. While healing and change are challenging, there is always support available to get to the root cause of eating disorders at our Hawaii eating disorder treatment program.

Signs of Disordered Eating

Every ED has specific symptoms and warning signs. However, individuals concerned about disordered eating might notice some general changes in thoughts or behaviors, such as:

• Extreme weight gain or loss in a short period
• Secretive behaviors after meals, including spending an excessive amount of time in the bathroom
• Sudden increase in exercise or other physical activities
• Depressive symptoms
• Night eating
• Overeating
• Mood swings
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Obsession with weight or body image

The symptoms of EDs exist along a spectrum from mild to severe. A preoccupation with eating, the use of laxatives, purging, and skipping meals can all indicate the need for professional eating disorder treatment in Hawaii.

Hawaii Eating Disorder Treatment Options at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™

The care team at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ does not restrict meals. Clients are instead educated and guided through creating a healthier relationship with food and eating in a supportive environment throughout their time in our residential treatment center. Mindfulness and mindful eating are used to help clients learn to recognize hunger cues and other automatic body responses while working in in-person therapy sessions and group therapy, uncovering the root cause and emotional factors involved in eating disorders.

Some of the therapies and services used to treat EDs include:

• Stimulus belief response
• Experiential therapy
• Nutrition therapy and education
• Art therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Journaling
• Personal development
• Mission therapy
• Nature immersion
• Narrative therapy
• Traditional Hawaiian therapy: Ho’oponopono
• Harm reduction
• Success refined post-rehab
• Redefining self-narrative
• Acupuncture
• Yoga
• Bodywork and energy work
• Massage therapy
• Pilates
• Life contract responsibility square
• Person-centered therapy
• Emotional freedom technique (EFT)
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Claiming a life purpose

Clients are encouraged to engage with peers and the care team during and after meals. Seeing examples of healthy eating can sometimes help clients establish healthier eating routines. Every client receives tailored care and has complete control over the direction of their treatment.

Treating SUD and Active EDs

Many of those with active EDs have co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and require treatment for both conditions. According to Cureus, “Approximately 12% to 18% of adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 30% to 70% of adults diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (BN) have SUD.” The clinicians at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ have the tools and resources to treat EDs and SUD simultaneously using integrative care and personalized treatments.

Some of the connections between EDs and SUD include:

• Individuals with SUD may begin disordered eating as a way to feel in control of something in their lives
• Disordered eating may cause people to misuse substances as a way to self-medicate symptoms like anxiety
• The two conditions may develop independently, worsening the symptoms of both

SUD and EDs should be treated simultaneously to reduce the risk of relapse. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ is certified to treat SUD and EDs as primary or secondary disorders. We also work with you each step of your recovery, helping you explore your unique best practices throughout inpatient care or as you transition between levels of care in your eating disorder treatment in Hawaii. Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) is located 15 minutes from the treatment center, with transportation provided. We also offer an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and ongoing aftercare support, all to help facilitate truly transformative and lasting change.

Nutritional Coaching and Developing a Healthy Relationship With Food

Clinicians at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ believe in using food as medicine. The essential vitamins and minerals in nourishing meals help the body and mind grow healthier. Peer engagement is another critical part of our eating disorder treatment in Hawaii. Eating is often a social activity, and EDs may cause people to isolate themselves and experience additional mental health issues due to loneliness and a lack of social support. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ is a thriving community of individuals working to heal together and create a safe space where people feel comfortable addressing the underlying issues affecting their mental health. We also use evidence-based therapies combined with experiential and personalized options for a holistic approach to change and your well-being.

The care team provides nutritional coaching. However, clients are never forced to eat or given ultimatums about how to relate to food during treatment. Instead, clinicians help clients learn mindful eating. The care team collaborates closely with clients and their families to find healthy ways to manage symptoms and build a healthier relationship with food.