As Economy Suffers, So Do Many with Eating Disorders

Remuda Ranch Reports Many Individuals with Eating Disorders Are Not Getting The Help They Need

As Economy Suffers, So Do Many with Eating Disorders

PHOENIX (October 30, 2008) ­As the current economy crisis deepens, many
individuals with eating disorders are worried about treatment and not
seeking the help they desperately require.

³The danger of not seeking help for an eating disorder can be very serious
because they can cause many medical complications, even death,² said David
Wall, PhD, director of psychological services at Remuda Ranch Programs for
Eating and Anxiety Disorders (http://www.remudaranch.com). ³Eating disorders
often take a turn for the worse due to increased personal and family stress.
As eating disorders intensify, they become more difficult to treat.²

It¹s clearly understandable that individuals and their families are
reluctant to seek treatment in times like these, but the delay in treatment
often makes things worse as the eating disorder may slip into a more severe
state.

Stress typically doesn¹t cause an eating disorder, but stress makes the
disorder much worse. Often people with eating disorders use their disorder
as their primary means of coping with stress. The stress causes the eating
disorder to intensify and as the eating disorder intensifies, it creates
more stress for the individual, in something of a vicious cycle where the
person¹s health can spiral rapidly downward.

The family, often the primary system of support for the eating disorder
patient, is also experiencing the stress and uncertainty of the current
economy and becomes less capable of providing support as their emotional
energy and resources are already stretched. This can further worsen the
eating disorders, since individuals with eating disorders are often very
sensitive to stress in the family and blame themselves for problems that are
occurring.

³An eating disorder is often a way for the individual to avoid other
problems in his or her life,² adds Wall. ³The focus on their body and food
becomes so intense it helps block other problems. In addition, the eating
disorder is often a way of maintaining control, when things are out of
control.²

Remuda recommends that individuals with eating disorders should not give up.
Often people assume they cannot afford treatment so they don¹t even try to
get the help they need. Various levels of providers, whether they are
inpatient, outpatient or day treatment, may be even more willing to work
with patients during the crisis. It¹s worth the effort to call several
healthcare providers, including Remuda Ranch, seeking some arrangement that
can be managed.

³I have seen some churches or a group of friends and family provide funds
for treatment,² adds Wall. ³Don¹t be embarrassed to seek help. There are
many resources out there like self help groups and community health
centers.²

About Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders
Remuda Ranch offers Christian inpatient and residential programs for
individuals of all faiths suffering from eating or anxiety disorders. Each
patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team including a Psychiatric and
a Primary Care Provider, Registered Dietitian, Masters Level therapist,
Psychologist and Registered Nurse. The professional staff equips each
patient with the right tools to live a healthy, productive life. For more
information, call 1-800-445-1900 or visit www.remudaranch.com.