School avoidance can have a big impact on young people’s well-being and futures, but change is possible. Sometimes, schools can adapt parts of their programs to address the issues that are making a young person anxious. Some young people require professional support to address anxiety disorders that may underlie school refusal.
Teenagers and adolescents with eating disorders usually over-evaluate their shape and weight. Instead of placing their self-value in different aspects of their identity and personality, all or almost all of their self-worth relates to their body. Behaviours like body checking may reinforce a young person’s distorted beliefs about their own bodies, increase body dissatisfaction, and cause them to place even more self-value in their shape and weight.
There are several different evidence-based treatment approaches for eating disorders. Some approaches focus on changing eating habits within a family setting, while others emphasise the way that thinking patterns and behaviours interact to maintain eating disorders. Eating disorder treatment can also involve different levels of care. These include inpatient treatment (also known as residential treatment) and outpatient treatment.
While research on the effectiveness of medication for young people with eating disorders is still in its early stages, big progress has been made. Today, several studies have investigated different types of medication for young people with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or unspecified eating disorders.
When disordered eating behaviours meet certain criteria, someone may receive a diagnosis of an eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions involving disordered eating behaviours that significantly harm a young person’s mental and physical well-being.
Interpersonal relationships and eating disorders are closely linked. Friendship difficulties may be a risk factor for developing eating disorders, while strong interpersonal bonds and support systems often play a big role in recovery. Eating disorders can also have a significant impact on young people’s social lives, their friendships, and sense of belonging.
Understanding how to choose effective eating disorder treatment for young people can make a big difference in their recovery journey. In this blog, we outline some important characteristics of successful, reliable treatment programs that can guide your decision.
Recognising the signs of eating disorders and reaching out for support is the first step in the recovery process. While recovery from an eating disorder is always possible, research shows that early interventions are associated with better outcomes. This means spotting early signs of disordered eating behaviours can be especially important.
While there is no single cause for binge eating disorder, there are several different risk factors that make the development of BED in teens more likely. This blog explores these risk factors and outlines some of the developmental pathways to binge eating disorder. It also outlines the emotional-behavioural cycles that can cause the disorder to persist in young people.
Have any questions or want to get started with the admissions process? Contact our friendly care team – they’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have and will walk you through how to prepare for your child’s stay at The Wave.
