Blog — Family Intervention Works

Choosing The Right Level of Care for Patients with Eating Disorders

June 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Eating disorders are a progressive disease they start out as a mild problem that gradually develops into major medical issues. When diagnosis of an eating disorder is given the patient can be at any stage of the disease progression. Treatment for eating disorder goes hand in hand with the disease progression; there are five general levels of care for eating disorders, Outpatient, Intensive Outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential and inpatient hospitalization.

The main criteria for determining the level of treatment is the patient’s medical condition. For insurance those that reach the point of being at risk of losing their life if they do not receive immediate hospitalization. If a patient shows any signs of acute medical distress, they may need emergency inpatient care until they are medically stable. Doctors use certain criteria when determining level of treatment for those that are medically stable. The most important, weight it is the major factor in determining level of care. If a patient has lost a lot of weight due to refusing to eat then inpatient treatment might be the right decisions.

A critical factor or determining if inpatient treatment is needed is whether the patient is suicidal. The doctor will assess if the patient is at risk and if they need an inpatient facility with psychiatric monitoring. Other coexisting factors like psychiatric disorders or substance abuse may be contributing problems and doctors may recommend inpatient treatment for recovery from the eating disorder as well as the coexisting conditions.

Less intensive treatment options are available as well for those clients who do not show acute medical distress or mental issues. With motivation and support patients can succeed in recovery at outpatient or partial hospitalization facilities.

Another good way to determine the appropriate level of care is whether the patient is dealing with too much stress at home. Stressful living environments may trigger episodes of unhealthy eating behaviors. With this in mind, a patient might need inpatient or residential treatment for at least a short period of time.

All of these discussed in this article can determine proper level of care for treatment from eating disorder. You doctor can aide in making decisions for you depending on your medical condition.

Filed Under Eating Disorders

What You Can (and Can’t) Do

June 7, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The part of this article I disagree with is that the person with the eating disorder should make the decision to go to inpatient treatment. When someone is suffering from Bulimia or Anorexia they are not always able to make good choices for their own well-being, much like an alcoholic or drug addict. Families can help with the help of a skilled interventionist. Women in particular do not respond well to a “surprise confrontation” type of intervention. Family Intervention Works offers an softer approach to helping all the members of the family. (The below article is from a great eating disorder website: www.something-fishy.org)

Here are some of the things you should think about regarding what you can and can’t do for someone suffering from an Eating Disorder.

The first thing to keep in mind is that as an “outsider” (not suffering from an Eating Disorder yourself) there are many things you cannot do to help a family member or friend to get better. You cannot force an Anorexic to eat, keep a bulimic from purging, or make a Compulsive Overeater stop overeating. The first thing to realize once you have come to the awareness that your loved-one suffers from an Eating Disorder, is that you must not concentrate immediately on the food. All forms of Eating Disorders are emotionally based and the behaviors are only a symptom to emotional and stress related problems. As said many times on this site, disordered eating is an attempt to control, hide, stuff, avoid and forget emotional pain, stress and/or self-hate.

If you are the parent of a child under 18 you will have difficult decisions to make regarding their care. Regardless of pleas to “not make me,” and promises that the behavior will stop, you will have to stay very attuned to what is happening with your child and may have to force them to go to doctors and/or the hospital. Keep in mind how serious Eating Disorders are and that they can kill.

If your relationship with someone suffering from Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating is anything other than their parent, or if your child is over the age of 18 then you cannot force them to seek help. You can support and encourage your loved one, and gently express concern, and the best thing you can do is to learn to attentively listen.

In most cases it will be important for each sufferer to find a mode of recovery that will work for them. One-on-one therapy, support groups, clinics, in-patient or out-patient, art therapy, church groups, a combination of any, or none of the above but something completely different … there are many options out there. Share this website, help your friend or family member to gather information if they are open to your help. Be encouraging — there can be a lot of road blocks in searching for Eating Disorder recovery so be reassuring that recovery is possible! Be there to listen and communicate.

Some options for local treatment are here … and a listing a national organizations is here. Most of the national organizations can refer you to local chapters, support groups and therapy in your area.

For the Anorexic or Bulimic who exhibits any of the following signs it may be essential to encourage them into medical treatment, in-patient in a hospital, immediately: Dizziness, fatigue, black-outs, extreme temperature sensitivity, chest pains, tingling in hands or feet, blood in stools or vomit, stomach pains, incontinence or uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea, and/or 25% or more weight loss of total average body weight in a short period of time.

There are many signs and symptoms as well as physical dangers. It is important to remember that the continued behaviors of Eating Disorders can lead to many physical problems, further emotional difficulties, and even death.

Keep in mind there isn’t a lot you can do overall, as an “outsider” to a close family member or friend suffering from an Eating Disorder. It is up to the individual suffering to decide they are ready to deal with the emotional issues in their life that have lead them to their Eating Disorder. They need to make a choice for recovery and to want to do the work to get there. There is no one in their lives that can make this choice for them, they must want to do it for themselves.

For advanced cases of Anorexia and Bulimia, the course of treatment will usually begin with stabilizing the patient’s health, and from there it is imperative that a course of therapy, both individual and/or group, take place. For cases in which the patient’s life it not in immediate danger, it is important they seek therapy, from an experienced therapist in the area of treating eating disorders, with or without group therapy. Unfortunately, more often than not, sufferers tend to reach life threatening situations before they seek help, even if then. And in some cases, once they’ve come out of immediate danger and left the hospital there is no follow up of treatment, so they only find themselves back in the hospital shortly after. This can continue for years and is destructive both emotionally and physically, but the final action to get better lies in the patient’s desire to get better. Often times they feel afraid to ask for help, or don’t feel there is a proper forum in which to ask. More often than not, the Eating Disorder sufferer does not feel they deserve help.

Filed Under Eating Disorders, Uncategorized Tagged With Anorexia, Bulimia, Over-Eating

Inpatient Drug Rehab is Just the Beginning

May 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “I’m not sending them to treatment again, they have gone and the treatment didn’t work.” I think that family members and the addicted individuals inadvertently get the message that they will go to treatment and come out cured. I think it is very important to understand that this is barely a beginning on the long road that is recovery. When an addict or alcoholic finally surrenders and agrees to go to treatment loved ones and the addicted individual feels a sense of relief. It is a time when as family members report “you know they are sober and safe.” Generally the addicted individual will start to get clear headed and realize the damage their use has caused. They come out of treatment with a resolve to follow their treatment plan and continue doing what they have learned in treatment. Then life hits them between the eyes, they don’t know how to cope, and they find themselves using or drinking once again. This isn’t about treatment not working. If they stayed clean and sober during treatment it worked. Addicted individuals and families need to remember that an aftercare plan is paramount. You must realize that you should be in a recovery program of some sort for a minimum of one year, two if possible. Recovery takes time, and a commitment to the process. Don’t cut corners on your aftercare, budget accordingly. Find an inpatient program that fits your budget and make sure there is plenty of money for aftercare services. Treatment works if you work it.

Filed Under After Care, Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Uncategorized

What is Systemic Intervention?

April 17, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Systemic Intervention from Family Intervention Works on Vimeo.

Filed Under Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Systemic Intervention, Uncategorized

Prescription Drug Interventionist

April 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Prescription drug abuse and addiction is currently on the rise in the U.S. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 20 percent of people in the nation have abused prescription drugs by taking them for non-medical reasons. The ease of obtaining prescription drugs and the common misconception that they are less harmful than illegal street drugs has led to a casual attitude on the part of many when it comes to these powerful drugs. As a result, a growing number of people are becoming addicted to narcotic painkillers including OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin, stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall and sedatives and tranquilizers like Valium and Xanax.

Dependence on prescription drugs has a devastating effect on the addict. It can also be damaging to the lives of family and friends who feel helpless in stopping the addict’s risky behavior. If you suspect that a friend or loved one has become addicted and is in denial about the seriousness of the problem, the time has come to bring in an interventionist and plan an intervention. A professionally-guided intervention will help an addict understand the damage caused by his or her behavior. Successful interventions result in the addict accepting treatment and taking the first steps on the road to recovery.

When an intervention is staged without the guidance of an experienced interventionist, there is a risk of alienating the addict and worsening the addiction problem. The interventionist will ensure that the intervention includes a plan for treatment, preferably in a supervised treatment program. Many addicts’ first reaction to an intervention is denial of the problem, followed by promises to handle their prescription drug problem on their own. A professional interventionist understands this mindset and will work to convince the addict that his or her problem requires a treatment program. An interventionist will also work with family and friends whose emotions may get the better of them during the intervention process.

Before an intervention is held, arrangements for treatment must be in place. When the intervention has been completed, the addict should begin treatment immediately. A residential rehab treatment facility is the best alternative for treatment, especially since the addict may experience physical withdrawal symptoms without access to prescription drugs. A residential program will provide a structured environment and 24-hour care. Once detoxification has taken place, the patient should be provided with behavioral therapy that will replace negative behaviors with life-affirming ones. A quality residential program may also provide group therapy, meditation and yoga as part of the healing process.

From RecoveryNOWTV.

Filed Under Drug Addiction

Signs and Symptoms of Teen Drug Abuse

April 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The following is a comprehensive list of the signs and symptoms of teen drug abuse and addiction. Parents who recognize one or more of the following are urged to contact a drug rehab facility immediately and investigate treatment options for the child.

Common signs and symptoms of teen drug abuse include:

Isolation from family, friends and other loved ones
Lying about his or her whereabouts when using drugs
Forgoing hobbies, sports and other activities that they once enjoyed
Sudden mood swings
Depression
Anxiety
Suicidal thoughts
Stealing money to finance drug use
Reckless behavior that is a danger to the child or others (such as DWI, etc.)
Hanging out with new friends unknown to the parents
Poor performance at school
Truancy or unexplained absences
Finding drug paraphernalia in the room, car or clothes

If your teenager exhibits one or more of the signs and symptoms above, I hope you will contact me, Debbie Bayer at Family Intervention Works. Call me for your free phone consultation today: (425) 822-3425

Filed Under Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Teen Addiction

Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition

March 31, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Drug and alcohol addiction is a subject most prefer not to discuss over the dining room table. However, given the enormity of the problems that substance abuse causes families and society, it is well past the time to engage in an intelligent and proactive discussion.

Historically, we wait until the pain and tragedy of addiction is in our face before we act. We wait until our frustrated citizens are driven to patrolling their own neighborhoods and holding “No Ice” signs on the roadsides. We wait until that DUI arrest finally arrives, after somehow being avoided for so many years. We wait until the house has been foreclosed and the job is lost, again. We wait until we can no longer avoid the dysfunction, the unusual behavior patterns, and the myriad of other signs of abuse and addiction.

Besides the suffering aspects, the cost of addiction is itself prohibitive to taxpayers. There are huge costs to health care plans, expensive emergency room use at hospitals and exorbitant costs to our judiciary and prison systems. We cannot wait anymore.

This year, however, can be different. We have the rare opportunity to take meaningful steps toward treatment and recovery.

Addiction treatment and support is available to those who are willing to take that first step out of denial and demonstrate a willingness to traverse the sometimes difficult path to recovery.

There are nationally accredited clinical treatments that demonstrate superior outcomes, drug courts with oversight by tough-love judges, interdiction and interventions, and structured self-help groups that provide hands-on support.

Faith-based and cultural approaches provide the needed support for many, and still others find their salvation through psychotherapy with individual counseling.

Yes, treatment is available, but most are unaware or still stuck in denial. Clearly much more needs to be done.

Drug addiction, like alcoholism, is a sickness. And in our society, people who are sick deserve treatment. Especially when you understand that what we are doing now isn’t working.

Our nation and our Hawaii are on the verge of undergoing a major overhaul in the manner in which medical services will be delivered and paid. Addiction-treatment professionals must be at the table and part of that very important discussion.

Residential facilities are perpetually short of bed space and people without adequate insurance are often excluded from access to the help and treatment they require.

Parity with regards to medical insurance is an essential component in order to provide adequate treatment for those in need and who seek help.

The appropriate electronic management of patient information remains a recurring challenge. We must develop the information technology in our health care system that can provide the efficient and appropriate access to patient data as a means to improve treatment effectiveness, avoid duplication and reduce costs.

Clean and sober houses are essential for the successful transition of those in recovery and yet are far too often blocked by a misinformed NIMBY mindset. We must take a comprehensive look at the overall needs of our entire community before additional laws are passed further restricting their transitional use.

We have the services available that can help provide the treatment and the support for you, for a friend or a family member. But we can, and we must, do more.

Yes, it is a new day in Hawaii — and members of the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition are here to work with you, to help bring this new day forward.

Filed Under Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction Tagged With Hawaii

Facts for Families About Co-Occurring Disorders

March 21, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

What is a co-occurring disorder?

Co-occurring disorder refers to the coexistence of a substance use disorder—alcohol or other drug abuse or addiction—and a mental health disorder. Mental health disorders that may commonly occur with addiction include mood disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. When people are diagnosed as having a co-occurring disorder, it means that they have been diagnosed with two or more disorders at the same time during the past year.

What are common indicators of a co-occurring disorder?

Having a co-occurring disorder can present with problems such as:

use of alcohol or other drugs to reduce problems or pain associated with mental health issues
a worsening mental health disorder because of alcohol or drug use
a worsening substance use disorder because of mental health problems
difficulty getting treatment for both disorders, or difficulty benefiting from treatment
difficulty finding supportive professionals or peers who understand both disorders

What causes co-occurring disorders?

Often times there is a genetic risk factor for both substance use and certain mental health disorders, but genes alone usually don’t explain all causes of co-occurring disorders. Other factors include family, environment, and life stress, including traumatic life events, poverty, and loss. Stressful experiences can also trigger genetic factors that contribute to co-occurring disorders. It is possible that people with mental health disorders may be more biologically sensitive to the effects of mood altering substances. They may use alcohol or other drugs to cope with mental health symptoms or to counter social anxiety. People who have a mental health disorder are at much higher risk of also having a substance use disorder and, conversely, people who have a substance use disorder are at mmuch greater risk of developing a mental health disorder.

Information originally published by Hazelden.

Filed Under Uncategorized

Why It’s Important to Talk to Children About Drinking

March 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Children become curious and some try drinking as early as 9 years old.

Before age 9, children typically view drinking negatively. Between the ages of 9 and 13, they start to view alcohol more positively. Children become more aware of the drinking behavior of their parents and other adults. They often start asking questions about alcohol.

Conversation is often more effective before children start drinking.

The reason most children choose not to drink is because their parents talked to them about it. If you talk to them directly and honestly, they are more likely to respect your rules and advice about alcohol use.

Children who start drinking at a young age are more likely to have problems with alcohol later in life.

Children who begin drinking before age 15 are seven times more likely to abuse alcohol or to have alcohol problems as adults.4 By starting a conversation about alcohol early, you can stop them from making a decision that could potentially harm their health and future.

The chance that children will use alcohol increases as they get older.

Around 10% of 12-year-olds say they’ve tried alcohol, but by age 15 that number jumps to 50%. The sooner you talk to your child about alcohol, the greater chance you have of impacting his or her decisions about drinking.

If you don’t talk about it, you’re saying something.

What you say to your child about alcohol use is up to you. But remember, if you don’t say anything to your child about drinking, you might give the impression that underage drinking is acceptable.

From underagedrinking.SAMHSA.gov

Filed Under Alcohol Addiction, Uncategorized, Underage Addiction Tagged With Underage Drinking

Some Nice Thoughts in Prayer Form

March 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Lord God,

make me an instrument of your healing:

when I am weak and in pain, help me to rest;

when I am anxious, help me to wait;

when I am fearful, help me to trust;

when I am lonely, help me to love;

when I place You apart from me,

help me to know You are near;

Healing God, grant me not so much to demand

everything from myself as to let others help me;

nor to expect others to cure me as to

do my own part toward getting better.

Grant me not so much to seek escape, as to

face myself and learn the depths of Your love.

For it is being uncertain and not in control, that we

find true faith, in knowing the limits of mind and body

that we find wholeness of spirit, and in passing through

death that we find life that lasts forever.

–Sister Judith Kubish CSJ