Eating disorders are serious mental health illnesses that can have profound physical and psychological effects on individuals of all ages. Eating disorders can be heartbreaking for both the victim and their friends and family. Thankfully, patients have multiple treatment options when it comes to the main two eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. These treatments include guided help, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and medication. However, under more severe circumstances a patient may be brought to an eating disorder facility. It is essential that nurses at these ED facilities have an understanding of eating disorders, their signs and symptoms, and patients’ triggers and behaviors in order to provide respectful care and support to those living with an eating disorder. Let’s discuss the two main eating disorders and their treatment options in more detail. What Can You Do to Treat Eating Disorders – Treatment Options for Specific Eating Disorder TypesAnorexia Nervosa TreatmentAnorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder that can have a devastating impact on a person’s physical and mental health. Anorexia is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, an extreme restriction of food intake, and an intense preoccupation with body weight and shape. It’s important to note, many people suffering from Anorexia have body dysmorphia disorder. This is a mental health condition where people hyper-fixate on their appearance, flaws, and weight. The ultimate goal is to help those suffering from anorexia nervosa to normalize their eating behaviors and restore a healthy weight. Treatment for anorexia nervosa can be complex and require a multidisciplinary approach. It depends on the specific needs of the patient. The first step in treating anorexia nervosa is to create a safe and supportive environment. This includes providing a safe place for the patient to discuss their feelings and concerns, as well as providing a safe place for them to eat. It is important to create a non-judgmental atmosphere in which the patient can feel comfortable and accepted. Important note: While anorexia nervosa can feel like a crushing defeat for the individual suffering and their loved ones, with the right treatment plan and care, anorexia nervosa can be successfully treated and lead to a healthy, fulfilling life. The Role of a NurseNurses are crucial when it comes to establishing a healthy environment. Being aware of particular ED triggers, engaged listening, and encouraging healthy behaviors in a safe space are key. In addition, nurses play a vital role in medicine management, checking in on patients, bathroom and meal checks, and general assistance around the facility. Nutritional Plan for Anorexia NervosaNutrition counseling is also an important part of anorexia nervosa treatment. Nutrition plans help the individual develop healthy eating habits and learn how to properly nourish their body. Of course, there is typically an underlying reason beyond nutrition misinformation that leads to anorexia nervosa. However, relearning about nutrition is a key step toward the path of recovery. The nutrition plan can still assist in helping patients counter their anxiety surrounding eating and practice consuming a balanced variety of foods of different calorie densities. This also helps them to develop a plan for maintaining a healthy weight. For younger patients and adolescents, monitoring patients’ meals and consumption is critical. Psychiatric and Behavioral Therapy for Anorexia NervosaPsychotherapy and behavioral therapy are important parts of anorexia nervosa treatment. This type of therapy helps the patient identify and address the underlying causes of their illness. It also helps them to develop healthier coping strategies and to build self-esteem. Treatment can include:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) typically lasts nine to ten months. CBT involves the patient speaking with a therapist to help cope with feelings and make healthy food choices. Focal psychodynamic therapy helps patients understand how their eating habits are connected to what they think and how they feel about themselves. This also may last nine to ten months. Adolescent-focused psychotherapy is geared more toward younger patients with anorexia nervosa. Patients will learn how to cope with their fears about gaining weight, understand the effect of undereating, and discover the underlying reason for their disordered eating. Medication for Anorexia NervosaMedication alone will not treat anorexia nervosa. Disordered eating is a mental health illness where the behaviors need to be corrected, which is not something easily attained through medication. However, certain antidepressants may be offered in congruence with therapy to help manage anxiety, social phobia, and depression. While this is not a direct treatment or “cure” for an individual suffering from an eating disorder, it will assist in curbing some of the external factors and pressures that lead to disordered eating. A common antidepressant used is fluoxetine (Prozac). Ongoing TreatmentIf outpatient treatment is not successful, patients are encouraged to enter a residential eating disorder facility. Residential ED facilities are effective in restoring weight and helping patients regain normal eating behavior. However, relapse is always a concern. A relapse is defined as a longer period of time in which the individual suffering from anorexia nervosa struggles to get back on track with their treatment and healthy eating habits. Unfortunately, about a third of anorexia patients experience some sort of relapse in the first 18 months after treatment. If the patient’s life is at risk and they refuse treatment, their doctor may decide to admit them to a hospital for compulsory treatment. Bulimia Nervosa TreatmentBulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise. At least some nutrition is being retained, as opposed to anorexia nervosa. However, the acidic nature of bile through purging has serious negative health effects. Important note: While suffering from bulimia, you can lessen the damage from regular vomiting by avoiding brushing your teeth immediately after purging to protect your teeth’s enamel, drinking plenty of water, and rinsing your mouth with a non-acidic mouthwash. The Role of a NurseNurses will have limited time with patients at the beginning stages of treatment, as those suffering from bulimia nervosa will often seek help from therapists. The initial stages of treatment often involve therapy and guided help, rather than specific treatment or care from a professional nurse. However, if treatment reaches the stage of entering a residential eating disorder facility or if an individual wanted to hire a skilled private care nurse, the role of a nurse will include:
In certain instances, nurses may assist the facility by completing general house support as needed. Family TherapyFamily therapy is intended to benefit younger patients suffering from bulimia nervosa. This involves the young patient and their family meeting with a therapist to discuss their symptoms and eating habits and how it has affected them. The main goal is to discover how the patient and the family can assist in helping the patient and stopping the disordered eating behaviors. Guided HelpGuided help is a bulimia nervosa treatment that is typically reserved for adults. Patients will work through a self-help book while also attending sessions with a therapist or healthcare professional. The goal is to help the patient monitor what they are eating, make realistic meal plans, better understand their unique triggers, identify the underlying causes, and develop healthy coping strategies. Joining self-help groups is supported during this time, as being around individuals with a shared experience can prove beneficial. If guided help does not help patients recover from bulimia nervosa, the next step is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia NervosaCBT invokes the patient suffering from bulimia nervosa to meet with a therapist to explore thoughts, feelings, and emotions that could be triggering the disordered eating behaviors. The healthcare professional will assist the patient in adopting proper eating habits and offering guidance and tips on how to stick to that particular eating regimen. Managing difficult situations and feelings is critical to avoid the patient facing relapse. Typically, cognitive behavioral therapy will last about 20 sessions over 20 weeks. Medication for Bulimia NervosaSimilar to anorexia nervosa, antidepressants may be administered to patients suffering from bulimia nervosa in combination with therapy. The medication is intended to treat anxiety, depression, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) if symptoms are present. Ongoing TreatmentIf guided help/family therapy and CBT do not succeed, a patient may be checked into a residential eating disorder facility. There will be 24/7 staff to care for and assist patients, which often includes a rotation of therapists, medical technicians, and skilled nurses. Patients will receive around-the-clock care, along with a healthy environment and consistent treatment options to help the individual recover from bulimia nervosa. Get the Treatment Options You NeedIf you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, do not delay receiving help. There are countless treatment options that have millions of success stories that can benefit you and help you get back to a healthy relationship with your body and food. Disordered eating does not have to be an unchangeable way of life. If you live in California, click here to find an eating disorder treatment facility near you. The post How to Treat Eating Disorders appeared first on NurseRegistry.The post How to Treat Eating Disorders appeared first on NurseRegistry.
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Grieving is a natural process, and everyone reacts differently to loss. The grieving process can be irregular and unpredictable. Handling grief after losing a patient can be difficult, especially if you’re unaware you are grieving. People who are associated with the medical field often experience professional burnout. A nursing career can be incredibly rewarding, but there are certainly a variety of stressors. It is possible that this burnout may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. However, you don’t have to feel alone in facing your grief. In order to cope with grief, there are several things you can do. Knowing how to handle grief after losing a patient can help you cope with loss in a healthy way.
Definition of GriefGrief is a natural emotional response programmed by our body to happen when we have suffered a loss or trauma. It’s an unconscious process and has been deeply evolved over centuries to keep us safe from threats. There is no specific time for grieving, as it varies from person to person. You may have feelings of grief for a few days, weeks, months, or even years after losing a loved one. For medical professionals, the death of a patient can be challenging, and you may even find it harder to deal with your emotions because you are expected to maintain professionalism. Grief can cause you to feel guilty about the death of a patient and may make you question your judgment and skills. Grief will affect everyone differently depending on their relationship with the deceased and their experiences during the death event.
Common Signs of GrievingThe symptoms manifesting in the loss of patients may signal different levels of grief severity. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and persist for varying amounts.
1. Feeling numbYou may feel like you’ve lost your ability to feel anything. This can be particularly true if you were close with the patient and had been with them for a long time. You may find yourself resting in a state of numbness, not wanting to feel anything because it’s too painful. This is normal and temporary.
2. Feeling guiltyYou might feel guilty if you think that the patient’s death was your fault or if you didn’t do enough to save them. But remember that it’s not possible to predict when a patient will fall ill, and there’s no way for doctors and nurses to save everyone. You can’t be expected to prevent everyone from dying, especially when working with limited resources.
3. Avoiding memoriesYou might want to block out any memories of the patient you weren’t fond of or avoid anything associated with them. You might find yourself avoiding where your patient was being cared for and even evading other people who were also treating them at that time. Avoiding these memories will only cause you to feel more grief in the future.
4. Loss of appetiteIf you are losing your appetite, it is important not to let this go unchecked. This is a common sign that you are grieving and can lead to further health problems if left untreated. Talking with a professional about handling these issues is important to healthily work through them without putting yourself or others at risk.
5. Feeling lostWhen you lose a patient, it can be hard to know what to do next. It’s normal to feel like your life has been upended. You might wonder how you can ever go back to normal or if you want to. You might feel like the only thing that will make sense is just going home and hiding under the covers. You’re not alone in feeling like this—it’s totally normal! But if these feelings aren’t going away by themselves, it’s time to reach out for help.
6. DepressionIf you’re struggling with grief after losing a patient, you may experience some symptoms of depression. These can include feelings of sadness and worthlessness, changes in your eating habits or sleep patterns, or even thoughts of suicide. If you’re dealing with these symptoms, you must talk with someone close to you or a professional therapist about your feelings.
How to Cope with GriefIf you’ve ever lost a patient, you know how difficult it can be. Coping with grief after losing a patient is something most doctors and nurses are not prepared for, especially if they’ve never experienced it before. However, there are things that you can do to help yourself cope with the loss of a patient.
1. Give yourself time to grieve:It’s normal to need some time to work through the grieving process. You should talk with someone about your feelings, work through them with a professional, or join a support group for survivors of patient losses. This will help you to manage your grief better so that you can start moving on with your life more quickly.
2. Take care of yourself:Taking care of yourself is crucial if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your grief. This means that it’s important to have a support system and get professional help if you need it. It’s also a good idea to make time for yourself each day to spend time with family and friends.
3. Learn from the loss:This is very important in dealing with the loss of a patient and can help you to come to terms with the death faster. You’ve probably been focusing on how you can help your patient, but now that they’ve passed away, it’s important to take some time to reflect on what you learned from the experience. Do you think this experience will impact how you care for others in the future? Did you do anything well? Are there any improvements you could make next time? In this way, you can use the experience to grow and improve your skills instead of letting it lead to self-blame or unnecessary guilt.
4. Reach out for support:This is the most crucial step in how to handle grief after losing a patient. You need to find someone who will listen, and you need them to be non-judgmental. Friends, family, and other professionals can help you accept that your patient has passed away. The best thing you can do is to talk about it with someone who understands what you are going through. They might not have lost their own patient recently, but they may have had an experience in their life where they lost someone close. They can relate to what you’re going through, which will help you feel less alone during this difficult time.
5. Engage in healthy activities:As you work through your grief, you must engage in healthy activities to help you process your feelings. This cannot be easy at first, but it will become easier over time. It’s important to take care of yourself and not push yourself too hard in the beginning, especially if you are feeling the effects of depression. You can do physical activities, like going for a walk or spending time with friends and family. Engaging in intellectual or emotional activities like reading, writing, or learning something new is also important.
6. Know that you are not alone:Many people are going through the same emotional experience. Staying professional in front of others while going through this situation is a matter of pride and self-respect. Sometimes, having time alone to express your true feelings and emotions may be necessary. Keep in mind that not everyone deals with the loss of a patient in the same way. There is a range of emotions that accompany grief. There is no one-principled way to handle grief after losing a patient, but some people work through it more quickly than others. Your response to loss can make a difference. The sooner you permit yourself to grieve and have periods of sadness, the quicker the process will be.
Takeaway Losing a patient is one of the most difficult things a doctor or nurse will ever have to go through in their careers. It is incredibly taxing on your mental health. If you have experienced this intense grief, giving yourself time to grieve and work through those feelings is important. If you’re having trouble coping with the loss of a patient, or if you want to talk about how you are feeling, reach out for help. The stages of grief can be overwhelming, but thankfully there are grief counselors that can help. If you feel you need grief counseling, click here to meet with mental health professionals that can assist you. Additionally, here are some support links for immediate responses:
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April 2023
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