Breaking the Cycle: How Past Treatment Experiences Can Hinder Seeking Help and Why Specialist Outpatient Support is Key

For many people struggling with an eating disorder, negative past experiences of treatment can hugely impact their likelihood to seek treatment or support in the future.  Examples of this we see frequently in our clinic are trauma, or fear related to intensive forms of treatment such as inpatient care, or anxiety related to past treatment experiences where individuals have felt judged, criticised, or misunderstood.  Hospital stays, or intensive treatment environments, while sometimes necessary and even life saving, can leave lasting impressions or fears around what other experiences of treatment may be like.  Often, the fear of facing another negative treatment experience can lead people to delay or avoid seeking help altogether, even when they know they need support.  Of course, over time, this delay is highly likely to result in worsening symptoms and more entrenched eating difficulties.  

What is treatment fatigue and why is it so concerning?

Treatment fatigue in eating disorder care is when someone experiences a sense of exhaustion, frustration, or even discouragement related to their ongoing treatment. This fatigue can develop when someone has been in treatment for a long time without feeling significant improvement, and is a common consequence of having been through a number of ineffective or negative therapeutic experiences.   The toll of telling your story multiple times, the sense of blame or loss of hope that can be dangerously implied by some clinicians when their patients are not benefitting from treatment, or the negative judgements and unhelpful comments that can be made by non specialist clinicians can all contribute to treatment fatigue, or worse, a fear of treatment.  In a field where motivation and holding hope can already be a struggle, treatment fatigue can be extremely dangerous.

Why Past Inpatient Experiences Can Be a Barrier

Inpatient experiences are intense by nature. They require leaving behind daily routines, social lives, support from family and often valued roles such as employment, study or parenting.  They are often lengthy and, in medical as opposed to therapeutic units, the environment can often feel unsafe, sterile, overly rigid and sometimes coercive.   Whilst they can of course be life saving, the negative impacts of what is a very intensive treatment, are often overlooked or ignored.   For many patients, inpatient settings can feel restrictive and overwhelming, and the experience of having their independence or control removed can be traumatic.  As a result, people who have had inpatient care may carry lingering fears about re-entering a similar setting, even if they recognise they could use some form of support.

Outpatient Support as a Stepping Stone

Outpatient support serves as an accessible, less intensive alternative. It allows people to receive professional help while maintaining their regular routines, work, school, or family obligations. This type of support can take many forms, from individual therapy sessions, family sessions to dietetic and psychiatric support.  Outpatient treatment is more likely to be highly individualised than is possible in an inpatient setting, with a focus on collaborative, person centred specialist care.  By engaging in specialist outpatient care early on, individuals can address issues before they escalate, making inpatient admission less likely. Outpatient support offers a space for growth and healing in a less disruptive way, fostering a sense of stability and control.  Outpatient care can also be holistic, multi-disciplinary and highly tailored to the needs of each client.

Why Early Intervention Matters

When people delay seeking support, symptoms can worsen, sometimes to a point where inpatient admission becomes the only option in order to make sure an individual is physically and nutritionally safe. Early outpatient intervention can help prevent this outcome. By building skills, addressing behaviours, and receiving consistent care, many can navigate their challenges effectively, all while maintaining their daily lives.

Overcoming the Hesitation to Seek Help

If past experiences of treatment have left you or a loved one hesitant to reach out, remember that there are many different ways that treatment can be delivered, and that no two treatment experiences are likely to be the same.  It is so important to find the right clinician, team or treatment plan for you and to have a sense of empowerment and collaborative decision making in your experiences of care -  be that for yourself or your child.  

The Takeaway: Don’t Wait to Seek Support

If you’re struggling, we encourage you to seek help as early as possible. Outpatient support is a proactive, empowering way to address your mental health in a setting that aligns with your current needs and circumstances.  If you have received treatment before it is so important to share your experience of this treatment with future clinicians - both what felt helpful and particularly what felt unhelpful so that this can be addressed and taken into account in future treatment planning. 

If you or someone you know could benefit from professional support, consider exploring outpatient options. Help is available, and there’s no need to let fear of the past hold you back from the brighter future that lies ahead.