I Think I Have an Eating Disorder. What Should I Do Next?

Perhaps your body has been on your mind more than ever recently. And it’s not just the typical pressure to be thin that diet culture fuels year-round. This feels persistent and compulsive, demanding a significant amount of your daily mental energy.

Or maybe your relationship with food is causing you uncertainty and stress. You find yourself skipping out on family dinners or declining birthday invitations from friends, instead preferring to eat alone or in secret—and often to the point of physical discomfort.

If your relationship with your body and food is becoming increasingly disordered, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed about the next steps. Eating disorders comprise a cluster of symptoms, measured according to physical and mental health complications, severity and frequency, and the number of behaviors. If your observed disordered habits have negatively impacted your health and monopolized your life and daily functioning, they’ve probably tipped into eating disorder territory. Our Eating Disorder Assessment Quiz will let you know whether additional evaluation is needed.

You might have the urge to dismiss your concerns. You’ve likely viewed media depictions of individuals suffering from eating disorders, and it’s possible you don’t see yourself reflected among the homogenous group of those struggling. Don’t let eating disorder stereotypes convince you you’re unworthy of help. There’s no such thing as “not sick enough” to pursue eating disorder treatment. Despite popular culture’s narrative, eating disorders have zero social boundaries; they affect people of all ages, weights, sexes, genders, races, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, and cultural backgrounds.

What’s more, for someone stuck in the cycle of disordered thinking or behaviors, there can be a tendency to put off seeking help. While it can be hard to face the reality of an eating disorder, please know that your struggle is not only worthy of care; it demands it. Early intervention is key to preventing further damage; it’s vital not to delay seeking help.

Now is the time to take action.

How Do I Start My Recovery Journey?

If you suspect you’re struggling with an eating disorder, we advise taking our Eating Disorder Assessment Quiz. This quiz is quick, free, secure, confidential, and covers all eating disorder diagnoses. Although it’s not a substitute for a professional evaluation by a trained clinician, answering two or more questions from our Eating Disorder Assessment Quiz with “yes” may indicate that you have an eating disorder.

If your results are consistent with an eating disorder, it’s time to reach out. Read on to learn what to expect when reaching out to Veritas Collaborative.

Step 1: Contact Us

At Veritas Collaborative, we have three simple steps to jumpstart your recovery journey, beginning with contacting our Admissions Team. You can reach our Admissions Team at 1-855-875-5812 or complete our online registration form to have a team member contact you. No referrals are necessary. If you have any questions about insurance coverage, please refer to our Insurance Resources; otherwise, feel free to make any insurance-related inquiries to our Admissions Team.

The members of our Admissions Team are compassionate, knowledgeable, and committed to supporting you on the path to healing. They recognize the tremendous bravery it takes to reach out for help, and are here to provide support, education, and guidance whenever you need them—seven days a week. Upon contacting them, our Admissions Team will ask you about what you’re experiencing, answer any questions, collect your information (name, contact info, and insurance details), and schedule your official intake—all in the pursuit of ensuring you receive the care needed, at the right level, at the right time.

Step 2: Eating Disorder Assessment

The purpose of your intake appointment is to determine your unique treatment needs. Your intake appointment will take place either over the phone or in person. During this 45-60 minute appointment, a dedicated Intake Therapist will ask you questions about your relationship with food and body image, evaluate your symptoms and needs, review benefit information, and present a personalized plan for treatment.

At Veritas, we’re committed to providing you with holistic, individualized care that speaks to your unique needs. We personalize each care plan to consider not only the type and severity of your eating disorder, but also your personality, family and social situation, and any special demands or life circumstances. Research and years of clinical experience support this comprehensive treatment model to best set you up for a full and sustained recovery.

At the end of your intake appointment, you’ll receive a recommendation for the most appropriate level of care along the continuum we offer: inpatient, residential, PHP/IOP, or outpatient treatment. In some cases, we may require a medical intake to confirm it is medically safe for you to enter treatment at the recommended level of care.

Step 3: Admission

Following your intake, you will be paired with an Admissions Coordinator who will serve as your primary point of contact. They will guide you through all the necessary admission details to make your transition into treatment as smooth as possible. You can count on them to facilitate the medical, financial, and logistical aspects of admission, coordinate any lodging or travel arrangements, and help you determine a treatment start date.

As you begin treatment at Veritas Collaborative, either in person or virtually, you can expect a warm welcome from our team. You’ll attend an orientation and meet your dedicated multidisciplinary care providers, who will accompany you on your recovery journey and help you gain the education, skills, and tools you need to understand your eating disorder and reclaim a peaceful relationship with food and body.

Eating disorders are fierce and relentless, but they are treatable. Waiting for symptoms to improve or delaying treatment out of concerns that you’re “not sick enough” can cause irreversible damage and slow recovery. Every journey begins with a single step. Please reach out today at 1-855-875-5812 or via our online form.