How long does it take for bulimia to have hospitalization?
Monday, May 25th, 2009 at
6:25 pm
Kaeli M asked:
Like, what exactly does it take for a person be forced into the hospital.
Like, what exactly does it take for a person be forced into the hospital.
-I really don’t need to know how it wrecks your body, I honestly know. I’m just curious.
Tagged with: Bulimia • Hospitalization
Filed under: Eating Disorders
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If you or a friend are suffering from bulimia, you should talk to a doctor as soon as possible. The effects of bulimia are astounding and it ravages your body, so the earlier a person gets help with this problem, the better. As you probably already know bulimia, if gone untreated, can result in death.
I don’t think there is any set time period for bulimia to cause life threatening problems- it really depends on the individual, how severe their bulimia is and how their body reacts to what they’re doing. If could be decades for one person and under a year for someone else.
For someone (over 18) to be forced into hospitalization I think basically their life would need to be in pretty immediate danger and a doctor would need to sign off for them to be committed. If you’re under 18 I don’t think thats necessary, parents can send their kids to treatment if they want whether they’re in immediate danger or not.
In the US for a person to be forced into hospitalization requires a designated mental health professional to declare that they are a danger to themselves or others OR that they are “gravely disabled”. Then they can only be held for 72 hrs and if the doctor/nurse/therapist/etc./team thinks they are so sick that they should stay, then they will be asked for a voluntary committal and if the answer from the patient is, “No.” then the patient must be given a hearing in front of a judge to determine whether they are still gravely disabled or a danger to themselves or others.
Bulimia can cause sudden death through a ruptured esophagus or heart attack so if a person is a practicing bulimic it could be construed that they are a danger to themselves. If the bulimia is severe and interfering w the person’s daily activities then they could also be considered “gravely disabled”. All of this is subject to the age, length of time being bulimic, number of times vomiting and bingeing daily. It is also subject to the personal definitions of “gravely disabled” as defined by the mental health professional and judge.
If you are bulimic and are sort of hoping in a twisted way to end up in the hospital, then you go to any of these websites and call any of their toll free numbers and talk to someone about getting help to go inpatient now for treatment and help. You must be over 18 to go on your own.
If you want to avoid treatment or don’t have insurance or resources, then give phone meetings a try.
i have been bulimic for six years now n been in two treatment facilities…. to me nothin has helped and i still throw up even without makin myself.. i dont want to do it any more but i cant help it and i cant stop i need help but im afraid to go to the doctor cause i don kno wat problems my bulimia has caused