For every type of eating disorder recovery treatment, there are people that will DEFINITELY benefit, and those that may not glean the same support. Please understand this has nothing to do with how GOOD you are at recovery, it is only a matter of the uniqueness of your story and the issues you are facing. Just as a narcotic addict in AA might not feel it’s the right fit, you deserve the right treatment for you, and your own recovery. Below is a list of 5 types of people who generally find success with Ramey Nutrition:
1. The Person Who has Tried it All.
We have heard this more times than we can count. People consistently come to us with the story of being in and out of treatment with the same cycle. They go into a program that seems to shut out the outside world to “protect” them form ANY triggers while they heal. This works for many people needing lowered stimuli while recovering. However, our patients found it very upsetting as they knew this had nothing to do with reality, and the tools they needed were WITHIN the REAL world.
Our patients WANT the triggers, and want to get through them with their own tools. They feel stuck in this cycle of getting admitted to a facility, gaining weight, getting a meal plan, sitting through groups where they are educated on things they could all have doctoral degrees on already, and then at their “goal weight,” discharged into the REAL world, where they feel the craziest, without tools to deal with actual triggers, and relapse, losing all the weight they worked so hard to gain.
They feel a sense of relief coming to Ramey Nutrition because they feel heard, and not “educated” on things they already know. They have also mentioned how safe they feel because they are welcome to start at ANY level, and we will only start there to allow them to truly feel that their recovery is THEIRS. They are not put on a meal plan but discuss a plan with a dietitian that suits them at each point throughout the process. they are heard on their preferences, knowing they may change as they go through the recovery process, just as our preferences change throughout life.
They find relief in the idea that not every eating mannerism that is different is not necessarily disordered, but their preferred way of eating. Basically Ramey Nutrition patients have control over their own recovery as long as they are attaining goals THEY set that support their own lives.
2. The person Who is Smarter Than Their Therapist
This happens most of the time, where our patients have been faced with eating disorder professionals, innocently going by the book on how to deal with the condition. The education is broad, which makes the treatment broad, but also lends itself to discounting a patient’s individual issues. They end up educating patients on psychological, nutritional, and medical issues they are far more well versed than any professional.
With the lack of insight gained from treatment professionals, the trust declines, as the patient ends up feeling better off alone, and as though they are wasting their time. More importantly, they seem to tell us they don’t feel seen or heard. at Ramey Nutrition, our treatment professionals assume nothing.
Patients feel no ego or judgement when they enter groups or sessions online. They feel safe at Ramey Nutrition because they are SUPPOSED to be the leaders of their own recovery process, as our professionals are ONLY there for support. Reflecting back to them aids each of our patients in reflecting on their own genius, and the things they are saying that truly contribute to their recovery process. We KNOW we will never be smarter or know more about and eating disorder someone is going through that the actual person living it.
3. The Person Who Doesn’t Need to be Babysat
Manipulation can be rampant in treatment centers all over, especially, and understandably in patients who are highly resistant to treatment, but are there due to a loved one, or life threatening conditions. These folks need extra attention to aid in the prevention of life threatening decline.
The patient who thrives in the Ramey Nutrition environment understands what they need to do for their own recovery, and, though they need support through this process, they are not manipulative against their own treatment. There is no sneaking around or trying to get out of their own recovery plan.
We create an environment that feels safe for them to tell the truth, without consequences or judgement. If we note that they are needing more supervision as the plan they create is failing to meet their goals, we simply refer to a higher level of care, where professionals CAN step in and help monitor manipulative behavior. Our patient can be honest with us, and self correct with love and support from our team, but is never forced or punished for their times of struggle with food.
4. The Person for Whom Food is Not the Central Issue
Our patient usually has a deep story of trauma, and a high level of sensitivity that they cope with USING an eating disorder. The use or rather abuse of food is a symptom of a much deeper issue. Our patients feel safe at Ramey Nutrition because we do not focus on the food, even while they are struggling with eating.
We believe the food can be a fabulous way to bring deep and traumatic feelings to the surface in order to address them in the moment. Yes we still have them eat, but they fully understand that WE understand how terrifying those feelings can be, which keeps them fearful of food. They are not afraid of food, they are afraid of the traumatic feelings it brings up, but also feel safe with Ramey Nutrition as they know we hear and see them for the actual struggle they are experiencing.
5. The Ultra Genius
Our typical patient has a genius level IQ, whether they know it or not. This is why they often catch on to where eating disorder professionals are headed in their plans and thoughts, and can be found planning ahead of them. This is where manipulation comes way too easily. They know what to do in order to get in OR out of treatment, and they understand what language their therapist, dietitian, doctor, etc. want to hear to believe they are sick, well, or anything that keeps them in control of their recovery.
At Ramey Nutrition we believe and behave with total transparency. We often discuss what they should be thinking about for our next session where we will only be DISCUSSING thinking about another action. We never leave our patients in the dark, and make sure they understand what we are thinking AS we think it. We need, more than ANYTHING, for them to feel relaxed, and not on guard for surprises throughout their recovery process. We KNOW they know it all, and are ready to share that information to add trust and safety to their process.
The exciting thing about Ramey Nutrition is that we are able to quickly analyze whether we are a good fit for a patient, and THEY also get an immediate sense for whether we are right for THEM. There are so many treatment facilities that cater to different needs, that we filled the hole that was lacking by simply following our hearts to what we felt was needed in the treatment community. Nothing we feel is right or wrong, just a need that we want to fill.