Rhodes farm anorexia clinic

[Dooohhh]

Anyone have any experience??
12yr old dd was just put on the waiting list but not sure what to expect?!?!?

[Nannyme1]

I've not been there myself but from what I've read, watched , heard it is a very good place. It is sometimes used as a threat for people in other places as everyone knows you don't co e out without gaining weight.

Your daughter may hate it at fist (but may secretly welcome it also) the choice is taken away you are made to eat normal meals same as everyone else it just isn't an option (tube feeding is a last resort!) they will defiantly get her weight up and away from life threatening but it is up to her to do the rest of the work while she's in there to get rid of the disorder well and truly. Some timer this doesn't happen In The first visit - they eat to get out and lose it all again when they come home. Sometimes it takes another visit or two it just depends on your daughter.

Rhodes farm is def the lace to be if you have anorexia. Good luck!!!

[NanaNina]

My granddaughter has suffered with anorexia since she was 14 though never been an inpatient. She is 27 now and seems finally to be happy and settled with her life. I think it's important to say that anorexia (as I'm sure you know) is nothing to do with food, it is about control and feeling that not eating is a way of controlling something. This may not be a conscious thought, but that is the essence of anorexia. It is of course a mental illness, and so the cause for the disorder needs to be unearthed. Yes of course these clinics will ensure the girls (and it is usually teenage girls) eat sufficient calories to ensure weight gain.

However I can't agree with your views Nanny about the girl "having to do the rest of the work while she's in there to get rid of the disorder well and truly" ----if only it were that simple. Eating disorders are like other mental illnesses and will fluctuate sometimes through many years and will fade, but re-appear when stressful periods arise in their lives.

My granddaughter found a very good counsellor, and she (my grdghtr) is very perceptive and knows exactly the root of her problem and she is spot on, so this helped her to understand the need to control something, and that the food is just the "vehicle" for that control.

There is a very good web site B. eat which you might find helpful.

[Lilka]

This is quite a late response, don't know if your DD is still on the waiting list or not, but there have been several big documentary programs following some of the children at Rhodes farm. The two most recent ones are on YouTube. I don't know how much editing they do (I appreciate they do usually majorly edit what happens) but maybe you might watch them? It might give an overview, they did have some detail about the treatment and the rules etc There was this one "I'm a child anorexic" and one following an 8 year old girl with anorexia, part one is

[DoctorAnge]

From what I know it is a fantastic place for her to heal.