Why Summer Is a Key Time for College Students to Seek Eating Disorder Treatment
If you’re a college student struggling with food and body image, summer might feel like a much-needed break from your daily grind—or maybe a new kind of pressure, depending on your plans. In addition to resting and relaxing, many students take the time to travel, get internship experience, or go on vacation before the new semester starts. For those struggling with an eating disorder or body image distress, though, summer eating disorder treatment can be a key opportunity to begin healing and work with a treatment team to overcome negative thoughts and behaviors.
With these thoughts in mind, here are three reasons why the summer is a key time for individuals to engage in eating disorder treatment for recovery.
No Academics = Reduced Stress
By removing the academic and social elements, students naturally have less stress and can put their energy toward focusing on their recovery.
Taking A Break From The Traditional “College Social Life”
The fall and spring semesters are typically filled with social events, sports, clubs, and activities—-all while students also have a full academic course load, filled with days of back-to-back classes! However, during the summertime, students can step back from environmental factors as well as their peers who actively talk about body image and healthy meals. Instead, they can focus on their recovery journey and also connect with others facing similar experiences and struggles.
Better Access To Specialized Care
Although many college campuses offer mental health services to students, these services can be limited, especially when school is not in session. Many students with eating disorders may also need more support than a school counseling center can provide. As such, it’s important to consider off-campus treatment options.
BALANCE is located in New York City, making it easy for those living in the tri-state area to receive treatment in our PHP or IOP program during the week or on weekends. Treatment centers also typically have more flexible schedules to continue treatment uninterrupted. Additionally, BALANCE is now offering programming, including summer eating disorder treatment, seven days a week, so students can receive eating disorder support when they need it the most.
Get Eating Disorder Support This Summer in NYC
This summer is the perfect time to prioritize your mental health and begin your healing journey. BALANCE is offering a 14-Day Summer Intensive, a short-term, focused program designed to help students address eating disorder thoughts and behaviors, practice exposure to fear foods in a supportive environment, and build essential coping tools before the new school year begins. Held at our New York City treatment center, this summer eating disorder treatment program helps college students feel more steady in their recovery and prepared to return to campus with a stronger foundation for recovery. You can also watch our “Starting Eating Disorder Treatment Q&A” webinar to gain insights into what receiving eating disorder treatment at BALANCE could look like.
BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, located in New York City, offers free consultation calls to help you explore next steps. We provide in-person programming seven days a week and are in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Cigna, Emblem, and Oscar, with Aetna coverage coming soon. Support is available, and recovery is possible. Schedule a free consultation call with our admissions team here and stay connected with BALANCE on Instagram here.
Click here to connect with our team, verify your insurance, and learn how our 14-Day Summer Program can support you this summer.
Reference
Wood, J. (2024, October 9). Coping with Summer Eating Disorder Triggers | ANAD – National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. https://anad.org/coping-with-summer-eating-disorder-triggers/#:~:text=During%20summer%2C%20people%20tend%20to,and%20access%20to%20support%20systems.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is a blog contributor for BALANCE, whose previous work has been featured in Project HEAL and Nourishing NY. She is an alumnus of The New School of Social Research, where she received her Masters in Psychology. After attending Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development.
