When is it time to leave school for eating disorder treatment? Here's how to know.

Written by ‘Ai Pono Hawaii Staff Writer

If you're reading this post, then it's likely that you're probably struggling immensely with an eating disorder. Figuring out if and when you need to take time away from school to focus on eating disorder recovery is almost as distressing as having an eating disorder in the first place. But, much like your eating disorder becomes easier to fight when you actively choose recovery, staying in (or leaving) school becomes easier after you make the decision to stay or go.

With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about leaving school for eating disorder treatment, including:

Why leaving school for eating disorder treatment is okay
The factors you need to consider before making the decision to leave college for eating disorder treatment
How to make an effective decision that will benefit you in the long run
What to do if you decide to take time off of college to focus on recovery

We understand that, even though taking time off of school to focus on your health seems logical and obvious on the surface, it's much deeper than that. And each person has unique circumstances — this post will empower you to make the decision that's best for you, not simply tell you what to do.

Why It's Okay To Take Time Off Of School For Your Mental Health

The idea of taking time off of school for your mental health can feel like a punch in the gut, especially for perfectionists, who are more likely to develop an eating disorder than the general population. However, taking time off of school is more than okay for several reasons.

1. Your academic and professional performance will worsen.

Your brain does not function as well when it is not properly nourished, so your academic and professional performance will suffer at some point.

You might believe that you can “function” with an eating disorder, and that it’s even easier to simply “live with” your eating disorder. You might even be maintaining high grades right now, but your schooling (and your life) will take a serious turn for the worse if you don’t get help for your eating disorder.

Contrary to popular belief, you are not the exception to the rule. You are not superhuman, and your eating disorder will try to kill you, no matter how “well” you think you’re doing right now.

2. This is supposed to be a time of growth. You can’t grow in a constant state of fear and dread.

College is supposed to be a time where you make new friends, network with future colleagues, discover new interests, and learn more about who you are in an environment literally designed for intellectual and social growth. But if you are stuck in a place of fear and dread — if you are unable to engage with others due to food fears, an exercise dependence, horrible body image, or any number of eating disorder related issues — then you’re not getting the full college experience.

Taking time away to recalibrate will open up so many possibilities when you get back to school. Don’t feel the need to stay in school if you’re not benefiting from it.

3. Others have done it, and they were all glad they did.

There are so many well-documented stories of college students who left college to recover from their eating disorders. Some individuals, like Vaneza, developed an eating disorder in college. Others, like Linna, relapsed while in college. Both of these individuals, who bravely told their stories, are glad they left school for treatment. They were suffering immensely, and knew that it was time to do something about it. For them, and for many, that meant leaving school for a while. When they were firmly in recovery, they went back, and school was so much better.

You don’t have to suffer, and you don’t have to feel alone. Talk to others online or in support groups who have taken time off of school. Ask them about how they knew it was time to leave, how they did it, and whether they were glad they did.

What To Consider Before Leaving School For Eating Disorder Treatment

Are you in immediate danger because of your eating disorder?

If you are engaging in risky behavior, self-harm, drug or alcohol use, feel serious physical consequences resulting from eating disorder behaviors, or are at-risk of suicide, it’s time to leave school — there’s no question about that.

If you are contemplating suicide, call someone from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or chat with them via their website.

Many campus health centers also have their own crisis hotlines, as well as walk-in mental health services during the day, at no cost to students. Consider using those resources as well.

Note: Even if you are safe from immediate danger, that doesn’t mean your eating disorder isn’t serious. You could be “physically fine” and still need to leave school for eating disorder treatment — eating disorders are mental illnesses that only sometimes have physical side effects.

How does your enrollment status change your financial status?

Many loans, grants, scholarships, and special programs require you to be in school full-time. Otherwise, you may have to forfeit them. Ask any scholarship, loan, and grant providers if there is anything they can do to help you retain them. Explain your situation as much as you can — and try to get some documentation of a present health issue from your school’s medical center.

You don’t have to explain exactly what is wrong. Telling them that you have a medical issue is enough. Don’t feel the need to justify yourself — an eating disorder is just as real and valid a health problem as a physical illness.

How far into the semester are you right now?

If you are only a few weeks into the semester, you might be able to simply drop your classes, or withdraw from them. This is the difference between dropping and withdrawing from classes, as they are functionally different. If you are a little farther along in the school year, leaving school might be a little messier. You may be able to take an incomplete and finish out courses later on, when you are well enough to do so. However, nothing is as “messy” as failing all your classes and risking your health to finish out the semester.

Talk to your academic advisor about your options. Again, explain as much as you need to so they understand your situation. But you don’t have to tell them about your specific health issues if you are not comfortable doing so.

How does leaving school change your graduation timeline?

A lot of degree programs have specific “degree tracks” that you need to follow in order to graduate. They’re generally designed so that undergraduates will take four years to earn their degree. Graduate and PhD. programs have more variation in timelines, but each program has a set of courses you need to take, often in a specific sequence.

This begs the question: if you drop classes this semester, will you be able to stay on track for graduation? For example, if you drop your Calc 1 class, you won’t be able to take Calc 2 the following semester. Does the delay in math classes disrupt your entire degree track?

Talk to your academic advisor about how to adjust your course schedules in the future to accommodate a leave of absence, whether that’s by taking courses in the summer, taking a different set of courses until you’re “caught up,” etc.

Also, remember that in life, there is no “set track.” These graduation timelines are only suggestions, ones that don’t fit everyones’ needs. In fact, only one in four undergraduate students graduate in four years. It’s okay to graduate a little later than expected, especially when your health and GPA will suffer if you try to stay “on track.”

Is there a way to receive treatment while in college?

Many eating disorder treatment centers will work with college students to accommodate their schedules while in treatment. For example, 'Ai Pono Hawaii offers in-person and virtual intensive outpatient programs (IOP) for individuals who need some level of support, but can stay safe and accountable for the majority of the time. Some colleges also offer intensive group and individual therapy, and may even have a dietician available to monitor your nutrition intake.

However, these treatment methods can only work if:

Your body is medically stable and able to handle a normalized eating schedule
You are not a danger to yourself or others
There is no co-occurring diagnosis such as a substance use disorder that could worsen when you let go of harmful coping mechanisms
You have a support system or accountability partner to help you outside of formal treatment programming
You can make recovery-focused decisions on your own

IOP and group therapy programs typically only meet 3-4 days a week, and you may need more support than that to stop engaging in eating disorder behaviors.

How To Make A Wise, Recovery-Focused Decision About School And Eating Disorder Treatment

First, try to bring yourself to as calm a state as you can right now. Set aside some time to seriously consider your options.

You can:

Make a pros and cons list about leaving school for treatment
Journal about how the semester is going, what you’d like to change, whether your current experience is reflective of your values, and whether you’re actually enjoying school
Call or meet up with someone you trust and have an honest discussion about your life with an eating disorder
Call or chat with someone from the National Eating Disorders Association about what you’re going through and what your options are (your conversation is confidential and free)
Talk with someone at your campus mental health center about your options for treatment while in college

As you’re making this decision, remember that:

Whether you have physical symptoms of an eating disorder or not, your disorder is serious and life-threatening
Whether you’re at a “healthy weight” or not, you are still worthy of treatment
School is not worth your life
College will always be there, but your relationship with your body and food will not be if you continue listening to your eating disorder

How To Leave School For Eating Disorder Treatment

Tell your loved ones about what’s going on. Tell your eating disorder treatment team, if you have one. Then, talk to your academic and financial advisors about your next steps in terms of your course schedule and paying for school. And finally, find the eating disorder treatment center that’s right for you.

Choosing yourself in a society that values academic success and chronic productivity over health is hard. But it’s also brave. You should be proud of yourself — we here at ‘Ai Pono are.

If you are a student who is suffering from an eating disorder, take the first step today and talk to someone about recovery or simply learn more about the holistic eating disorder recovery programs we offer.

Ai PonoOctober 11, 2021