Anorexia Nervosa is a serious and life-threatening physiological disorder which affects mostly women. The cause is possibly due to emotional problems, mental issues or can be the combination of both. People with this disease are known to refuse consumption of any food for long periods of time.
“There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues or problems with anxiety or depression.” Chris Corbett, PsyD said. And concerning the severe fear of gaining weight and the yearning to be always thin will lead to malnutrition and will start the collapse of the human body, severe cases may lead to demise if not treated early.
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Symptoms
This eating disorder is hard to identify during its early stages due to various reasons such as concealment, effects of prescription drugs and other health conditions. On the other hand, food consumption behavior will eventually start to show. Here is a list to watch out if you suspect someone is suffering from this disorder.
Behavior
- Extreme Dieting: Going on harsh diet despite the low BMI
- Lying about eating: Saying they already ate despite the hunger
- They secretly throw up what they eat: They self-induce vomiting after meals in private areas
- Always looking at food pictures and magazines: They like to cook and make food-related plans but eat in tiny amounts
- Self Denial of figure: Never admits that they are thin
- Over conscious over body weight: They tend to get distressed upon the trivial weight gain
- Over-exercising: Going over long periods of exercise to burn a few calories they ate
Physical
- Extreme Weight loss: Losing weight at a breakneck pace without medical problems
- Dangerously low weight: Minimal to nonexistent muscles, bones start to be traceable with the human eye
- Dry skin: Skin begins to deteriorate
- Weak and brittle nails: Nails tend to be cracked easily
- Thin and fragile hair: Hair starts to break or falls off easily
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Causes
There are many factors to consider regarding the cause of Anorexia. The origin of this disorder widely varies from biological, cultural, psychological, social factors or combinations of these. Check out these most common causes of anorexia.
- Low self-esteem
- Perfectionism
- Vanity
- Emotional problems
- Unrealistic Body Ideals
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Treatment
The first step for treating anorexia is self-acceptance and understanding that your body for what it is. It has to be recognized as a problem and that the person must admit that he needs help. Getting over the fear of gaining weight is just the first step. The habits may be hard to forget, but it is not impossible to overcome with the use of proper assistance. Talk to family or friends about what the struggle and be honest about the situation. The support is crucial for the complete psychological and the physical recovery. But remember, “Therapy doesn’t have to be talk-based; there are some modalities, like music therapy and art therapy, that can help you get those in tune with those emotions without having to cough them up verbally.” Hannah Goodman, LMHC said.
Support groups
There are lots of support groups that can help a person with anorexia if they find themselves unable to approach their loved ones. They consist of volunteers, survivors, professionals, and other members that are willing to give personal and helpful advice. A licensed clinical psychologist John Mayer, Ph.D. said, “by building a list of people that you trust, with whom you can talk to in times of need, you allow yourself a strong sense of not being alone.”
- Local hospitals
- Universities
- Doctors and Therapist
- Eating Disorder Centers