We would all like to look good with a nice shapely figure but when we become preoccupied with being thin to the point where your life and thoughts are dominated, then this can be a sign of an eating disorder.
Anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder where a person is obsessed with dieting and has a distorted image of their body weight and an intense fear of gaining weight. It is often accompanied by excessive exercising, use of diet pills, laxatives and enemas, often to the point of starvation in order to feel a sense of control over their body and no matter how much weight they lose it's never enough. Anorexia is a life threatening condition that can result in death from starvation, heart failure, electrolyte imbalance, or suicide. Treatment can help these people to develop a healthier lifestyle and manage this eating disorder.
Anorexia is an emotional disorder that focuses on food, but it is actually an attempt to deal with perfectionism and a desire to gain control by strictly regulating food and weight. People with anorexia often feel that their self-esteem is tied to how thin they are.
No one knows exactly what causes this eating disorder; experts agree that there maybe several factors involved:
The primary sign of anorexia nervosa is severe loss of body weight. People with anorexia may try to decrease their weight by severely limiting how much food they eat. They may also exercise excessively. Some people may engage in binging and purging, similar to bulimia. They may vomit after eating or take laxatives. At the same time, the person may insist that they are still fat.
Treatment can be challenging as some people can be in denial and refuse to accept that they have a problem. Effective treatment needs to address the underlying emotional and mental health issues, which often goes back to their childhood and a person's self-image and self-perception.
General practitioner - who will examine the client and refer to a Eating disorder specialist (psychologist), who is trained in eating disorders.
Psychotherapist - helps to address the underlying emotional issues that have triggered the eating pattern.
Cognitive behavioural therapy - CBT is a time-limited and focused approach that helps a person understands how their thinking and negative self-talk and self-image can directly impact their eating and negative behaviors.
Family therapy - Family therapy helps a person with anorexia see and understand the dysfunctional role they play within the family, and how their eating behaviors maintain that role. Usually the whole family is involved in helping the client to gain weight and improve their eating habits.
Medication - is usually not given for anorexia but mainly for any medical complications' arising from the eating disorder i.e. depression, osteoporosis.
Residential treatment - usually provides the full range of specialists to help treat the disorder - nutritionists, psychologists, doctors and relaxation therapists. All these help the person to learn all the skills necessary to make the changes they need in a relaxed and safe environment.
Hospitalization - if a person is severely ill and below 15% of their appropriate body weight or serious medical problems resulting from their anorexia.
Self-help groups - like any addiction if you meet recovering anorexic people this can often help to make you feel that you are not alone in your struggle.
NLP & Hypnosis - can also help to manage your struggle with eating disorders
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