The eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, is a common struggle amongst females, especially teenage girls. A distorted body image causes a habitual routine of starvation and excessive exercise which leads to dangerous weight loss. Despite being frighteningly underweight, an intense fear of being fat drives sufferers to continue such a detrimental routine. Anorexia, in its most basic form, can seem relatively unharmful, though it can be detrimental to mental health and lead to some physical consequences. However, as Anorexia progresses, it can become increasingly dangerous, to the point of hospitalization and death.
What exactly is Anorexia Nervosa? It is too commonly compared to dieting, but it is far more than that. Healthy dieting sets goals and stops when the goals are reached. Goals are moderate, rational, and safe. Unfortunately, in Anorexia, no matter how much weight is loss there is always a need to lose more. An irrational fear of being fat, overweight, or ugly creates an unsatiable need to be thin. Unlike Bulimia, though, Anorexia does not involve purging.
It is important to recognize Anorexia Nervosa in its earliest stages to get treatment as soon as possible The earlier the eating disorder is treated, the less detrimental the side effects and the physical, mental, and emotional strain. Some of the the signs of Anorexia that should be noted are:
- dieting despite already being thin
- withdrawal in relationships
- proneness to anger and emotional outbursts
- obsession with food, nutrition, calories, and health information
- strange eating habits
- deception
- excessive exercise and preoccupation with weight
If you know anyone who exhibits these behaviours, it could be Anorexia or the beginning stages of it. If confronted, a sufferer of Anorexia is likely to not appreciate the help or concern offered by concerned loved ones. Those who struggle with Anorexia often become easily anger and offended. Strangely, they also crave attention but despise it if the attention is directed towards their eating disorder.
Helping an Anorexic person requires patience and unconditional love, through all of the ups and downs that will come with treatment. Comments about looks, weight, figure, or appearance should remain unsaid as they can make recovery even more challenging. For the most part, those who are helping an Anorexic must be willing to be a loving, firm listening ear.
Treatment for Anorexia can come in a variety of forms, but all treatment aims to accomplish three main goals. Not only are patients helped to achieve and maintain a normal weight, but they are also helped to remove detrimental thought patterns, actions, and emotional turmoil that is behind the eating disorder. Anorexia, regardless of its level of seriousness, wreaks havoc in all three of these areas, and good treatment must be able to face both the physical and psychological aspects.
Counseling is very important in the treatment of Anorexia. Having a person who possess wisdom and patience to help those struggling with mental or emotional problems is essential in working through the darkness behind eating disorders. Nutritional counseling is also helpful in order that the Anorexic can get a more accurate and fact-filled look at the destruction that is Anorexia.
If an Anorexic has already lost a significant amount of weight, medical help must be sought as soon as possible. An Anorexia patient will need to be monitored to ensure they do not continue to lose more weight. A structured eating plan may be implemented as a way to control caloric intake. Medical help becomes increasingly important as an Anorexic loses more weight. If an Anorexia sufferer loses too much weight, they may have to be hospitalized, in which case, extensive medical help, counseling, and therapy may be needed.
There are many wonderful treatment centers and loving individuals who are devoted to helping those who struggle with Anorexia. For an Anorexic, being sent to a hospital or a dull-colored counseling office can seem torturous. If they feel attack or uncomfortable in the situation, an Anorexic is likely to not receive the help that is given. However, treatment centers and group homes can provide a loving, structured, and welcoming environment which will help an Anorexic heal in the way they need to.
Many Anorexic treatment centers offer a variety of activities as therapy, such as art, writing, horse care and riding, or music. Not only do patients get to participate in counseling and receive medical help, but they will also have the privilege to interact with other residents, learn new skills and activities, and express themselves in a way that will help free them from their eating disorder.
If you or someone you know is struggling with Anorexia, it is essential that you don’t wait to seek treatment. The longer it goes untreated, the more difficult it becomes to recover. Anorexia is a painful, unhealthy, miserable way to live. Seek treatment when and where you can. You’ll never regret it.