Anorexia NervosaIs probably the most well known eating disorders
It can affect people of all ages male or female, over the years Anorexia has had more attention in magazines and on TV. Anorexia Nervosa loosely means someone that has lost their appetite either for psychological or nervous' reasons. This isn't completely true it’s often a fact people with this condition are still hungry though they may not admit it even to themselves. They have managed to beat their appetite through a lot of Will power. The sense of power on being in being in control is exhilarating at first its later that sufferers have a realisation, that they have really lost control. It’s when the anxieties & fears which are linked this illness start to take over. Someone with anorexiawill considerably restrict what they eat, as they try to lose weight. It starts as a 'normal' diet, but then turns into something allot more serious. Those that Suffer with this condition will lose a lot of weight, and become dangerously thin, but are unable to see how thin they have become and are convinced they are still overweight in their minds they look a lot bigger than they are and still have the desire to lose more weight.They will have this fear of putting on weight, so they will continue to eat as if they are overweight cutting right down on what they eat. Thinking that if they start to eat a normal balanced meal they would still put a lot of weight on. Sufferers with anorexia will simply cut down on their eating and in fact eat very little. More common however, is for that control to occasionally break down, and for them to either 'allow' themselves to eat, or to feel a sense of having lost control and eaten. If this happens then they may try to do something to purge the food - try to stop it being absorbed - because they are so scared of gaining weight and getting fat. Some people who have struggled with anorexia for a long time start to slip into more and more cycles of bingeing and purging food. For more information about this, see what is Bulimia? This is because the body, once it is starving, longs for food, and in the long term many people are unable to keep up the strict control they aim for over food. Anorexia affects people of all ages and backgrounds,women and men, girls and boys. It has often been thought of as a 'woman's' problem but in fact around 10% of cases in treatment are men, and many more probably struggle in silence, or fail to get diagnosed.Anorexia usually starts in the early teenage years, but cases in younger children are increasingly common. Anorexia is a very serious problem, partly because of the physical effects of being too thin, but also because it brings with it a terrible sense of despair and loss of hope. People suffering often feel totally trapped, and fear that they will never be able to live a normal life. This isn't actually true - with the right help and treatment the majority will recover, though it may be a long journey to full recovery.
Related PagesFree Helplines for AnorexiaClick here Helplines for Anorexia for more information,and Help for Suffers and Carers, Signs of Teenage Anorexia Nervosa That Parents Should Know My Anorexic Story by CharlxttteSome of the signs are:When someone develops an eating disorder, there are usually many factors which have been involved in the cause. There simply isn't one 'trigger': although something may happen which pushes the person into an eating disorder, it has generally been brewing under the surface before that point.
Severe weight loss Obsession with food and calories Pre-occupation with self-control
Isolation, loss of friends Emotional, irritable behaviour
Disruption/cessation of menstrual periods ¡Weight loss or unusual weight changes.
What causes eating disorders?Eating disorders are caused by a number of different things:
Worry or stress may lead to comfort eating. This may cause worries about getting fat. Dieting and missing meals lead to craving for food, loss of control and over-eating. Anorexia or bulimia can develop as a complication of more extreme dieting, perhaps triggered by an upsetting event, such as family break-down, death or separation in the family, bullying at school or abuse. Sometimes, anorexia and bulimia may be a way of trying to feel in control if life feels stressful. More ordinary events, such as the loss of a friend, a teasing remark or school exams, may also be the trigger in a vulnerable person.
What effects can eating disorders have?Feeling excessively cold.Headaches and dizziness. Changes in hair and skin. Tiredness and difficulty with normal activities Damage to health, including stunting of growth and damage to bones and internal organs. Loss of periods and risk of infertility. Anxiety and depression. Poor concentration, missing school, college or work. Lack of confidence, withdrawal from friends. Dependency or over-involvement with parents, instead of developing independence.
Low self-esteem:Problems with self esteem are at the root of most eating disorders. Sufferers often feel they are worthless, or find it hard to think of anything about them that is positive. They may focus on what they feel are the negative aspects of their character and many said that they hate themselves as a result. This low self-esteem may lead them to place too much emphasis on what they do or achieve - and often they do come form high achieving families. They do this in a very perfectionist way however, and feel that any slip ups or 'failures' are proof of how worthless they are. Some seem doomed to come second or third in every test - and therefore feel that they have no value at all because they never come first. Low self esteem also often means that people cover up their 'true' self when they are around other people. They feel a tremendous pressure to please others and to make the lives of those around them perfect and trouble free. They may be the people who solve everyone else's problems. They may deny their own needs in order to pursue the needs of others, and often work to the point of exhaustion to serve other people. Low self-esteem leads the person to focus on their appearance, and see changing their weight as the answer to all their problems. They hate themselves, and this becomes directed towards what they see when they look in the mirror.Negative emotions:Negative emotions on their own do not cause eating disorders, but certain patterns in the way people deal with these difficult feelings are often very significant.Sufferers often feel guilty or wrong for experiencing negative emotions Much like anger and anxiety, and grow up learning to suppress them rather than deal with them in a healthy way. Over a period of time these emotions become overwhelming, and typically strike when the sufferer is alone. They are then swamped with powerful emotions which are often so far removed from their cause that they feel totally out of control. Eating disorders can provide what seems like a solution to this - because the sufferer feels that if they were thinner then they would be more confident, more popular and happier. Negative emotions may also trigger episodes of bingeing, or very powerful feelings of being fat.
Abuse and trauma:Certain events that may have happened, either in childhood or even in adult life can trigger the start of an eating disorder - although it is important to remember that not everyone with an Some People with Eating disorders Have often had something traumatic happen in their in their past. Trauma is often linked to eating disorders because of the negative emotions which result, or because it has challenged or dramatically lowered the self esteem. Family breakdown,
Divorce,
Bereavement, Physical illness
Redundancy Can often, be factors that will trigger off an eating disorder. Some sort Abuse whether it be physical emotional, sexual, can make people feel worthless, unloved, not wanted and the one Question they may ask is Why Me why was I the one to be abused, etc why do I deserve what is happening to me, its the feeling of not being loved, No one cares, and they may have been told how bad they have been, that they deserve all that is happening to them.
Being Abused will often lead to the victim having the feeling of being Dirty and the victim will often say that they have the overwhelming desire to feel Clean and its this desire that can lead to eating disorders, Some will say it’s this desire to 'be clean’ that will fuel the eating disorder. Sometimes recalling memories of Abuse, or any other trauma, Could trigger further bingeing and purging in an attempt to feel better or to try and avoid remembering.
Where can I get help?If you think a young person may be developing an eating disorder,Don’t be afraid to ask them if they are worried about themselves. Quite often young people with eating disorders are unable to acknowledge there may be a problem, and will not want you to interfere and may become angry or upset.
However, you may still be worried it is important that you feel supported and not alone. There are some really good free help lines that I hope will help in the link below
Important you must seek advice from professionals in different agencies e.g.Local Doctor/G.PRecommended Books
This is intended for helpers and carers of all kinds who may say “How can I help - how can I be sure my efforts won't make matters worse?”. The authors make extensive use of their own experiences with clients to illustrate the dilemma of people with eating disorders and those trying to help. This book describes the minute steps involved in providing the kind of help that truly enables people with anorexia or bulimia to leave their eating disordered lifestyle behind. It has references at the end of each chapter, and an extensive index.
‘Anorexia and Bulimia in the Family’ describes living with an eating disorder from a parent and carer’s point of view, but it is much more than a personal narrative. Alongside a very frank account of daily life, Gráinne Smith draws on her own experience of caring for her daughter, to provide practical strategies for coping with the day-to-day problems that accompany an eating disorder, all of which are discussed in an open and down to earth way. The book covers many aspects of eating disorders with great insight, and is especially good at encouraging carers to care for themselves; it is informative, challenging, comforting and above all, empowering. For parents and carers this book will be invaluable.
Rosemary Shelley, herself recovered from anorexia, has gathered together contributions from seventeen women and two men who are still struggling with the illness. The accounts deal with the way the illness developed, how it affected the families involved, treatment received/available, why they think the illness began, and their situation when writing. The book will give insights to those caring for people with anorexia and support for others with the illness. A list of contacts for support is given.
Equips carers with the skills and knowledge needed to support and encourage those suffering from an eating disorder, and to help them to break free from the traps that prevent recovery. Through a co-ordinated approach, this book offers information alongside detailed techniques and strategies which aim to improve professionals and home carers ability to build continuity and consistency of support for their loved ones.
The book outlines in diary style a young woman’s struggle through the early years before, during and also the treatments to overcome, anorexia. She describes her personal feelings and thoughts in great detail. The book also includes self-help ideas, strategies and exercises that helped both Clare and other sufferers. This is not a reference book so is probably not appropriate for professional, but is an excellent read for sufferers, carers, friends and families.
This very popular book written for parents of children with eating disorders, has been revised and updated. It is written by two well-known experts who describe the different eating disorders of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, selective eating, restrictive eating, food phobia, food avoidance, emotional disorder and compulsive overeating. This sympathetic and reassuring book offers guidance on how to decide if your child has one of these disorders and how to get help.
Boys Get Anorexia Too: Coping with Male Eating Disorders This book is immensely reassuring to any parent who has experienced at first hand the problems that a young boy already caught up in the maelstrom of adolescence can both experience and cause when anorexia arrives. In short useful chapters Jenny looks at a range of topics that includes amongst many others; What triggers anorexia in boys; The effects on the family; Treatment and self help/options; Other eating disorders affecting boys and the trials and tribulations of returning to normal life. Any parent or carer concerned about a boy who may be developing or has already developed an eating disorder will find this book useful and supportive even when it is talking about the most difficult problems that affect sufferers and their families.
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