What Is Anorexia? Causes, Symptoms, Consequences And Psychological Treatment Of This Disease
Do you know what anorexia really is? What is anorexia? Discover the main symptoms, consequences of anorexia and how to address this disease with the help of psychology.
The anorexy It is one of the most common eating disorders. There are different symptoms of anorexia that can indicate that a person is suffering from this mental illness. Discover the consequences of anorexia, its symptoms and how to help anorexic people.
Anorexia is an eating disorder that has fatal consequences for the mental and physical health of the person who suffers from it. Those who suffer from anorexy They consume very restrictive amounts of food, which can lead to starvation. Over time, anorexics can become dangerously thin and malnourished. Despite their low weight, a person with anorexia problems ends up having to be hospitalized because of it.
Many times the anorexia It ends up developing during puberty. In fact, nine out of 10 people with anorexia are women between the ages of 10 and 25. A person may be considered anorexic when they restrict their food intake to such an extent that this is accompanied by an intense fear of gaining weight and excessive concern about weight or body shape.
Symptoms of anorexia
According to the DSM-5, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness, it is specified that the following diagnostic criteria must be met for a person to be diagnosed with: anorexia nervosa
One of the most persistent symptoms of anorexia It is usually the restriction of intake in relation to the energy needs that a person has. This ends up taking its toll on the person, since their body weight significantly decreases to such a level that it can make it difficult to carry out their daily life.
2. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
The anorexic or anorexic They usually experience a very intense fear when they feel that they may gain weight or gain weight on certain occasions. So much so that this behavior can end up becoming an obsession with counting calories in your meals.
3. Distorted body image
The person who is suffering from any of the types of anorexia , usually experiences their weight or body shape in a way that is completely different from what is perceived by others. In this way he feels that he weighs or has a fatter body than he should, not realizing the gravity in which he is due to his low body weight.
4. Exercising excessively
In some cases, the anorexic people They become obsessed with exercising more than they should to try to lose the few calories they have consumed during their meals. In fact, these symptoms of anorexia can interfere with your most common daily activities.
5. Do not eat in front of others
The people with anorexia They often end up hiding or avoiding eating in certain social situations. So much so that on many occasions they look for excuses not to do it. In addition, they may also refuse to eat, justifying that they have already eaten or are not hungry.
6. Mood swings
One of the consequences of anorexia It is the emotional imbalance that creates this type of behavior around food. When a person suffers from the symptoms of anorexia, he ends up having many mood swings as he cannot control his emotions.
One of the symptoms of anorexia Most worrying for people who are studying, is precisely that this disease causes a lot of discomfort in being able to think clearly and concentrate.
These are some of the symptoms of anorexia more common in those who suffer from this disease. If you detect that someone in your environment or you yourself have many of them, it is vital to go to a professional psychologist.
Causes of anorexia
According to research, there are different aspects that can affect the appearance of anorexia in men and women The development of this pathology is related to different factors:
Biological
Genetic predisposition such as having been overweight is a very relevant factor, because because of this the person can become obsessed with wanting to be thin.
Personal
Very perfectionist people with low self-esteem or shyness tend to suffer from this disorder more often.
Relatives
Inputs from our family where the vision of the body is important and for this reason, diets or being overprotective are very present generate this pathology.
How to help someone who suffers from anorexia?
As a family member of a patient anorexy There are several behaviors that are considered advisable to carry out with the aim of producing a key improvement in the affected person since it will help them obtain an optimal standard of living. Among these we find.
1. Give emotional support
Provide emotional support, especially at times when they may be prone to binge eating. Remind him that you are by his side.
2. Resume healthy habits
Resume healthy eating habits without giving in to your whims. Make sure that the sick person is following the diet established by a nutritionist based on their condition.
3. Organize meal times
Structure meal times, establishing 3 to 5 a day. Organization is essential to find a good anorexia treatment
When making the purchase, reach an agreement with the rest of the family about what foods to buy, trying to ensure that there are not many easily prepared foods at home so that binge eating is avoided.
5. Promote good communication
Promote positive, non-judgmental communication, relating with affection but trying to ensure that each person continues with their role as father, mother or child.
6. Show understanding
De-dramatize and talk to her peacefully, showing understanding and stating things as opinions and not as absolute truths.
7. Work on your self-esteem
Highlight and give importance to her positive qualities as well as remind her of those that others see in her.
8. Understand the consequences of anorexia
Talk about the disadvantages of following a restrictive diet and its consequences for the body.
9. Avoid the following behaviors towards him/her
There are a series of behaviors that most people who have someone who suffers of anorexia They usually do. Among the most common, we should avoid the following.
Maintaining negative communication, using emotional blackmail or making sarcastic comments about any topic relevant to the patient (diet, exercise, ideal body, etc.)
Punish, as this will encourage the behavior to be carried out in secret.
Monitor the person since it would mean a loss of freedom and an intrusion into their privacy.
Allow them to cook on their own since in this way you will not be able to maintain any control over their eating behaviors.
Hide food or put locks on the pantry, because these behaviors will create a certain distrust between family members and emotional support between them will not be possible.
You should not be left alone to face the problem if you think it is getting out of hand. In cases where you don’t see how to address the anorexia and its consequences ask for help from a professional.
The anorexia and its symptoms They don’t just affect the most visible part of a person. This disease has many consequences on a psychological and mental level. Detecting it in time can be essential to rescue the lives of those affected by it.
