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eLearning Series: Mental Illness
Explain Mental Illnesses To Me
What
Is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia
nervosa is a problem that is related to weight problems. This is an especially well-known disorder
among teens and young adults. Through anorexia nervosa, there
are several different eating habits that are established that
are unhealthy. These usually begin because of one’s belief
that they have problems with weight. Solving anorexia in you
or in another often involves knowing the different mental and
physical aspects that are involved with anorexia.
The first thing that one who is developing anorexia will do
is monitor their food. This can be done in several extremes.
The first thing that may be noticed is that there will be avoidance
in eating certain meals and food. This can happen by one meal
being skipped to several days of someone going without eating
food.
Other times, food will be picked out in relation to the amount
that is contained in the food. These will then be eaten in
very small amounts. Before the food is eaten it will often
times be weighed. This is done in order to ensure that not
too much food is being eaten. Those who become more obsessive
of the food will count the calories that are in the food and
keep track of how much they are eating daily. If they feel
like they are eating too much, then they will try to balance
this out with their bodies. Purging food and vomiting is often
a resource for one who thinks they have too much food in their
system.
Body
shape and image is another part of anorexia that becomes
obsessed over. Those who have anorexia will continuously be
weighing themselves to make sure they are either loosing weight
or don’t loose to weight. There will also be an obsession with
exercising for large periods of time. Because of the nature
of anorexia, body image and size is one of the important factors
that those with the disorder will obsess over. If one takes
anorexia to another extreme, then they might use laxatives,
enemas, and other forms of drugs in order to help them purge
food.
Anorexia
usually begins through several mental factors. One
of these major mental factors is low self-esteem and inability
for one to be able to accept them internally. As a result,
they look towards image and body weight. This is then reinforced
by images that are seen in media by those who appear to be
more accepted because of their body image. If there is not
good peer and family support around one to stop the problems
with self-esteem and body image from becoming a problem, then
it can lead to anorexia.
Another part of the mental problems that are established in
relation to anorexia include a trigger that one has in relation
to weight. Often times, there will be a fear that occurs. Those
with anorexia will become afraid to loose weight, giving them
reason to try to control their weight and food. This fear builds
up in one’s mind, causing them to become more extreme and obsessive
over weight control over time.
The
results of anorexia can become severe enough to lead to
death. When your body stops receiving the right nutrients,
it will cause for major adjustments to have to be made. The
first thing that will happen is your heart rate and blood pressure
will begin to change, as it has to work harder to maintain
your body. Another thing that will begin occurring is hair
will begin to fall out and nails will become brittle. Skin
will often times become dry and become yellow. Calcium loss
will also cause your bones to break easily and cause swollen
joints.
If these symptoms occur for too long of a period then it can
lead to hospitalization. If it gets to this point, then those
with anorexia will need to stay in the hospitalized area until
they begin to gain weight again. They will need to be treated
by maintaining a regular eating schedule, which allow their
bodies to begin to function at a normal level again.
Anorexia nervousa can be a dangerous symptom that results
in your physical health deteriorating. Those with anorexia
become obsessed with physical appearance and eating, causing
them to slowly have problems with their body and how it functions.
If you know someone who has anorexia, then it is important
to get help so that they can start functioning at a normal
level. # # # # #
by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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