How to prevent anorexia from killing you

What is anorexia and how is it dangerous

Everyone is familiar with anorexia, at least from afar. Well, really, who has not seen the emaciated Angelina Jolie?

It is believed that anorexia is a refusal to eat, a sincere loss of appetite for the sake of being slim. Only a few sometimes go too far in their calorie restriction. In fact, this is not at all the case.

People with anorexia equate being thin with self-esteem. Every kilogram is a shame for them. Like a sticker pasted on the face or body: "I am a freak", "I am ridiculous" or "I am nothing." Imagine yourself surrounded by these stickers. Do you really want to rip them off to the last?

Exactly in the same way, anorexic people “rip off” kilograms from themselves. Be careful at first: diet and exercise in the gym. As the kilograms melt, people get a taste: the diet gets tougher, the workouts get longer and more intense. Other measures are added: diuretics, laxatives, enemas, attempts to induce vomiting after eating …

Anorexia is not about food and calories at all. This is an attitude towards yourself and your life. Moreover, it is extremely unhealthy and dangerous.

If anorexia has taken over your life completely, it's hard to stop. For any failures, you blame the remaining pounds, it seems to you that there are still a lot of them, that you are a fat man. It doesn't matter how much you really weigh: you can suffer from excess fat even at 40–45 kg.

And then it gets too late. Due to the constant deficiency of nutrients, the work of internal organs is disrupted, and from this you can suddenly die.

In the advanced stages of anorexia, the cells of the body simply refuse to take food. And this is already incurable.

Where does anorexia come from?

Doctors have not yet established the exact reasons. It is assumed by Anorexia nervosa that anorexia is caused by a combination of several factors:

Genetic … There is a version that the tendency to anorexia, like a number of other mental disorders, can be encoded in the genes. Therefore, the risk group includes the next of kin (parents, siblings) of those who have already been diagnosed with eating disorders.
Psychological … We are talking about emotional people with increased levels of anxiety and extreme urge to perfectionism, which makes them think that they will never be thin enough.
Social … Modern culture often equates harmony with success, being in demand. This pushes insecure people to increase their own value by losing weight.
Sexual … Anorexia is four times more common in girls and women than in boys and men.
Age … The most vulnerable are adolescents. Scientists explain this by the fact that during the period of growing up, girls and boys are extremely insecure and need social approval. The powerful hormonal changes in the body also play a role, leaving an imprint on the emotional state. Anorexia is rare in people over 40.
Dietary … Diet abuse is also a serious risk factor. There is strong evidence that fasting changes the way the brain works, making it more vulnerable to developing all kinds of neurological disorders.
Stressful … Strong emotional upheavals - divorce, death of a loved one, change of work or transfer to a new school - also weaken the protective properties of the psyche and become prerequisites for anorexia.

Anorexia is more popular than it sounds. ANOREXIA affects more than 30 million people in the United States alone.

But there is good news as well. Like most neurological disorders, anorexia develops gradually. So you can catch her in the early stages, when she is not yet so dangerous and it is not so difficult to defeat her.

How to recognize anorexia

If you observe most of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it is advisable to see a therapist as soon as possible.

Physical symptoms of anorexia

Weight loss (in the case of adolescents, no expected weight gain). A person's face is losing weight, arms and legs become thin, but he continues to lose weight.
Weakness, fatigue.
Insomnia.
Frequent dizziness, up to loss of consciousness.
Breakage and hair loss.
Dry skin.
Bluish nails, often with white spots.
Increased constipation and abdominal pain.
In girls, menstruation stops.
Intolerance to the cold.
Lowered blood pressure.
Tooth decay from regularly trying to induce vomiting.

Emotional and Behavioral Symptoms of Anorexia

A person often skips meals, citing the fact that they do not want to eat.
Calorie control too tight. As a rule, meals are reduced to a few "safe" foods - fat-free and low-calorie.
Avoiding food in public places: It is difficult to control the calorie content of food in cafes and restaurants. In addition, it is not so easy to induce vomiting if the anorexic is already addicted to this method of getting rid of "extra" calories.
Lies about how much was eaten.
The constant desire to share your portion with anyone - even with a friend, even with a cat.
Dissatisfaction with your own appearance: "I'm too fat."
Frequent complaints about "too much" weight or the inability to get rid of fat on certain parts of the body.
The desire to wear baggy layered clothing to hide imaginary flaws in the figure.
Fear of getting on the scales in a public place (gym, medical examination): what if someone notices a "terribly large" number ?!
Depressed mood.
Irritability.
Loss of interest in sex.

What to do if you have anorexia

First, make sure you are really talking about an eating disorder and that the symptoms listed above are not related to other medical conditions. Only a doctor can help in this.

The therapist will examine you, offer to take blood and urine tests, make a cardiogram and, if necessary, refer you to narrower specialists.

If anorexia has gone far, hospitalization will be required. So doctors will be able to monitor the condition of the internal organs affected by the hunger strike.

In less advanced cases (or after you are discharged from the hospital), treatment is carried out in a comprehensive manner. It will be attended by:

Nutritionist. He will draw up a menu that will help restore normal weight and provide the body with the necessary nutrition.
Psychotherapist. It will help you redefine your values in life and decouple self-esteem from weight. In addition, this specialist will develop a behavior strategy that will allow you to return to a healthy body weight.

If you suspect anorexia in a loved one, you should also consult with a therapist. Often times, people with eating disorders refuse to admit that something is wrong with them. The doctor will advise you on whom to contact for help.

Most often we are talking about a psychotherapist: you have to persuade a loved one to go to an appointment at least once. As a rule, this is enough for the anorexic to understand the problem and agree to further treatment.