Almost everyone knows the term “anorexia”.But many people have no idea what this disease is associated with, what are the reasons for its occurrence, how to get rid of it. And most importantly - how to prevent the development of this dangerous - and let's not even be afraid of this word - fatal disease? To answer these questions, we need to start from afar - in other words, to understand the psychology of people suffering from anorexia. So, let's start with the definition of this term. Anorexia is a serious disease that is accompanied not only by digestive problems, but also by a mental disorder. The latter is expressed in a deliberate refusal to eat. Anorexics are very sensitive to the amount of food consumed, constantly comparing it with their own weight. Fearing to gain extra pounds, they come up with any way to refuse food. They convince others that they are disgusted by food, forcibly induce vomiting or take huge doses of laxatives. According to doctors, only 7 out of 10 people who become ill with anorexia are successfully treated. For the rest, it all ends in death.
What you need to know about anorexia?
This disease mainly affectsyoung girls aged 15-25. Having looked at the graceful forms of models, they decide to radically change their diet in order to get as close as possible to their idols: figure, and then - who knows - and the degree of celebrity. It all starts with a banal diet. A girl dreaming of a modeling career literally exhausts herself with starvation, goes from one diet to another and never adheres to the rules of healthy weight loss. The weight goes away, but the dream is in no hurry to come true. That's when psychological problems begin. The girl blames her not-so-perfect (in her opinion) figure for everything and starvation continues with redoubled force. In her dreams, the doors to high society are open only to women with an ideal figure, without a single flaw. She is no longer able to give up her obsession. And, most interestingly, the body seems to meet her halfway, stopping eating altogether. Or such a case. A teenage girl falls in love with a guy without reciprocation. But he doesn’t pay attention to her and prefers to date another girl. The girl searches for a long time for the reason for such injustice and finally understands that it’s all about her figure. She’s not slim enough compared to her rival. For the sake of love, we make many sacrifices, especially during adolescence. Parents of teenagers need to delve into the child’s life, not let things slide, provide timely assistance - otherwise, trouble may not be noticed. It is quite possible to distinguish an anorexic from a simply overly thin person. Usually, people who are underweight do not refuse food - they eat very heartily, but do not gain weight. Such people are always active, cheerful, their behavior does not give any reason for concern. But if you notice that your daughter, niece or friend has started to cheat, complain about lack of appetite, constantly make up excuses not to sit down at the table - you need to be wary. Be sure to monitor her behavior for several days - if your concerns are confirmed, immediately seek help from specialists.
Symptoms of the disease
All anorexics speak with great inspiration aboutfood, about the calorie content of products and even prepare delicious and unusual dishes for loved ones. The idea of healthy eating is so deeply ingrained in their subconscious that the topic of food becomes obsessive. They study books on calorie content, calculate it with delight and will never allow themselves to eat food that they consider forbidden. In addition to psychological symptoms, anorexia also has physical signs. There are quite a lot of them, but if you compare the facts, you can easily detect the disease at an early stage. However, remember: the presence of one or two of the signs listed below cannot be a cause for concern. Here it is necessary to carefully understand the person's behavior, take into account all the nuances.
- Frequent weighing (literally several times a day), for hours watching yourself in the mirror;
- Constant dissatisfaction with his figure;
- Very low self-esteem;
- Fear of gaining even a couple of extra pounds;
- Depression or persistent mood swings;
- Refusal to communicate with friends, and in general from walks and going out into the light;
- Passion for cooking, but unwillingness to eat;
- Constant criticism in his address;
- Excessive accuracy and cleanliness;
- Very dry skin, dull hair and brittle nails;
- Rapid weight loss, constant refusal of food;
- Signs of anemia and growth retardation (for adolescents);
- Reduced body temperature, cold hands and feet;
- Severe menstrual irregularity;
- Frequent fainting, weakness, shortness of breath.
Having reached a critical stage of the disease, a personhas a real horror of food. And this fear does not go away, even when complete exhaustion sets in. The body no longer accepts food, rejects it, but the patient's subconscious says: "You shouldn't stop there, you still have everything ahead of you, you are not good enough to make your dream come true." If you do not take action in time, the disease can completely destroy a person. It is very, very difficult to recover - the process takes more than one year.
Treatment of anorexia
If the case is too advanced, treatmentanorexia can last from three to five years. The recovery process cannot be done without psychological help, suggestion that treatment is necessary. After all, in most cases, the patient categorically does not want to seek help from doctors, he considers himself a completely healthy person. The complexity of the treatment process is that it is necessary not only to stop the patient's fasting, but also to "teach" his body to perceive food again. The psychologist needs to overcome the patient's passion for fasting, direct his subconscious along a new path, instill new life priorities. Statistics show that 60% of patients fully recover, begin to lead a new way of life, successfully marry and give birth to children. Although infertility in this case is not an exception. Another 20% of patients are constantly on the verge of a breakdown and undergo rehabilitation throughout their lives. And the rest, sadly, do not respond to treatment at all. Which ends in death. Moreover, not only exhaustion becomes the cause of death, suicides are also common. An anorexic understands that his dream is unrealizable and decides that he is not worthy of life. Treatment begins with the restoration of the patient's physical abilities. There is a category of patients who are no longer able to eat or move independently. In this case, the body is supported by a drip. Gradually, the person comes out of the critical condition, the necessary products are introduced into his diet. But the main problem is that all organs have suffered during the fast. It is not enough to just start eating, complex treatment is necessary, which takes a lot of time. In parallel with the restoration of the body, a course of psychotherapy is carried out. The doctor's task is to identify the causes of the disease, try to rid the patient of phobias. Often, the disease leads to a disruption of the nervous system. In this case, sedatives are prescribed.
Effects of anorexia
Anorexia can lead to very, very serious problems.sad consequences. That is why doctors categorically forbid following any diets without consulting a nutritionist. Before you start a hunger strike, think about whether the game is worth the candle. After all, health problems will remain for life.
- People who suffer from hunger often have low blood pressure, which results in impaired cardiac function;
- One of the most dangerous consequences of anorexia -hormonal failures. They are what lead to a menstrual cycle. Developing osteoporosis, a girl who did not start treatment on time, runs the risk of never becoming a mother. Diagnosis - infertility - a frequent phenomenon in anorexic patients. And it is very difficult to treat it;
- Developing, the disease begins to disrupt the brain. There are convulsions, mental disorders, numbness of hands and feet;
- Because a person does not receive sufficientamount of vitamins, anemia may develop. A low level of hemoglobin, held for a long time, can cause changes in the structure of the brain. So anemia needs to be treated right away.
Liver damage, weak immune system,intolerance to cold and heat, dehydration - all of these are also consequences of this terrible disease. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, the anorexic is no longer proud of himself, does not feel like the most beautiful. There is only fear of the future, which he has deprived himself of. You cannot do without professional help here. It should be remembered that blaming others (parents, friends, husband) for the fact that their loved one is sick is not worth it. A person drives himself into a corner from which it is not easy to get out. But we can still prevent the disease, you just need to be a little more attentive to others and not brush off their problems. Timely treatment will help to avoid serious consequences and build a happy life. We recommend reading:
