Anorexia Nervosa
It’s important to know that everyone will not have the same symptoms. Some people will have a mix of symptoms and you do not need to have all these symptoms to have Anorexia.
Definition:
‘Anorexia
Nervosa’ means ‘loss of appetite for nervous reasons’
but this is misleading because in reality you have lost the ability to
allow yourself to satisfy your appetite. You probably restrict the amount
you eat and drink, sometimes to a dangerous level. You may exercise to
burn off what you perceive to be excess calories. You focus on food in
an attempt to cope with life, not to starve yourself to death. It is a
way of demonstrating that you are in control of your body's weight and
shape. Ultimately, however, the disorder itself takes control and the
chemical changes in the body affect the brain and distort thinking, making
it almost impossible for you to make rational decisions about food. As
the illness progresses, you will suffer from the exhaustion of starvation.
Occasionally people die from the effects of anorexia, especially if it
is untreated.
Psychological
signs of Anorexia:
Intense fear of gaining weight and obsessive interest in what others are
eating;
Distorted perception of body shape or weight;
Denial of the existence of a problem;
Changes in personality and mood swings;
Becoming aware of an ‘inner voice’ that challenges your views
on eating and exercise.
Behavioural
signs in Anorexia:
Rigid or obsessional behaviour attached to eating, such as cutting food
into tiny pieces;
Mood swings;
Restlessness and hyperactivity;
Wearing big baggy clothes;
Vomiting and/or taking laxatives.
Effects:
In adults, there will be extreme
weight loss; in children and teenagers there will be poor or inadequate
weight gain in relation to their growth or substantial weight loss;
Constipation and abdominal pains;
Dizzy spells and feeling faint;
Bloated stomach, puffy face and ankles;
Downy hair on the body and occasionally loss of hair on the head when
recovering;
Poor blood circulation and feeling cold;
Dry, rough, or discoloured skin;
Loss of ‘periods’ and loss of interest in sex;
Loss of bone mass and eventually osteoporosis (brittle bones).
The
above are the short-term effects that can be caused by a sufferer of Anorexia
Nervosa. However, the long-term effects of Anorexia on the body and mind
can be alarming and severe. Women with Anorexia tend to find it more difficult
to become pregnant and may develop infertility in the long-term. Fortunately,
many of these effects can be reduced - once the body receives proper and
regular nourishment. For both men and women there is a high likelihood
of developing osteoporosis.
Once you are on the path to recovery, it can take some weeks or months
for the body and mind to re-adjust. Eating and drinking regularly can
cause your body to become bloated temporarily. On one hand you may experience
enormous hunger whilst on the other, weight gain can seem an alarming
prospect. Dealing with the expectations of others around you can also
be stressful. Personality and mood swings can also take a while to settle,
depending on the emotional difficulties that you may be facing.