A Guide to Mental Illness - Anorexia Nervosa

DESCRIPTION

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder which is identified by the sufferer's low body weight, low food intake and distorted body image. An anorexic person has a obsessive fear of putting on weight and therefore limits the food they eat to the point of bare survival. ^[1] They often take measures including diet pills, extended periods of excercise, purging, and vomiting (a symptom which would also indicate the individual suffers from bulimia nervosa.) ^[2] However, even after losing excessive amounts of weight the sufferer still usually has a drastically low opinion of their weight and body and will seek to lose even more. ^[1]

CAUSES

An anorexia-sufferer often has feelings of low self-esteem and an extreme fear of rejection. They may have a twisted self-image and seek to change this. Studies have also found that zinc-deficiency can lead to a decrease in appetite, which can eventually lead to anorexia. ^[3] Other studies have found that the likeliness of developing anorexia could be affected by genetic factors. ^[4]

SYMPTOMS

It might be easier to point out why it is not bad for the sufferer. Apart from the obvious ties that a distorted self-image can have with mood disorders such as depression, anorexia can cause an enormous strain on the body's internal organs, can cause severely decreased body weight (usually below 15% less than the expected body weight of the sufferer), can cause an irregular menstrual cycle in females, can decrease libido, can cause impotence in men, can slow or stop growth, can reduce the number of white blood cells in the sufferers body (a key part of the human immune system, which naturally leads to being more susceptible to illness), can cause regular headaches, osteoporosis^[5], creaking joints and bones, constipation, the growth of lanugo hair (an attempt by the body to cover areas where there is a deficiency of fat), dry skin, physical underdevelopment (if anorexia occurs before or during puberty), dry or chapped lips, zinc defiency, tooth decay, nerve deterioration (leading to difficulties moving feet), easy bruising, a slower heart rate and a reduced metabolism. ^[2]
The anorexic person's mood, behaviour and personality can also be affected- signs of anorexia can be seen as any combination of depression^[1], frequent criticism of body shape^[1], mood swings^[2], low self esteem^[1]^[2], intense fear of becoming overweight^[2], refusal to accept that one's body is not overweight or is dangerously underweight^[2], obsession with food and calorie levels^[2], deterioration of social life and relationships^[2], refusal to eat or sleep^[2], excessive exercise^[1] and 'calorie-watching'^[1]^[2], self harm^[2], secretive eating habits^[2], substance abuse^[2], suicide attempts^[2], frequent fainting^[2] and perfectionism^[2].
Not all of these symptoms will occur straight away, but if a person can abstain from food for long periods of time, some of the more extreme symptoms may start showing. You may also notice that many of the behavioural and mood symptoms are synomonous with the symptoms of depression. This is because anorexia nervosa is often a result of depression^[6] and low self-esteem. If left untreated, anorexia can be life-threatening as the body begins to lose some of its vital resources.^[5]

PREVALENCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY

Anorexia is often triggered by severe emotional trauma such as a death of a close family member^[5] or friend, and is also more common in adolescence^[2]^[5] - those susceptible to media portrayals of thin models and celebrities. Those bullied or taunted about their weight or appearance can also fall into an anorexic state.^[5] People already suffering from depression also have an increased risk of anorexia.^[6] Those in certain professions such as ballet and modelling are more pressured and can become anorexic more easily.^[5] This is more common in the Western world.^[5]

TREATMENT

The initial aim of treatment for anorexia will be to increase weight to a healthy level. In some cases patients are hospitalized due to the severity of their health, and may receive involuntary treatment under mental health leglislation. In most cases you will probably find that sufferers are treated as outpatients, and will have appointments and therapy sessions with physicians, psychiatrists & psychologists.^[2] Treatment may also include techniques used for depression, as anorexia is often accompanied by it.

SOURCES