Dealing With an Eating Disorder

It can be difficult to understand why a close friend or family member succumbed to the horrible world of eating disorders. It can be even more difficult to pull yourself out of that world if you are the one in it. There are a number of reasons why people, especially young women and girls, will end up in the downward spiral that is anorexia or bulimia, but most will agree that it is because they simply want to be thin. Sadly, Hollywood is not helping with their insanely thin movie stars, and social media only makes the problem worse. A simple Google search for "ana is beautiful" (in reference to anorexia) shows that there are too many people who have a twisted view on these terrifying and deadly disorders.

Anorexia nervosa is an extreme psychological disorder where the person will eat very little in order to become thin. They are usually terrified of becoming overweight, and so control their diet much more strictly than anyone ever should. Anorexia nervosa is different from anorexia, which is simply a loss of appetite or interest in food. Women who suffer from anorexia nervosa typically are so unhealthy that they do not have regular menstrual cycles, which can lead to osteopenia and may eventually develop into osteoporosis. They are also at risk of developing other health issues like an irregular heartbeat, dehydration, depression, rough scaly skin, water intoxication, and kidney stones, among others.

Bulimia nervosa is also categorized as a psychological disorder. The person will binge on major amounts of food, stuffing themselves full, and will feel guilty afterward. This will lead to overreactions such as purging (which means to vomit on purpose), exercising more than they can handle at a time, and taking on crash diets. They may also overuse laxatives and deny themselves food. The problem in the beginning is that they will feel like they cannot control their eating, that they must continue to eat. It can be difficult to identify whether someone has bulimia nervosa because their body weight may seem fine, unlike with anorexia nervosa.

In the end, each of these disorders, as well as binge eating on its own, must be addressed by a professional in order to make sure the individual can recover appropriately. There are several routes they can take, such as psychotherapy, hospitalization, or checking into a facility that specializes in eating disorders. The problem with getting them to accept treatment is that they know food will always be a part of their lives as long as they live. An eating disorder is not like a drug problem, because with drugs, you can simply choose to avoid people who lead that lifestyle. Eating disorders follow you around, and you can't avoid food because if you do, you will die. This is why people who suffer from anorexia or bulimia are resistant to seeking treatment, and you must work hard to be sympathetic instead of angry.

If you are suffering from one of these psychological issues, please seek treatment and ensure you have insurance for your medical needs. Read stories about anorexia in order to better understand your disease and open your mind to treatment.

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