How to Treat Anorexia
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that commonly affects teenage girls. They have an altered body perception, obsession with food and compulsion to lose weight.
Identifying the signs and symptoms of this disorder is necessary to provide the right treatment. If you think a family member or a friend is suffering from this condition, here are some tips to help her.
Know The Signs and Symptoms
These are some of the signs and symptoms of anorexia that you have to watch out for:
Compulsion to diet even if she doesn’t have to.
Altered body image. She sees herself as overweight.
Obsession with food. An anorexic thinks about food all the time but eats very little. She may also lie about her eating habits and makes excuses for not eating. The patient is very knowledgeable on food facts, read nutrition labels and compute for values, like calories and fats that she is taking in.
Weight loss of more than 10 % of her ideal body weight without any medical cause.
Denial. The patient does not admit to having an eating disorder.
Exercising too much. This is a compulsion from feeling too fat.
Laxative abuse. The patient may resort to using laxatives, diet pills and diuretics to lose weight.
Purging. Induced vomiting is not an exclusive sign of bulimia. Some anorexics purge when they feel they have eaten too much.
Approach The Situation Lightly
Most anorexics are in denial of their condition. They will always be defensive about their eating habits. You can’t be authoritative and tell them what to do. The best approach would be to say your concern gently. Don’t force any information out from them or pass judgment. Knowing that they can depend on you is a good step.
Get Professional Help
When your loved one realizes the severity of her condition, she may ask for help voluntarily. In this case, you know that she is already prepared to participate in the treatments. If not, you may decide to bring her to the doctor even if she doesn’t want to. This is going to be hard, but if her condition is getting worse, you have to make her see a doctor. Don’t let her go to the doctor alone. Be there for her as much as you can.
Therapies
Stabilize other medical conditions. Before starting on a weight gain plan, the ill-effects of anorexia in the body should be treated. An anorexic may suffer from malnutrition, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and heart problems These conditions should be improved first in order for the body to properly respond to other procedures.
Hospitalization. This may be required for severe cases to extensively monitor the patient’s condition and progress.
Cognitive Therapy- The doctor will explain what anorexia is, its symptoms and effects. This therapy centers on self awareness, self esteem and control.
Behavioral Therapy - This type of therapy focuses on the alteration of habits. The doctor helps the patient determine stress factors that made her anorexic. She will be taught to deal with these factors using coping strategies and relaxations methods. The doctor may use reward reinforcement systems to make the patient participate in the therapy.
Family Therapy- An anorexic needs to have a support group. The family is the basic and most important support group for her. Family relationships are also evaluated by the doctor to determine if these will help or be detrimental to the patient’s progress.
Group Therapy - This gives the patient a venue to talk about her condition with people in the same situation. Being with a group she thinks will understand her will make her open up more, and release pent up problems or issues that she may be ashamed to tell her friends or family.
Weight restoration - This is the time when the doctor teaches her proper eating habits and develop meal plans. She will also learn about nutrition and the importance of having a well balanced meal.
The process of recovery from anorexia is long and hard. If you have a friend or a family member suffering from this disorder, give her all the support and love she needs.