Eating disorders are not really about weight or food. They are related to emotional issues. A person suffering in this way uses food to deal with their emotions. Restricting food intake helps them to feel in control. Overeating temporarily offers comfort and assuages pain and loneliness. Purging combats self-hate and helplessness. These illnesses can last for many years, having a debilitating effect on the sufferers and their families. According to research, seeking eating disorder help as soon as possible offers sufferers a better chance of recovery.
It is not always easy to determine if an individual has a problem like this from their outward appearance, unless it has progressed beyond a certain stage. Sufferers make every attempt to conceal their behavior as they often feel ashamed of what they are doing. However, there are certain warning signs that one can look out for. Anorexics will make every excuse not to eat such as that they have already had a large meal or that they have a stomach ache. When they do eat, they usually consume very small portions.
A person who always goes straight to the bathroom after a meal may have a problem with bulimia. Other signs are indulging in frantic exercising or using laxatives or diuretics. Certain physical symptoms caused by constant throwing up may be observed such as problems with teeth from constant exposure to stomach acid.
Treatment is needed for these disorders before devastating, irreparable damage is caused both physically and emotionally. It is not easy to address the problem, particularly as sufferers are often defensive. They will often deny that they have a problem.
It is not always easy to address and requires a calm, loving but firm approach. Sufferers may react defensively and deny they have a problem. It is important not to give up on them. Professional help is needed to obtain a diagnosis and to assess what medical condition the sufferer is in. Once a proper evaluation has been done, a sufferer will most likely be treated as an outpatient.
Treatment often involves a combined approach of individual therapy, group therapy, nutritional support and psychiatric care. Nutritional advice may involve designing meal plans and formulating goals of how to reach a healthy body weight. Therapy helps with exploring underlying issues and a peer-led support group can give the sufferer a safe place to verbalize feelings about food, share experiences and reduce the shame being felt.
If the sufferer shows a lack of improvement in an outpatient setting, inpatient care may be required. If a person is severely under weight, many different medical problems can result and this usually requires hospitalization. Setbacks can occur and it may take some time before any results are seen.
Recovering from these disorders does not happen overnight. Patience is required and pressure from loved ones to achieve unrealistic goals can cause setbacks. They need to remember that each tiny step forward is progress in the right direction.
It is not always easy to determine if an individual has a problem like this from their outward appearance, unless it has progressed beyond a certain stage. Sufferers make every attempt to conceal their behavior as they often feel ashamed of what they are doing. However, there are certain warning signs that one can look out for. Anorexics will make every excuse not to eat such as that they have already had a large meal or that they have a stomach ache. When they do eat, they usually consume very small portions.
A person who always goes straight to the bathroom after a meal may have a problem with bulimia. Other signs are indulging in frantic exercising or using laxatives or diuretics. Certain physical symptoms caused by constant throwing up may be observed such as problems with teeth from constant exposure to stomach acid.
Treatment is needed for these disorders before devastating, irreparable damage is caused both physically and emotionally. It is not easy to address the problem, particularly as sufferers are often defensive. They will often deny that they have a problem.
It is not always easy to address and requires a calm, loving but firm approach. Sufferers may react defensively and deny they have a problem. It is important not to give up on them. Professional help is needed to obtain a diagnosis and to assess what medical condition the sufferer is in. Once a proper evaluation has been done, a sufferer will most likely be treated as an outpatient.
Treatment often involves a combined approach of individual therapy, group therapy, nutritional support and psychiatric care. Nutritional advice may involve designing meal plans and formulating goals of how to reach a healthy body weight. Therapy helps with exploring underlying issues and a peer-led support group can give the sufferer a safe place to verbalize feelings about food, share experiences and reduce the shame being felt.
If the sufferer shows a lack of improvement in an outpatient setting, inpatient care may be required. If a person is severely under weight, many different medical problems can result and this usually requires hospitalization. Setbacks can occur and it may take some time before any results are seen.
Recovering from these disorders does not happen overnight. Patience is required and pressure from loved ones to achieve unrealistic goals can cause setbacks. They need to remember that each tiny step forward is progress in the right direction.
