Anorexia in Greek means "no appetite" and is a disease that is characterized by dysfunction of the digestive tract and brain, which is manifested by the refusal of food due to a complete loss of appetite.
The specific features of the disease make the pathology very dangerous. Many deaths caused by heart failure on the background of anorexia nervosa.
Among anorexics, the majority are girls and teenagers who are addicted to diets and weight loss. Like alcoholism and drug addiction, the presence of anorexia is never recognized by the person suffering from it.
Classification of loss of appetite. Conditions leading to anorexia
Loss of appetite divided by mechanism of occurrence:
- Neurodynamic anorexia – oppression of the nerve center of the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for appetite, by strong stimuli, such as severe pain.
- Anorexia Nervosa – refusal to eat on the background of schizophrenia, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, a great desire to lose weight.
- Anorexia nervosa – against the background of negative emotions, overexcitation of the cerebral cortex occurs.
Anorexia nervosa is most common in depressive and psychiatric conditions, because these conditions are risk factors for anorexia.
Anorexia nervosa. Manifestations of anorexia nervosa
The symptoms of anorexia nervosa are characterized by a change in the way a person feels, looks, behaves, and feels psychologically. Consider the categories of manifestations of anorexia nervosa.
Changes in the behavior of a person with anorexia nervosa regarding food:
- There is an obsessive opinion about being overweight or overweight.
- A person regularly refuses food and motivates this by the fact that he has recently eaten or does not want to eat. When eating, the patient limits himself in quantity.
- Eating turns into a kind of ritual, before which a person carefully sets the table, the food on the table is in very small quantities, everything is cut into small pieces. Food is chewed thoroughly or, conversely, swallowed without being chewed at all.
- People with anorexia avoid events where meals are planned at all costs.
- Discomfort after eating.
- Focus on losing weight, calorie obsessions, strong and obsessive desire to lose weight at normal weight.
Signs of the behavior of a person with anorexia nervosa:
- Avoiding society, seclusion.
- Great desire for physical activity and severe frustration when it is impossible to exercise regularly.
- Such people choose clothes that are spacious and wide, shapeless, in order to hide their supposedly extra weight.
- Incapacity for flexibility of thinking, fanaticism, aggressiveness in defending one's convictions.
Mental state of a person with anorexia nervosa:
- Feeling of losing control of one's life, unable to take action.
- Sleep disturbance, mental instability of behavior.
- Depression, apathy towards what is happening, obsession with problems, dissatisfaction with one's affairs and appearance.
- Does not consider himself ill and refuses to eat.
Physiological manifestations in the presence of anorexia nervosa:
- Weakness, dizziness, frequent fainting.
- Weight is 30% or more below normal, based on age and height.
- Female menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, impaired sexual activity.
- Persistent chilliness and feeling cold due to poor circulation.
- The presence of fine and soft vellus hair on the body.
With long-term anorexia nervosa, a person loses his health and worsens his appearance. Dystrophy sets in, and then cachexia, which characterizes the exhaustion of the body. There is bradycardia, hypotension, pallor. The skin becomes dry, loses elasticity, hair falls out. Muscles atrophy over time, internal organs experience dystrophic changes.
What is important in the treatment of anorexia nervosa
Borderline physical health conditions in anorexia nervosa are treated in the intensive care unit. But in order to no longer allow such a state in a person, psychological help is needed. But before starting psychotherapy, the patient must be convinced that he is sick and needs treatment. Without awareness of the whole situation by the patient, treatment is impossible.
Typically, the course of psychotherapy takes about 3 months, during which the patient gains weight. Unfortunately, there are a lot of cases of relapses of anorexia nervosa. Again, it depends on the mental state of the person. Therefore, next to a person who is being treated or has undergone treatment, there should be a close person who will be a support and support for him.
Add a comment