Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms : An Explanation
Anorexia nervosa symptoms are an eating disorder characterized by unwarranted panic about gaining weight. The fear drives the sufferer to accomplish whatever they can, no matter how extreme, to keep the weight off. The catch at this point is that their distorted image of their body prevents them from ever losing an adequate amount of weight. The causes of Anorexia Nervosa are at this stage still unknown. The increase in the condition is blamed on society’s image of beauty. When adolescent girls (and boys), see the beautiful bodies of models gracing the covers of magazines and the movie screen, their own inadequacies about their body comes to the fore. It is not uncommon to undergo image issues as a teenager, but choosing an eating disorder as the way out, is. Families and Anorexia Nervosa
Family dynamics have also been seen as a cause. In families wherever communication is poor and affection withheld, kids seek to attain control and for anorexics, the control is the food that they eat.
Having high expectations that put unwarranted pressure on the child can also lead to eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa symptoms may perhaps start with a diet but it doesn’t end there. The obsession with their weight motivates them on to have fewer and fewer meals. They bring their hunger to a standstill by drinking water or exercising more. Even whilst the numbers on the scale go down, their lack of self-esteem won’t let them stop. Because of their perceived difficulty, they possibly will shy away from social gatherings, especially those that have to do with food. In school, they may separate from their friends as the condition takes over their lives. Any excuse is used to keep them out of family functions. Anorexics Change Appearance Over Time
Other anorexia nervosa symptoms are that over time the person with anorexia nervosa changes in appearance. They might wear large clothes to conceal the weight loss but if you sustain physical contact with your child you will feel the changes.
Their bodies are frail and emaciated. The natural puberty cycle is often stunted in their bodies. For girls, menstrual periods stop or don’t start at all. The road ahead for anorexics is full of trouble. With the lack of nourishment being given to their bodies, the cells get what they need wherever they can. Bones become weak because cells are robbing calcium from the bones. Lack of energy is a shared symptom because there is no fat for fuel. The organs will eventually commence to shut down.
While all of this is going on the sad thing is that the person with the anorexia nervosa symptoms is in denial.
They do not believe that they are doing anything in the wrong and are reluctant to chat about what is happening to them. Depression sets in since no one understands them. Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition. The first step in curing it is to get help at the first sign that something is wrong. In order to do that, communication between you and your child or other family member must be open and healthy.
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