back from Remuda
Sunday, October 12th, 2008
Hi~ I’m finally back from treatment! yay! I’ve missed you all so much! Sorry that the sound is way off
Duration : 0:8:32
| Anorexia Advisor |
| Advice on Anorexia |
Hi~ I’m finally back from treatment! yay! I’ve missed you all so much! Sorry that the sound is way off
Duration : 0:8:32
Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder. Individuals who suffer from anorexia are so afraid of putting on weight that they drastically cut back on the amount of food they eat and risk becoming dangerously thin.
Anorexia affects not only the body but also the mind. What starts off as simple dieting can soon get out of hand as the individual gets obsessed about losing weight and is consumed with thoughts of food, dieting and weight gain or weight loss. Individuals suffering from anorexia typically have distorted body images and no matter how emaciated they may look, they still see themselves as way too fat. If timely treatment is not given, anorexia can become a lifelong problem and can lead to other health problems including kidney damage, osteoporosis and heart failure.
Causes of anorexia
Anorexia most commonly starts off during the teenage years. Though there is no conclusive proof as to what causes it, risk factors are a combination of family history, personality traits and social factors. Individuals are more prone to suffering from anorexia if other family members are obese or have an eating disorder. Other factors that can bring on this condition is the need to be perfect all of the time, engaging in sports such as ballet and gymnastics that focus on body size or the occurrence of sudden stressful life events such as divorce or death of a loved one.
Symptoms of Anorexia
Denying that they have any problem and seeing themselves as grossly obese despite being dangerously under-weight are characteristic traits of anyone suffering from anorexia nervosa. They refuse any attempts of help and adamantly refuse to eat lest they put on any weight. They are obsessed with thoughts of dieting and weight gain and will exercise even when they are very ill. Very often persons suffering from anorexia will resort to inducing vomiting or using laxatives in a misguided attempt to avoid weight gain.
Sooner or later, they began to develop other signs associated with starvation including feeling tired, weak and faint; feeling cold all the time; slow heartbeat and low blood pressure; brittle nails and thinning hair and light purplish color skin on arms and legs because of poor blood flow. Sometimes there could also be a swelling in the hands and feet.
Treatment of Anorexia
Treatment is a must and is most effective when started early. Because it is as much an emotional disorder as a physical one, treatment would include working in tandem with a doctor, a counselor and a dietician. There are no medications available for treating anorexia but antidepressants are sometimes prescribed to overcome depression and anxiety and to prevent anorexia from recurring. Hospitalization is sometimes called for if the individual’s weight has dropped too low.
Just as eating problems don’t stem from being a bad person, you don’t have an eating disorder because you eat too little or too much. An eating disorder is a sign that the spiritual and mental systems of your body are out of whack. You are hurting, and the disorder is manifesting itself through your pain. Healing yourself is not a question of will power. The healing process needs to repair the underlying problem, a hurt that won’t go away by itself, no matter how hard you try to “will” it away. Eating disorders are often caused by serious traumatic experiences we have buried in our past. These could include sexual abuse, physical abuse, or a near death experience. The disorder cuts even deeper when consistently supported by cultural and environmental contributors such as growing up with families or friends who were overcritical about physical appearances. An eating disorder treatment center does more than help you change your diet or habits. It gets to the root of the problem-the underlying trauma as well as the unhealthy social images you’ve grown to contend with. An anorexia treatment center goes farther than mere nutrition, but also includes meditative, spiritual aspects. Programs go beyond just a healthy eating program, but include art expression, spiritual exploration, acupuncture and social therapies. The program is all inclusive, getting to the crux of the problem that rests at the base of each symptom. Likewise, bulimia treatment supports and treats the entire individual. This is not a blame game. The center recognizes the serious emotional effects living with this disorder can have. Programs focus on returning the balance, bringing in a holistic approach that focuses not just on the actual diet but actually finding happiness and fulfillment. 90 % of all eating disorders are caused by depression. When you find new energy in yourself, new reasons to live and new ways to enjoy living, you return yourself to a higher plane, the disorder melting away into a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Treatment programs focus on healing of the mind as well as the soul. Contending with an eating disorder is not about will power. You already have the will to live, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Treatment centers instead get to the root of the emotional problem so you can live well, happy and inspired by the very life that surrounds you. Treat the whole of the problem through an introspective program of art, pet, recreational, and meditative therapies. Healing the whole is the only way to completely weed out the root of the disorder and return the body, mind and soul to their natural healthy balances. Casa Palmera is one such treatment center that focuses on the holistic health of the individual. More information can be found by emailing info@casapalmera.com or calling 888.481.4481.
Description
Workshops on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and the treatment of anxiety disorders have been available to practitioners for many years. More therapists than ever before have become familiar with the fundamentals of implementing CBT and the essential features of anxiety disorders. However, few continuing education programs have ventured beyond the basics and afforded psychotherapists an opportunity to address the more complicated and advanced issues involved in treating a… More >>
Advanced Issues in the Psychological Treatment of Complex Anxiety Disorders
Eating disorder is such a complex problem that appears with many other serious problems like anxiety disorders, drug/alcohol addiction and some other psychiatric problems including bipolar disorder. Therefore, almost every eating disorder treatment center has the facility to diagnose all problems associated with eating disorder and provide proper medical remedy.
The eating disorder treatment center has the programs to assist the persons who are suffering from eating disorder and re-establishes their normal lives. It provides a supportive and cooperative environment along with necessary components. Besides, it also carefully copes up with the underneath problems like stressors and biochemical factors that cause them to binge, purge, and starve repeatedly. The experts of respective fields utilize a multi-disciplinary treatment approach to diagnose the all problems inter-connected to eating disorder.
Based upon the patients’ problems, needs and feedback, eating disorder treatment center offers individualized treatment approach like anorexia treatment, bulimia treatment, bipolar disorder treatment etc. In addition, it applies specialized and integrated techniques i.e. psychodynamic, education, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
More often, eating disorder treatment requires long-term treatment with special care; therefore, the most of the time severely affected person need to get hospitalize. The purpose is to keep patients under 24 hours and 7 days surveillance. Here patients with medical treatment also have been asked to follow yoga, relaxation, and stress management techniques. There is a cumulative effect of these treatments that assist to gain normal life soon.
However, sometimes eating disorder complicacy increases more consequently patients fallen under deep distress and started to feeling guilt and remorse which further lead them towards drug addiction and alcohol addiction. Hence, in this special situation, individuals immediately need to consult drug treatment center and alcoholism treatment center accordingly.
The modern day woman is under tremendous stress. There is a tremendous urge to excel in the professional life, and at the same time there is this urge to maintain a healthy social as well as personal life. The young girls are also under an additional pressure of looking at their best at all times. Such extreme demands can drive many vulnerable females into the world of drugs, substance abuse, alcoholism, or some other behavioral problems like over eating or excessive dieting. The condition could sometimes be so severe that the outside help becomes all the more necessary. But help is now available in the form of various addiction treatment centers, many of which are specifically meant for women only.
These addiction treatment centers are well equipped with the latest equipment and armed with the latest medical technologies. It doesn’t matter whether the patient needs the anorexia treatment, bulimia treatment, or any other eating disorder treatment. The addiction treatment centers are quite capable of handling cases of different hues and types. The addiction treatment programs in these centers are designed in the most scientific manner. The medical staff on many occasions consists of the people who themselves have been through the same situations and thus are quite capable of empathizing with the patients.
The family of the patient who is undergoing anorexia treatment, bulimia treatment, sexual abuse treatment, or any other eating disorder treatment is also advised on how the treatment can be complimented with care and love. Precaution is also taken that once the patient is out of the treatment center there is no relapse.
Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food, and eating habits that disrupts normal body function, and daily life activities. A person with anorexia nervosa typically starves him or herself to be thin and experiences excessive weight loss, typically 15% below the weight that doctors consider ideal for his or her height and age. In some cases of anorexia, in addition to restricting their food intake kids use purging – by vomiting or taking laxatives – to control their weight.
Causes of Eating Disorders
What causes eating disorders is not entirely clear, though a combination of psychological, genetic, social and family factors are thought to contribute to the disorder.
Certain sports, such as ballet, gymnastics and wrestling are thought to potentially contribute to developing eating disorders because of the emphasis on leanness. There is also a role for genetics. Individuals who have a close relative with an eating disorder have an increased risk for also developing an eating disorder.. Sometimes, problems at home, such as drug or alcohol abuse, can put a child at higher risk to develop disordered eating behaviors.
And this concern can begin at an alarmingly young age. Research shows that 42% of first to third-grade girls wants to be thinner, and 81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat.
Types of eating disorders
The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
• Anorexia – People with anorexia starve themselves out of an intense fear of becoming fat. Despite being underweight or even emaciated, they never believe they’re thin enough. In addition to restricting calories, people with anorexia may also control their weight with exercise, diet pills, or purging.
• Bulimia – Bulimia involves a destructive cycle of bingeing and purging. Following an episode of out-of-control binge eating, people with bulimia take drastic steps to purge themselves of the extra calories. In order to avoid weight gain they vomit, exercise, fast, or take laxatives.
• Binges Eating Disorder – People with binge eating disorder compulsively overeat, rapidly consuming thousands of calories in a short period of time. Despite feelings of guilt and shame over these secret binges, they feel unable to control their behavior or stop eating even when uncomfortably full.
Alternative Treatment for Eating Disorders
There are many treatment options for eating disorders. The right approach for each individual depends on his or her specific symptoms, issues, and strengths, as well as the severity of the disorder. To be most effective, treatment for an eating disorder must address both the physical and psychological aspects of the problem. The goal is to treat any medical or nutritional needs, promote a healthy relationship with food, and teach constructive ways to cope with life and its challenges Psychotherapy – Individual and group therapy can help your loved one explore the issues underlying the eating disorder, improve self-esteem, and learn healthy ways of responding to stress and emotional pain. Family therapy is also effective for dealing with the impact the eating disorder has on the entire family unit.
• Nutritional counseling – Dieticians or nutritionists are often involved in the treatment of eating disorders. They can help your loved one design meal plans, set dietary goals, and achieve a healthy weight. Nutritional counseling may also involve education about basic nutrition and the health consequences of eating disorders.
• Support groups – Attending an eating disorder support group can help your loved one feel less alone and ashamed. Run by peers rather than professionals, support groups provide a safe environment to share experiences, advice, encouragement, and coping strategies.
• Residential treatment –- Residential or hospital-based care may be required when there are severe physical or behavioral problems, such as a resistance to treatment, medical issues that require a doctor’s supervision, or continuing weight loss.
Women’s treatment in the present times requires a special effort as well as attention. For a long time women have not been given their due in the society as well as at the work place. Women’s treatment also has not received the kind of attention that they should have for a long time now. It is now purely in the larger interest of the society and the world that women’s treatment receive the kind of attention that is just. The society that we live in at the moment now realizes it and thus there are many specialized treatment centers that try to help the women in getting addiction treatment, eating disorder treatment, sexual abuse treatment, eating disorder treatment, anorexia treatment, and bulimia treatment.
Women in the modern times face a lot of pressure on almost all the fronts. They have to take care of the kids, career and various other obligations that require their attention. As a result many of the women succumb to the pressure and get afflicted with various problems. But help is now round the corner. There are many treatment centers like drug treatment center, eating disorder treatment center, alcoholism treatment center. These treatment centers are managed by the professionals and thus it can be said that women who want to get rid of all their problems can easily get themselves registered in any of these addiction treatment centers.
Whether it is bulimia treatment, anorexia treatment, eating disorder treatment, bipolar disorder treatment, sexual abuse treatment, or any other addiction treatment. The women can now easily avail any of these treatments and that too at the most affordable cost.
Product Description
Eating disorders are but one of many specific pathological responses to the pressures of the modern world. In group therapy, patients battling bulimia nervosa can learn from one another how to heal the emotional wounds that have put their health in jeopardy. Group therapy addresses the four etiologies of eating disorders by teaching the sociocultural context, discussing both the psychological and familial constellation of each member, and providing a forum to addres… More >>
Parents involved in their children`s bulimia therapy may double the children`s percentage to overcome binge eating after six months, according to American researchers.
The study was conducted at the University of Chicago and involved eighty teenagers, aged twelve to nineteen, who suffer from bulimia nervosa. Thirty-nine people were assigned to supportive psychotherapy and forty one to family-based treatment.
The study`s results showed that forty percent of the participants who had family-based treatment managed to stop binge eating and purging, and only eighteen percent of those who had supportive psychotherapy. Thirty percent of the participants who had family-based therapy managed not to binge or purge at six-months after treatment, while only ten percent of the standard therapy group had the same results.
Parents may play a key role in their children`s therapy, according to Dr. Daniel Le Grange, lead author of the study and Director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of Chicago. Parents should encourage their adolescents to eat healthy and normally, and watch them during and after mealtimes to make sure they are not purging.
Parents and their follow-up role have been left out of the therapy although the family-based approach proved to be more efficient, said Dr. Le Grange. However, the researchers are still questioning whether the family involvement or the eating behavior in the family was responsible for the improved results.
Eating disorders may lead to serious health hazards and further research is needed in order to understand and treat eating disorders, said Le Grange.
(c) Project Weight Loss 2008. All rights reserved.