Regardless of the type, eating disorders are alarming. Signs may include purging or binge eating subtypes of the actual conditions. But when it turns into a disorder ensures adverse effects on well-being. This blog shares anorexia nervosa healing. Medical attention is of utmost need.
Anorexia nervosa refers to a serious mental health complaint marked by too much fear of gaining weight and unusually low body weight. People dealing with this psychological condition are at risk of life-threatening complications. As per studies, this condition tends to develop during the teenage period or early adulthood. Receive A1 guidance from the best neuro psychiatrist in Siliguri.
What are the signs of anorexia nervosa
This complex eating disorder is one of the most common ones. Below are the widely-experienced symptoms of anorexia nervosa:
Physical Symptoms
- Abnormal weight loss
- Fatigue
- Thin appearance
- Dizziness, fainting
- Insomnia/difficulty falling asleep
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Low blood pressure
- Cold feeling/cold intolerance
- Slow heartbeat
- Hair thinning, breaking
- Absent menstrual periods
- Discoloration of fingers/ bluish colour
- Muscle weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Dry skin
- Slow healing wounds, sores
- Bloating
- Poor concentration
Emotional & Behavioral Symptoms
- An abnormal fear of weight gain
- Restricting foods more often
- Binge eating and self-induced vomiting to ensure no weight gain occurring
- Refusing to eat
- Denial of hunger
- Skipping meals often
- Excessive choosy about foods
- Social withdrawal
- Checking body measurements more frequently
- Being too much self-critical
- Frequent fasting
- Complaining about gaining weight, looking fat
- Low libido
- Using appetite suppressants
What leads to anorexia nervosa
The exact reason for developing this eating disorder is still unknown. Growing evidence stated a combination of causes, such as:
- Genetic factors like changes in genes may be responsible for resulting in anorexia nervosa, especially if it runs in first-degree relatives.
- Exposure to stressful experiences like physical assault, relationship breakup, or other emotional suppressions is associated with the risk of anorexia.
- Peer pressure may have a significant contribution here. Body shaming, bullying, or teasing due to appearance may affect the person emotionally, leading to restricting food choices and consumption.
- Environmental factors have a close link here. Idealizing thin bodies as perfect for media, advertisements, success, beauty, or certain jobs may put individuals in an identity crisis, blaming their appearance.
Listen to expert guidance
Untreated anorexia nervosa may result in further health hazards, including – abnormal heart rhythm, mitral valve disease, anemia, bone loss, bone fractures, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, decreased testosterone levels (in males), missing/irregular periods (in females), electrolyte imbalance, kidney issues, even heart failure.
Mental health complications may occur due to poorly managed anorexia, such as depression, substance use disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or anxiety disorders. In order to diagnose the condition, the psychiatrist may go for a physical exam, psychological exam, X-rays, blood tests, bone density tests, urinalysis, kidney/liver function tests, etc. For cognitive behavioral therapy in Siliguri, talk to the leading psychiatrist in town.
A different set of treatment goals are there to deal with anorexia. The most common treatments include medications, hospitalization, psychotherapy, nutrition counseling, group therapy, etc. Rest on the individual condition, doctors approach treatments. Healing may take time based on the severity of the disorder.
