What is Anorexia Nervosa?

 

Anorexia is characterized by extreme food restriction in an effort to be thin.  Someone suffering from Anorexia will often appear extremely thin.  Their hair will begin to fall out and their fingernails will become brittle.

 

More life threatening indicators that you should seek help immediately for are: decreased metabolic rate where the heart valves leak and body begins feeding off of itself to survive, very fine hair development on face and elsewhere, extremely dry skin, or hair loss.  If these symptoms are beginning to show themselves, outpatient level of care may no longer be effective for you, and you should seek emergency help as soon as possible.

 

In addition to the physiological symptoms, Anorexia will also carry with it psychological symptoms as well.  Depressed mood, quick temper, anxiety, and irrational thinking will often accompany this disorder.

 

As the brain continues to be deprived of proper nutrition, the personality wilts as well.  The person will often begin to shy away from social interaction, as self esteem continues to evaporate.

 

What is Bulimia?

 

People suffering from this disorder intentionally vomit almost everything they eat.  The same trends of Anorexia are true of Bulimia as well.

 

Why?

 

For both disorder the research tends to indicate that there is an element of control over their lives that those suffering from these disorders is attempting to gain.  They may feel like large parts of the rest of their lives are out of control, sometimes due to trauma that they have suffered, and in an effort to gain control of something is an overriding factor.

 

Pursuit of Happiness has counselors who specialize in helping people get through these types of problems.

 

Read our tips on proper diet and exercise here.