In my research, I discovered there are people actually seeking help and advice on how to become anorexic...and people who are offering it! In fact, there seem to be more people searching how to become anorexic than how to be cured. This is a very frightening trend. Anorexia nervosa is a serious disease that ruins lives. Despite the popular notion, it is possible to be too thin. You can die from Anorexia Nervosa. This disorder is an addiction, not to food, but to weight loss. Even the skinniest anorexic sees themselves as having to lose weight. You literally starve yourself to death in an obsession about losing weight. To learn more about this disease, here are the recent top-selling books on anorexia nervosa. Symptoms include an extreme concern about weight and shape. This causes an obsession with reducing food intake and excessive exercise. If you are experiencing rapid weight loss and unusual eating habits, even if you think of yourself as "fat", take the Anorexia Symptoms Test and follow the instructions based on your answers. Many people try to point to TV and other advertising as a cause of anorexia, but this ignores the root cause of the problem.
It's almost universally accepted that eating disorders are not about food or eating. Anorexia is no exception. Some think the cause is nutrition. A few think we're genetically inclined to eating disorders. Some say it's the condition of our upbringing. Others suggest it's a mental chemical imbalance. I'm no expert, and not licensed to diagnose any of these things, so I'm not in a position to disagree. The majority seem to agree "self-image" or how we feel about and see ourselves is at the root of anorexia nervosa. Anorexia sufferers have a negative body image that makes them feel fat, or imperfect. This negative self-image, a feeling of emptiness and unworthiness causes them to excessively diet in an effort to feel better about themselves. They feel worse as they increasingly try, and fail, to improve self-image with diet and exercise. Unless this negative cycle is interrupted we will live the ugly physical problems listed below. The good news is, the cycle can be interrupted...we can have a positive self-image.
Effects: The number and names of eating disorders vary depending on who you talk to. Anorexia Nervosa begins with an immediate nutritional imbalance (from lack of food). This adds stresses to the body systems and causes fatigue, sometimes extreme fatigue. As Anorexia continues, it includes a progressive decline in the person's self-image and participation with family and friends. These deficiencies become more severe the longer the disease goes untreated. While Anorexia progress, the body begins wasting away as if it had terminal cancer. Chronic illnesses begin as the major organs are stressed to squeeze more nutrients in a starved body. These include hypertension, stress, asthma, cardio-vascular disease, muscle and joint problems. If not dealt with, anorexia nervosa results in eventual organ damage and death. Pretty ugly, Huh?
Since self-image is the root of Anorexia Nervosa, many teenagers suffer from it. Teenagers are the most self absorbed, and tend to be overly concerned about how they and others look. Just like alcoholism and drug addiction, eating disorders are addictions. Doctors are having some success with Anorexia by prescribing anti-depressants or other medications to help the sufferers feel better about themselves. Please understand that any medication is a temporary solution that only gets at the symptoms or the problem. Until we eliminate the cause, the disorder will continue in some way. The best shot we have at recovery is to fill the void we "see" in ourselves so we can have the positive self-image we were "designed" to have. What do we fill our void with? God! He designed us to have Him in our lives to fill the void and help us see ourselves the way He sees us, with love. No matter what your current treatment, God can give you a positive self-image and heal you from any disorder. Everyone with an eating disorder needs to hear these words from Him: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry..." If you want His help just click on God's Help.
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