Anorexia
Anorexia is a serious illness that can even lead to death. Many people are still unaware of this disease and its symptoms. Anorexia symptoms are usually easy to notice, as the disorder causes both physical and psychical changes. Once anorexia symptoms are confirmed, the patient needs to follow an appropriate treatment, involving therapy and a period of physical recovery. Read this article to discover how you can help your family and other people spot the symptoms of anorexia in order to treat it.
The most important anorexia symptoms are dramatic changes in physical appearance caused by inappropriate eating (usually people who suffer from anorexia have a lower body weight than the average), obsession with body weight, calories, food and exercise, the refuse of eating normal amounts of food, irregular meals, attempts of replacing food with coffee, caffeine-based beverages, junk food and diet pills, unusual eating habits and rituals.
People with anorexia have a strong will and keep drastic diets in order to lose weight. Some of them eat less food than their bodies require and often even refuse to eat at all. There are moments when anorexics eat large quantities of food during a single meal, only to later purge it out of their system by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics.
An interesting aspect in the behavior of people with anorexia is the distorted perception of their own bodies. Even if they are actually underweight, anorexics still consider themselves to be fat. Also, they are never content with how much weight they lose, always trying to become thinner.
Anorexia symptoms include dizziness, lack of concentration, migraines, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, nightmares, depression, loneliness, low blood pressure, irregular heart activity, low body temperature, muscular rigidity and stomach cramps. Persons with anorexia isolate themselves from the world, fearing that they won't be understood by other people. Although they usually refuse any kind of social interaction, deep inside they long for acceptance and guidance. Anorexics experience considerable drops of self-esteem and self-respect and develop feelings of unworthiness.
People who suffer from anorexia or other eating disorders expose themselves to a lot of dangers. Inappropriate eating and exhausting physical exercises seriously weaken the immune system of persons with anorexia, making them vulnerable to many diseases.
It is very important to spot the signs of anorexia before it is too late. Although anorexics deny having a problem, they should be aware of the dangers they expose themselves to and they should be provided with advice, help and support in order to overcome their illness.
Anorexia
