Anorexia Nervosa is one of the deadliest eating disorders out there. Restrictive intake of food can be taken to such an extreme that organs shut down, and malnutrition affects the body. This alone would make it a dangerous disorder. Still, the true horror of anorexia nervosa is that it is often a comorbid disorder, meaning that those who suffer from it also suffer from depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mood disorders.
What Is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by restrictive diets. These diets can take many forms. It can be a series of fad diets, obsessing over the calories and contents of foods, liquid diets, or even fasting. Those with anorexia nervosa have a compulsive fear of gaining weight and will go to extremes. This means more than just being careful with what they eat, it can also include obsessive exercise, taking laxatives, or even starting on diet pills. Purging after eating is also a symptom of anorexia nervosa, though it must be alongside restrictive eating.
This restrictive diet causes a massive drop in weight, as well as a variety of mood and behavior changes. Being secretive around meals, lying about their weight or diet, and an unhealthy obsession with their weight are all key warning signs you must pay attention to.
When Should You Seek Out Treatment?
The best time to seek out treatment is at the start before the behavior begins to take its toll on your health. The longer an eating disorder persists, the higher the risk of repeat episodes. Don’t feel like you need to reach a dire state before you can seek out help from clinics such as edentreatment.com for anorexia treatment. Most cases are found alongside other disorders, and only by treating the underlying cause can the symptom of anorexia be addressed.
What Treatment Options are Available
When choosing a treatment program, it is essential that diagnosis and customization the forefront of your mind. Eating disorders are caused by mental illness and can exacerbate other disorders. A full, comprehensive approach with you in mind is essential to create an effective treatment program. Typically, this means a collection of the therapies below.
One-on-One Therapy
Talking therapy is very effective and will make use of a variety of treatment options. One of the treatments with the best results is cognitive-behavioral-therapy or CBT. By understanding your thoughts, you can work to change them before they take hold.
Supported Mealtimes
Supported mealtimes are often essential for those who have reached dangerous weight limits or are malnourished. Supported mealtimes are there to help get the body back into fighting shape.
Body Image Workshops
Your body image plays a critical role in your eating habits, and mental and mood disorders can distort this perception unfairly. Body image workshops work to help you see a healthy body as beautiful and what you should aim to attain.
Food Exposure Interventions
If you experience fear or anxiety when faced with certain foods, then food exposure therapy will be looked into as an option. The goal here is to reset your response to certain foods and take away the emotional weight behind eating.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a version of cognitive-behavioral therapy that is effective in treating suicide ideation and other mood disorders that are common amongst those suffering from anorexia nervosa.
Group Therapy
Peer support is a very effective treatment method, especially when relied upon on an ongoing basis. Support groups should be managed both in the clinic and on an outpatient basis.
Family-Based Treatment
Finally, family-based treatment. To help promote healthy living at home, family and friends are brought in for therapy sessions. This will help improve relationships and support systems. When it comes to staying healthy outside of a clinic, these support systems are everything.
