Monday, March 19, 2007

All About The Eating Disorder Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological eating disorder that affects many people. There are many factors that contribute to it, including mental, physical, emotional, and social aspects. It is characterized by a distorted image of ones own body. Usually the victim thinks that they are too large. It also has other mental effects, including a lowered level of sociality, poor performance in school or work, and deterioration of relationships with family and friends. All of these things combine to make it a terrible thing for a person to suffer through. It is a huge problem today, and if we understand it then we can take steps towards preventing it or treating it.

Anorexia Nervosa generally stems from the victim feeling negative about her own body. This is usually onset by seeing the perfect standards that society has set in the form of women who are so skinny that they are unhealthy. Girls who are naturally a few pounds overweight may feel like they are ridiculously large, or that they can never be good enough to be attractive. This leads to a constant self-consciousness regarding her own body, and how she appears to other people. Since it is something that she constantly thinks about, often she will take steps that will just lead to unhealthiness.

Anorexia Nervosa victims often have a fear or aversion to food, and will only eat minimal amounts. This may be a general disdain for food, or a fear that eating it will cause her to become too fat. This lack of nutrients leads to many other things that are a side effect, such as a low amount of vitamins, brittle bones, a weak heart, and general frailness. It also causes the victim to become very antisocial, possibly in an attempt to hide herself from the outside world.

If you know anyone that suffers from this condition, you should do everything you can to be encouraging and supportive. Many people fail to realize that it is a real problem affecting many people, and that it is something that can lead to many different complications in the health and social life of the victim. By understanding what she is going through, you will be able to provide the emotional support that is required to beat it and become a healthy person once more.

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