Anorexia Nervosa is a serious condition where we can literally
starve ourselves to death, thinking we're fat. The disorder can stem
from physical, psychological and, sadly, intentional causes. In this
article, we'll consider the different causes of anorexia, and discuss
symptoms and treatment needs.
Physical Causes Of Anorexia:
Studies are underway to determine if there is a genetic predisposition
for anorexia, but short of that, any of a number of illnesses can
actually cause a person to be anorexic. These include arthritis,
colitis, kidney failure and cirrhosis of the liver. Also, advanced
alcoholism and drug addiction can result in anorexia. If our diet is
deficient in certain nutrients, like vitamins A, B3, or B8 we could
develop anorexia as a deficiency symptom. Anorexia can be a medical
drug side effect, too, so see your doctor. The cool thing about
anorexia that had a physical cause is, once the physical condition is
cleared up, the anorexia usually goes away, too.
Psychological
Causes Of Anorexia: More difficult to treat are the psychological
causes stress, depression and anxiety. In fact, anorexia nervosa is a
severe anxiety over body weight. We actually see ourselves as being
fat, even as we look in a mirror and see a body that's wasting away from
hunger, with bones sticking out. It's this body image that's at the
root of anorexia. Even when medical treatment restores a normal body
weight, until the body image is corrected, the person will just lose it
all again.
Intentional Causes Of Anorexia: This is probably the
saddest part of the anorexia story. Some people actually cause
themselves to become anorexic, accidentally, through fad diets or worse,
intentionally, through a sick idea that the "anorexic look" is sexy.
There are websites and companies making money by promoting
self-starvation as a weight management tool. This creates the mindset
of the negative body image which is at the heart of the disorder. I'm
all for web freedom, but I think websites promoting anorexia are as bad
as those promoting kiddy porn, and for the same reason...they're
destroying lives.
Anorexia Symptoms And Treatment: Because the
heart of anorexia is an irrational belief you're fat, most people are
unlikely to look in the mirror and say, "I'd better get to the doctor."
Since denial is a big part of the illness, the best way to see if you
or a loved one needs to see a doctor is to take a self-test like this signs of anorexia nervosa quiz.
Anorexia is never a self-treatment issue. You must see a doctor, get a
proper diagnosis and get professional treatment. Anorexics, left to
their own devices, often die. Often, treatment includes medical tests
to determine the cause, food supplements to restore body weight,
antidepressants or anxiety medicine and psychological therapy to get at
the body image issue. How you see yourself is usually the key to the
whole thing.
The cause of anorexia can be as simple as a vitamin
deficiency or as complex as the human self-image. Often, those causes
are physical, psychological and even intentional in nature. Whatever
started it, anorexia is a serious condition that can be deadly if not
treated. With proper treatment, though, recovery is very likely. If
you suspect you or a loved one suffers from anorexia, get it checked by a
doctor as soon as possible, so recovery can begin.
