Eating disorders
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia and compulsive eating are most common in female adolescents and young adults with emotional problems. Professional help may be essential, but developing insight into eating disorders and using practical tips may prevent a minor problem from getting worse and can complement any expert help.
Binge eater
There are different types of eating disorders, but all are characterized by an abnormal relationship with food. Anorexia nervosa, in which a person usually a female rejects food, often because she falsely believes herself to be overweight, usually begins in the early teenage years. Bulimia, in which the sufferer sometimes binges and induces, vomiting after eating, is most common between the ages of 15 and 30. Compulsive eating may happen at any age.
Recognizing the signs
A person who has an eating disorder is likely to have several of the following symptoms or behavior traits: 1. Excessive concern about weight 2. Strict dietary restraint 3. Viewing foods as good or bad 4. Eating only a few types of foods 5. Regularly skipping meals 6. Intense fear of gaining weight or being fat 7. Distorted perception of body weight, body fat, size, and shape 8. Continuous weight loss 9. Dramatic weight fluctuations 10. Guilt or shame about eating 11. Secret binges 12. Self-induced vomiting 13. Inappropriate use of laxatives 14. Excessive exercising 15. Irregular menstrual cycles or missed periods 16. Withdrawal from friends and family members 17. Irritability, depression or anxiety 18. Tiredness, fainting or dizzy spells
Anorexia and Bulmia
Anorexia and bulimia sometimes reflect an intense fear of putting on weight, often triggered by emotional problems. People with eating disorders may eat too little, induce vomiting or overeat to blot out painful feelings or to feel more in control of what seems like a frightening, chaotic or dangerous life, or, perhaps, to punish themselves for angry or negative thoughts. A person with anorexia may develop nutritional deficiencies, which reduce the appetite further.
Symptoms of anorexia nervosa
This disorder is characterized by refusal to eat adequately, including, at times, restricting the range of foods; severe, possibly life-threatening weight loss; restlessness; fatigue; weakness; and thinning hair. Some anorexics increase weight loss by exercising excessively.
Symptoms of bulimia
The key symptoms of bulimia are bouts of excessive eating that are followed by self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives to prevent food from being digested and absorbed. Body weight may be normal. Repeated episodes of vomiting may cause fatigue, dental decay, persistently sore throat, abdominal pain, and bloating, digestive disturbances and various metabolic disorders. Excessive use of laxatives can disturb the muscle action of the intestines, leading to chronic constipation. It may also cause fluid, electrolyte and nutritional deficiencies.
Symptoms of compulsive eating
People with this disorder, which are likely to be overweight, have the urge to eat even when they are not hungry. Binge eating is a type of compulsive disorder that involves eating an enormous amount of food at one sitting, often in a very short time. The sufferer feels completely out of control while eating and eats rapidly but fails to feel full. Some binge eaters’ feel embarrassed and guilty about their binging, and they usually eat secretly.
Stress management
Since stress and anxiety play a large part in many eating disorders, finding ways to deal with these problems can be very helpful. You need emotional support from someone with whom you talk openly about your condition. Some people find that creative activities, such as keeping a journal, painting and sculpting, help them express feelings they can’t verbalize. If you are eating too much, try making a list of interesting and enjoyable things that you can do whenever you crave food. For example, indulge in a relaxing, fragrant bath, go for a walk, or phone a friend to arrange a visit.
Flower essences
To help counter negative feelings about yourself and your body, choose one or more essences that most closely match your emotions. Take four times a day on an empty stomach.
Diet
Compulsive eaters have a tendency to consume high sugar, starchy foods, which make their blood sugar level rise quickly. When this happens, the pancreas produce excess insulin, which make the blood sugar level drop too low. This, in turn, can trigger a craving for yet more sugar or refined carbohydrates.
