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Envision every day, hour, minute, and second, of your life, you are consumed with the psychological delusions of I am fat, I am disgusting, I am useless, and I am undeserving of food. That is what it is like having an eating disorder and for many, it is their reality. Mental distortion (the way our brain persuades us to believe something false) is the psychological factor that causes the activities or acts of eating disorders. Eating Disorder tendencies evolve because of mental illness.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating Disorders are abnormal eating patterns that lead to poor physical health. Eating disorders are categorized as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, pica, and rumination disorder. Eating disorders regularly occur together with other psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, people who suffer from eating disorders can undergo a wide range of serious physical and mental health complications which may lead to death.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed by these indicators restricting food intake, powerful anxiety of gaining weight, and a distorted assessment of body weight or shape
People with anorexia will lose weight by dieting, fasting, or exercising excessively(Psychology Today). Individuals who lose weight by vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or enemas have the binge-eating/purging form of anorexia. People with anorexia see themselves as overweight even though they are in starvation mode.
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Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is shown by persistent and regular occurrences of eating enormous amounts of food and no self-control overeating. This is compensated for by purging, use of laxatives, or diuretics, fasting, and excessive exercise. In bulimia, despite usually weighing within the normal range for their age and height, sufferers, fear gaining weight, desire to lose weight, and feel displeased with their bodies.
Binge-Eating Disorder
Binge-eating disorder is characterized by recurrent binge-eating periods, during which a person has an eating loss of control. Many with binge-eating disorders are overweight for their age and height and have feelings of self-disgust and shame leads to the cycles of binge-eating(Psychology Today).
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is characterized by avoiding or restricting food. ARFID is characterized by significant weight loss, substantial nutritional insufficiencies, and an incapability to partake in social activities.
Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder is an eating disorder characterized by repetitive vomiting and rechewing of food after eating. The regurgitating behavior is described as habitual and not a medical condition. The eating disorder symptoms are weight loss, and the inability to gain weight. Those affected by rumination disorder naturally make attempts to hide the behavior.
Pica
Pica is characterized by the eating of nonfood materials continually. People with pica do not typically have a distaste for food in general. For pica to be identified, the behavior of eating nonfood substances must be existent for at least a month. The prevalence of pica is undetermined, but it is more predominant among people with intellectual disabilities.
What Are the Causes of Eating Disorders?
Researchers have long been examining the primary causes and types of eating disorders. According to Psychology Today, aspects like psychological, interpersonal, and social stimuli can play a role in eating disorders. Among identified psychological factors are low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, and lack of control, depression, anxiety, anger, and loneliness.
Personal factors include troubles in family life and relationships, trouble communicating emotions, a past of being teased about size and weight, or a history of physical, mental, or sexual abuse. Social factors that contribute to eating disorders consist of cultural pressures and norms.
What Are the Treatments for Eating Disorders?
The treatment plan is a detailed program that involves four main phases: restoring health, treating psychological disorders, ending behaviors, and preventing relapse. The success of treatment depends on the unique situation of each patient. The path and results differ from person to person some fully recover, while some fluctuate, and others deteriorate over many years resulting in death. People with eating disorders often do not admit that they have an illness. Consequently, they refrain from getting and staying in treatment. Family members or other trusted individuals can be helpful in guaranteeing that the person with an eating disorder receives needed medical care and rehabilitation.
References
- National Institutes of Health – Eating Disorders
- Mayo Clinic – Eating Disorders
- American Psychiatric Association – Eating Disorders
- WebMD – Eating Disorders
- Child Mind Institute – Anorexia Nervosa
- HelpGuide – Bulimia Nervosa
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
