For though my disorder had a very physical effect, it was about my mind. So I could put on weight, but the internal struggle would remain. When I was thin I did not want to look the way I did. I did not look in the mirror and think I looked good, but there remained a compulsion to over exercise and under eat. I was referred to a nutritionist to help me put on weight safely. I also began a course of cognitive behavioural therapy CBT with a psychologist. However, over the course of our time together she enabled me to understand myself and my thoughts and to learn why I might have found myself in this position.
This has been my nature since childhood and there is an element of perfectionism in my personality. I was living away from London with a partner and had begun running as a pastime.
The endorphins helped to lift my mood and were addictive. I began to push myself further with it and set myself targets to beat. I made more time for running, getting up at am to run for at least an hour before work. I began to lose weight naturally as I exercised more.
I felt stronger and fitter, and to enable my targets to run further and for longer, I began to adjust my diet. Why eat something that would slow me down? I began to equate food and sitting still with laziness and inadequacy. Being fit and healthy equalled success and optimal performance and eventually being thin fit into this same category.
The routine and safety of my life was now built around a strict diet and long runs, so the refinement of what I ate became pretty extreme. I was achieving long distances and being congratulated on my successes. How I managed to do this is now beyond me — I would run over 20 miles at least two days a week on little more than a banana.
I would exercise every day without fail, rain or shine, snow or hail. By the time I moved back to London this routine and way of living was just the norm for me. I knew at this point I was not looking great. Jeans literally fell off me and my tops hung loose, the veins in my arms were horribly visible, I had bags under my eyes and my skin and hair were dull.
I think in some cases they did but I was so fiery in my defence it was hard to get me to listen. It took a physical injury to make a difference. They are involved in many school and community activities. Your doctor will probably want you to see a dietitian to learn how to pick healthy foods and eat at regular times. Family and individual counseling talking about your feelings about your weight and problems in your life is helpful for people who have eating disorders.
For people who have anorexia, the first step is getting back to a normal weight. Treatment of anorexia is difficult, because people who have anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. Patients in the early stages of anorexia less than 6 months or with just a small amount of weight loss may be successfully treated without having to be admitted to the hospital.
But for successful treatment, patients must want to change and must have family and friends to help them. People who have more severe anorexia need care in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people who have anorexia and bulimia.
Anorexic patients often need counseling for a year or more so they can work on changing the feelings that are causing their eating problems. These feelings may be about their weight, family problems, or problems with self-esteem. Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that makes them feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used along with counseling. The most important thing that family and friends can do to help a person who has anorexia is to love them.
People who have anorexia feel safe, secure, and comfortable with their illness. Their biggest fear is gaining weight, and gaining weight is seen as loss of control.
They may deny they have a problem. People who have anorexia will beg and lie to avoid eating and gaining weight, which is like giving up the illness. Family and friends should not give in to the pleading of the anorexic patient. People who have eating disorders do harmful things to their bodies because of their obsession about their weight.
People who have anorexia may feel cold all the time, and they may get sick often. They are often in a bad mood. They have a hard time concentrating and are always thinking about food. It is not true that anorexics are never hungry. Actually, they are always hungry.
Feeling hunger gives them a feeling of control over their lives and their bodies. It makes them feel like they are good at something—they are good at losing weight. People who have severe anorexia may be at risk of death from starvation. National Eating Disorders Association. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
You may hear conflicting reports from different sources. The U. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Eating Disorders. Table of Contents. What is an eating disorder? What is anorexia? The website under Related Links can get you started finding a support center in each of your host countries.
Encourage Self-Disclosure Exchange participants who are managing Bulimia or Anorexia are most successful when the program is aware that they have it. Create an atmosphere where it is safe for the participant to discuss his or her concerns about food abroad and the food culture. Try to normalize Bulimia or Anorexia. Directly addressing Bulimia or Anorexia and providing useful resources to turn to will send the message that it is okay to talk about it.
Share the material in a way that is open and provides useful resources to turn to will send a message that it is okay to talk about it and to not ignore unmanaged Bulimia or Anorexia as it can lead to serious, even life-threatening health complications.
Openly converse about Bulimia or Anorexia and let exchange participants know that people with Bulimia or Anorexia have successfully participated in exchange programs before. If a Participant Discloses If you are an exchange professional on the program, meet with each participant who has disclosed an eating disorder. If you have not been hired by your organization to serve as a counselor, it is important to communicate this to the participant, but to also reassure them that you can assist with arrangements to manage the disorder, and that you may be part of a support network that includes medical and counseling professionals.
Clarify any strategies that the participant has in place for managing the disorder. Ask how they will keep those plans operating when abroad. Be forthcoming with the participant, describing different aspects of the program schedule, housing and dining options, cultural or environmental differences, and health resources, without jumping to evaluative judgments on how that may impact them.
Ask about challenges that they may be concerned about as you talk through the programmatic and cultural aspects, and think through solutions or contingency plans in a creative and caring manner. Behavioral Contracts Some programs ask the participants who have disclosed an eating disorder to enter into a behavioral contract, in which they agree to a certain set of behaviors which they will adhere to while abroad and sanctions if the participant does not follow the contract, which could include dismissal from the program.
If a Participant Develops Bulimia or Anorexia after Departure Meet with the participant and in a caring and nonjudgmental way approach your concerns with the disorder. Remember not to act as a counselor unless your institution has hired you to serve this role. Ask about behaviors that you observe. Let them know that you are concerned and that you take the symptoms seriously. Do not try to diagnose. Refer the participant to a professional evaluation with a nutritionist or medical practitioner, and preferably one who is English-speaking.
Conclusion People with Bulimia or Anorexia routinely participate in international exchange, managing their conditions while abroad. Related Links:.
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