Eating Disorder Resource Centre of Ireland
ANOREXIA
Anorexia nervosa is characterised by deliberate weight loss and a refusal by the person to eat, often leading to the point of emaciation. People suffering from anorexia are so obsessed with putting on weight or getting 'fat', That they will stop at nothing to stay thin. No matter how thin the sufferer is ,they still perceive themselves as being 'fat'. A person suffering from anorexia never reaches the weight they want to be as they always move the goal post when they get there in s bid to strive for perfection.
Although anorexia means 'loss of appetite' ,the sufferer does in fact
have an appetite, however the fear of gaining weight creates a need to
control the appetite to the point of eating very little , and in some
cases nothing.
Some binge and purge but maintain a low body weight.
Some hide food, take laxatives or slimming pills in a bid to reduce the
'perceived' weight. The clinical descriptions for a person suffering from
anorexia are......
A refusal to maintain body weight or a minimally normal weight for age, and height.
An intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though they would be underweight.
A distorted perception of their personality, body weight or shape is experienced as is a denial of the seriousness of the low body weight.
The earliest case of anorexia was a 20 year old girl treated in 1686
by Richard Morton. A paper was also written 1874 by Sir William Gull.
Anorexia has been around for a while and the sufferer strives for perfection,
control, mastery of self and this leads to the constant struggle they
experience.
The refusal to eat food is an outer expression of deep psychological distortions
or disturbances. Being thin is perceived as being 'in control' , and this
becomes paramount in the sufferers world. Eating is perceived as 'weak'
or 'giving in'. And once a person eats they feel they will lose control
and never get it back. These distortions give rise to the rigid controlling
rituals that the anorexic maintains. Self induced starvation goes against
the bodily instincts and this can rarely be maintained. This is why ultimately
anorexics end up binge eating and purging food as starvation for many
induces binge eating.
When starving the anorexic feels safe, in control, they can cope and
they feel better about themselves. They are afraid of food and afraid
of themselves and terrified of losing the control.
Suzanne Horgan
director & founder
Certified Trainer in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders and Obesity
Contact Us today..........info@eatingdisorders.ie