Anorexia Nervosa

What Causes Anorexia?

Being a psychological disorder, there is no one particular cause of anorexia. However, researchers have come up with three main causes of anorexia nervosa:

• Genetic Factors: People whose ancestors or anyone else from the family were suffering from anorexia are at a higher risk of suffering from this disorder.
• Cultural Factors: Certain societies and communities consider lean girls and boys to be better looking. This can make a person resort to extreme measures to look a certain way. He or she will follow a strict diet to make things easier, as body positivity is not a part of their society.
• Substance Abuse: People who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, and any other similar substances are more likely to suffer from anorexia. Since their cognitive abilities are compromised, they are more susceptible to disorders.
• Psychological Factors: Certain times, the body image of a person defines their self-worth. In such cases, people develop severe stress and anxiety, which can be a cause of anorexia nervosa.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia?

Anorexia nervosa symptoms can be exhibited in multiple ways. However, here are some of the most common anorexia nervosa symptoms exhibited by patients:

• Physical Signs: Dizziness, nausea, constipation, and becoming intolerant to many kinds of foods are certain gastric symptoms associated with the disorder. Men develop a low sex drive, and women experience scanty periods. Energy to function properly goes down drastically as nutrition intake is very low.
• Psychological Signs: The development of irrational thoughts, experiencing low self-esteem, and constantly thinking about outer appearance are some of the major psychological signs. Lack of concentration, developing rigid thoughts, and being irritable at all times are also outcomes of following an unreasonably strict diet.
• Behavioural Signs: These signs include intense dieting and deliberately misusing medications like laxatives, appetite suppressants, etc. People suffering from this disorder avoid social gatherings, follow obsessive rituals, and excessively exercise.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa includes a body mass index that is below 85% of the median expected for an individual’s age and gender. There is a persistent fear of weight gain occurring on most days over at least three months. Individuals with this condition often place significant importance on their weight and body shape. This makes it a central factor in their self-evaluation.

What Is The Treatment for Anorexia?

Anorexia Nervosa treatment is an extensive procedure that includes thoroughly analysing a patient's medical history. This step is essential before prescribing any medicine or any therapy to reduce the chances of relapse. Read on to learn more about anorexia nervosa treatment.

• Psychological Support: People suffering from anorexia nervosa need emotional support apart from formal therapies. Therapists play a major role in creating a positive body image in the patient’s mind and building a healthier coping mechanism. This method of treatment enables a person to follow the right diet plan and rebuild his or her self-esteem.
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): CBT aims to recognise and trace the origin of negative thought patterns that make a person feel a certain way about himself or herself. Therapists work collaboratively with patients and develop practical strategies to overcome issues regarding body image. Emotional triggers, social pressures, and stress management exercises are included in the treatment. There is a special focus on improving self-awareness and fostering long-term recovery, which is essential to prevent relapse.
• Family Therapy: This therapy is particularly helpful for adolescents and young adults who have fallen prey to this disorder. Counsellors and therapists explain the problem to the parents. They encourage parents to talk to their kids, spend time with them, and reduce their information intake from social media. The main aim is to create a supportive environment for the patient at home so that recovery is smooth and fast.
• Dietitian Consultation: Consulting a dietitian would be helpful for those who want to look a certain way but want to recover fully. According to a person’s mental health and body mass index, a nutrient-rich diet plan is framed by keeping the requirements in mind. Not only will the diet maintain the body weight but will also include food items that benefit mental health.
• Medication: There is no particular medicine for treating anorexia nervosa. However, symptoms can be managed most easily as there are multiple health issues associated with the psychological disorder.
  For instance, a person suffering from anorexia nervosa might suffer from constipation, anaemia, and intestinal problems. Physicians prescribe medicines that are rich in gut microbes. This would overall improve the gut health of a person, consequently making him or her feel better as the gut and psyche are interrelated.

Living with Anorexia Nervosa

• Effect on social life: Anyone suffering from anorexia nervosa would want to socialise as minimally as possible. Underconfidence and skipping meals and drinks are the two main reasons people tend to avoid social gatherings. This makes the patient a recluse, which ultimately hurts a person’s mental well-being.
• Effects on personal life: Constant irritability and lack of sex drive among male and female patients are a result of anorexia nervosa. This can hurt relationships and cause immense emotional distress. The feeling of not being worthy takes over, which makes a person feel lesser than the other.
• Effects on work-life: Since the intake of a nutritional diet is restricted, concentrating on work becomes a task. Patients are not able to focus because the consumption of carbohydrates and fats is minimal.
• Emotional distress: Certain foods like berries, apples, nuts, and seeds have proven to be emotional boosters. However, owing to the fat content in them, patients might avoid consuming them, which causes deficiencies. The side effects of a limited diet will hurt the skin, impacting the patient’s self-confidence directly.

How to Support Loved Ones

• Never ignore their feelings and symptoms. Make sure the overall environment is supportive.
• Make sure their medicine intake is uniform.
• Encourage them to go for counselling sessions and therapies.
• Accompany them to therapy if needed and empathise with them.
• Give them a nutritional diet so that they can recover and heal properly.
• Skip watching videos on social media, as they could be misleading and spread misinformation regarding anorexia nervosa treatment.

Jagruti Treatment and Recovery

Treatment offered at Jagruti Rehab Centre is customised according to every patient. The treatment plan is framed according to the types of anorexia nervosa that have affected an individual's life.
Here are 5 important reasons proving the Jagruti Rehab Centre is the best for treating psychological disorders:

• Customised Treatment Plan: Physicians and mental health experts come together to analyse a patient’s medical history before they create a treatment plan. This comprehensive treatment plan includes a diet that complements medication, therapies, and the routine of a person.
• Appropriate Behavioural Therapies: There are many types of behaviour therapies a patient might need. Therefore, patients are prescribed a treatment depending on the individual’s stage of the disorder. Behaviour therapy, family therapy, emotional support therapy, and therapies aiming at personality development are all provided here.
• Provision of Proper Meals: For patients who opt for residential treatment plans, three proper meals and snacks are provided to them. The diet is made by experienced nutritionists who consider every minute aspect of patients. Age, gender, level of stress on body parts, and many other such factors are closely considered.
• 24/7 Availability of Staff: Hygiene is maintained at all times, and patients are kept under constant supervision. Vitals like blood pressure and sugar levels are monitored at all times by the nursing staff. The nursing staff also assists patients in performing simple activities like staying clean in case they are incompetent to do so.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: The latest technological tools are used to monitor vitals and keep a tab on a patient's well-being. CCTV cameras are available on the location, which ensures maximum safety of patients. The privacy of patients is taken very seriously, and all the records are confidential.