What diseases are manifested in anorexics. Causes of anorexia in women - what is the trigger for the onset of anorexia? How do people get anorexia? Causes

Today, one of the serious diseases that worries specialists various areas activities, including medicine, psychology, sociology, is anorexia.

The topic really excites many, forcing them to worry about the future of their children and mental health society as a whole.

Today we will just talk about this disease: what it is, what are its first signs, what parents should pay attention to who are faced with similar problem.

Scale of the problem

Let's take a look at the statistics for the scale of the problem:

• for every 100 girls in developed countries, there are two suffering from anorexia;
• in the USA, out of 5 million suffering girls, every 7th dies;
• 27% of girls aged 11-17 in Germany are anorexic;
• the risk of anorexia in a family where there is a patient increases by 8 times.

No statistics are available for Russia and Ukraine, but the hasty adoption of Western standards signals a negative outlook.

What is anorexia

Anorexia is one type of eating disorder. It involves a conscious, sustained, purposeful desire to lose weight.

The result of this is complete exhaustion body (cachexia), with a possible fatal outcome.

Anorexia is the most difficult phenomenon to define, in which physical and mental disorders are closely intertwined; many researchers have been trying to find the root cause of the disease for many years. Do not confuse this disease with, there are differences between them.

It is important not to confuse the concept and not to generalize this disease with the desire of mentally healthy people to throw off a couple of extra pounds in adequate ways.

The diagnosis of anorexia informs that the topic of losing weight occupies a dominant position in the worldview of the individual, all of whose activities are aimed at achieving the goal of "losing weight in any way."

As a rule, there is no need to talk about achieving perfection, only a fatal outcome can “calm down” a potential patient if the necessary measures are not taken.

This disorder (condition, disease) is widespread, understand it as you wish, among girls puberty.

However, there have been cases of the disease in women in more adulthood and men, which will be discussed below.

Case history, the first mention of anorexia

Schematically, several characteristic stages in the study of anorexia can be distinguished:

1. Late 19th - early 20th centuries. The attention of medicine was attracted by the phenomenon of schizophrenia and it was suggested that anorexia was one of the first signs of this disease.
2. 1914 - anorexia was determined as part of an endocrine disease, its close connection with Simmonds' disease (hormonal disruptions in brain structures) was determined.
3. 30-40s of the 20th century. It was decided to still consider anorexia as a psychiatric disease. However, there is still no clearly developed theory that would explain the reasons that trigger the mechanism of the development of the disease.

IN last years the problem of anorexia in teenage girls is becoming more common, and as the researchers report, the number of reported cases would be higher if patients came to clinics with mild form disease, which is no less dangerous.

To say that anorexia is exclusively female disease it would be incorrect. By 1970, the literature described 246 specifically male cases.

In the male version, the nature of the disease is somewhat different.

In most cases, the patient turns out to have a schizophrenic relative, and the anorexia itself developing in the body of a man triggered the mechanism of schizophrenic illness, often with delusional ideas.

The consequences of the disease in men:

• decrease in activity;
• autism (withdrawal);
• rude attitude towards relatives;
• alcoholization;
• photo symptom (patients stubbornly refuse to be photographed, even for a passport, because of their defect);
• there are violations of thinking (there is a clear inexplicable slip from topic to topic).

Usually in childhood such boys were full, in physical development lagged behind their peers, for which the latter blamed them.

They fixated excessively on thoughts of their excessive fullness and took action.

predisposition to disease

Here we will consider at what age a greater predisposition to the disease in girls and women, the problem of anorexia in girls in adolescence.

In most cases, the disease affects girls who are in puberty.

This pubertal period covers the age from 12-16 years old for girls and from 13-17 (18) years old for boys.

Peculiarity puberty, regardless of gender, is characterized by the fact that the attention of a teenager is focused on his appearance.

During this period, many physiological processes occur that disrupt the harmony of appearance.

In parallel, the psyche of this period directs the thoughts of a teenager into the sphere of self-knowledge, the development of self-esteem in connection with the opinions of others.

At this stage, adolescents are very sensitive to third-party assessment and statements in their direction from reference group of people. That is, people who are significant in the perception of the child, and whose opinion is very significant for them.

Accordingly, a careless joke can give rise to great feelings of a teenager about its significance, reasonableness, attractiveness.

Since girls are more receptive to the topic of appearance, they are the hostages of self-depleting ideas.

At the same time, a slight excess of weight is perceived either on an exaggerated scale or completely far-fetched by the girl, as a result, painful thoughts fill all the hours that could be occupied with developmental activities.

The perception of her body is changing dramatically - a girl with a weight of 38 kilograms "really" feels like 80.

Naturally, no arguments of relatives can change this. The mirror reflecting the ugly, according to the girl, the body becomes worst enemy.

Many researchers agree on the idea that the prerequisite for the development of thoughts about their own "ugliness" in a child is formed by parents in early childhood.

When food becomes the main tool of reward/punishment, the girl develops an attitude that food is a kind of trophy that she can reward herself with in the future.

However, social standards, which parents agree with, do not welcome the "fat". The child cannot understand this duality and, feeling guilty, looks for ways to resolve this already intrapersonal conflict.

General Risk Factors

Considering anorexia as a disease that has worsened in the 21st century, several important socio-cultural points should be noted.

1. The influence of Western canons of beauty.

Basically, teenage girls, who have not decided on the image in which they want to present themselves to others, seek to find a suitable format.

Opening a magazine, raising his head to a billboard, a teenager sees a haggard, beautiful girl who is admired by many and makes a decision.

Only who would have suggested to her that the model is also a hostage of the life situation.

2. Accelerated emancipation of women.

Appearance a girl who wants to occupy leadership positions in the future must still correspond to the formed ideas of society about a leader.

Women's version Such an image today includes: a toned, somewhat emaciated figure, an appropriate condition of the skin of the face and hair, high-quality appropriate makeup, a seasoned style of clothing and behavior.

3. Economic and cultural level of the country's development.

Anorexia is a disease of developed countries. The starving countries of Africa do not know such a problem, since the thoughts of these people are occupied with everyday questions:

• how to earn more money;
• how to feed yourself and your family.

And not to think that I should (should) correspond to something, or even worse, refuse food that is already on the table. Such people are more down to earth and, probably, this is their salvation.

Determining Risk Factors

Now let's move on to the more defining factors of anorexia: the family microclimate and special personality characteristics that predispose the girl to this state of the body.

Childhood experience in a person's life has a dominant influence throughout life.

Many researchers and practitioners agree that many mental illnesses are the result of a dysfunctional family situation, including schizophrenia, neurotic disorders, depressive-manic predisposition.

Anorexia is no exception. Without insisting on the truth of the descriptions of the family members of anorexic girls, through long studies of patients, the following features their parents.

The mother of such a girl is usually despotic, her dominant position deprives the child of any initiative, constantly suppresses his will.

Usually such women hide their desire for self-affirmation behind their hyperconcern. They, not being realized in due time, are trying to catch up at the expense of their family members.

At the same time, they have a sufficient energy reserve and emotional strength, which has such an intimidating effect on the “victims”.

The spouses of such wives, respectively, the fathers of the girls, play secondary roles.

They usually have passive characteristics:

• not activity;
• unsociable;
• gloom.

Some researchers define them as "tyrants". However, there are also despotic fathers, within the framework of this disease, who play an overly active role in the life of the child and his treatment system.

In conclusion of this subsection, it must be said that often a child, seeing an unfavorable situation in the family, from childhood tries in every possible way to normalize relations between parents.

Often this way is "the child's departure into illness." According to the logic of the still immature children's consciousness, parents will become one team in saving their child, they will forget grievances and claims against each other, help the child and eventually become a happy family.

In some families that reject both their own feelings and the experiences of other family members, food for the child becomes the main means of communication with parents, in particular, with the mother, where love and respect can be expressed through an empty plate. Sad.

It seems very cruel to bring a child to such a selfless decision, because experience shows that family problems only get worse.

Girls as the main risk factor

It was the turn of the analysis of the main character - a girl with anorexia.

What special qualities they possess, what disorders characterized their childhood, what social status they mainly occupy.

From a psychological point of view, such a girl is endowed with the following characteristics:

• obsessions exaggeration of one's own abilities;
• emotional immaturity;
• high degree of suggestibility;
• dependence on parents;
• hypersensitivity;
• touchiness;
• there is no desire for independence.

There is an opinion that anorexia is a “disease of excellent students”. Indeed, often such girls are very obedient, impetuous, they lack the spirit of rebellion.

According to the personality characteristics of girls prone to anorexia can be divided into three types:

1. Too sensitive, with a predominance of anxious, suspicious thoughts;
2. Girls with hysterical reactions;
3. Purposeful, always striving for the “first place”.

Talk to your child, actively listen to their problems and concerns. Perhaps you will stop the disease at an early stage.

The first signs of anorexia

This subsection should attract the attention of those people with whom the girl is in constant contact: parents and close friends.

Only a close indifferent look of one of them can warn a teenager against the development of the disease.

The first signs of anorexia:

• a girl more than usual spends time in front of a mirror;
• the topics of her everyday conversations are limited to issues of calorie content and unattractiveness;
• frequent constipation and desire to get rid of food eaten. This is manifested in a long stay in the toilet room;
• increased interest in the parameters of female models and an unhealthy desire to find the perfect diet;
• the nail plate becomes thinner, the teeth crumble and become sensitive;
• hair may fall out;
• crash occurs menstrual cycle;
• emotional condition characterized by increased fatigue.

Do not sound the alarm if you find one of the listed signs, perhaps this indicates a disease of a completely different type or a situational passing condition.

The first signs of the disease should be considered in the complex.

Symptoms of the disease, how to diagnose

Many foreign and domestic psychiatrists and psychologists dealt with this issue and pored over in order to reduce the symptoms to a single list.

We will present a generalized list of the brightest and significant symptoms.

They are bred primarily to avoid confusion, because anorexia is often considered as an addition to various other mental illnesses.

So the 5 main diagnostic symptoms diseases:

1. Refusal to eat;
2. A loss 10% body weight;
3. Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) that lasts at least 3 months
4. Absence of signs of diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, organic lesions brain.
5. Manifestations of the disease should be no later than 35 years.

Stages of the course of the disease

Domestic scientists distinguish 3 stages of the disease, which are presented in order of the deepening of the disease in the body of a girl.

Stage 1 - dysmorphophobic (lasts 2-3 years).

At this stage, the girl has a clear conviction, a logically justified attitude that her body is full.

Stage characteristics:

• high sensitivity to the assessments of others;
• cutting food into small pieces, chewing it for a long time;
• daytime fasting can be combined with nighttime overeating.

Stage 2 - dysmorphomanic.

At this stage, girls move on to action to reduce your weight:

• they pretend to take their food (in fact, they spit it out, feed it to the dog, after eating food they induce vomiting, etc.);
• study recipes with gusto various dishes while overfeeding loved ones;
• lie down as much as possible during sleep uncomfortable postures;
• develops dependence on appetite-reducing pills;
• drink a lot of coffee and smoke cigarettes to prevent sleep.

Stage 3 - cachectic.

There is a deep depletion of the body:

• the skin loses its elasticity, flakes off;
• subcutaneous fat disappears;
• there is a failure in the perception of their body (having lost half of their previous weight, they continue to perceive themselves as full);
• deformation of the gastrointestinal tract;
• pressure and temperature decrease.

Possible social consequences

Anorexia deprives a girl of many social roles.

Due to her emaciated condition, she is unable to communicate with children. Marital relations and communication with parents become conflicted, since no one understands her experiences, everyone just wants to send her to the hospital.

Study and work become inaccessible, as all thoughts are occupied with the problem of weight alone.

Being an excellent student in childhood, showing top scores, now she is incapable of creativity and abstract thinking.

The circle of acquaintances with anorexia has specific features. Basically, the girl refuses old friends and prefers to communicate with her friends, as it seems to us, by misfortune.

In networks, there are entire groups, the entrance to which is strictly limited. The main topic of discussion is calories, kilograms, etc.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: What is the relationship between anorexia and.

Treatment of the disease

Many experts are unanimous that a person with anorexia should be isolated from an early lifestyle, placed in a hospital setting, with rare visits from relatives.

Practically in every developed country there is a specialized clinic for such patients, where they are under the supervision of professionals of various qualifications (nutritionist, physiologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, etc.).

Treatment within the hospital is carried out in two main stages:

1. The first stage is referred to as "diagnostic".

It lasts approximately 2-4 weeks. Its goal is to maximize weight recovery, eliminate mortal danger.

Here the emphasis is on the psychotherapeutic impact: finding out the cause of the disease, understanding what methods of work are suitable for this particular patient.

During this period, the patient tries not to fix his attention only on food, his diet consists of high-calorie cocktails, he is given a free leisure schedule, relaxation sessions are held before eating.

IN ideal, corrective work in parallel should be carried out with all family members.

Successful will be the application, developed in Western countries, gaining momentum in our family therapy.

One of the areas of work in this case will be the development of a desire for emotional intimacy in each family member, work with fear in this area.

Alas, statistics show that for most patients, treatment does not have the desired effect. Many return to restrictive eating, a small percentage of patients commit suicide.

The reason may be in the incompletely completed course of treatment (many do not stand up and return to their former lives).

There is evidence that therapy is more effective the earlier the disease began. Anorexia with onset late age more difficult for therapeutic correction.

Treatment at home

In addition to inpatient treatment in the hospital, it is possible at home at the initial stages to redirect the condition of the girl not to disease state.

What you should pay attention to:

• first of all, you need to realize the girl and her family that something went wrong; knowing about your deviation at the initial stage, you can jointly consciously try to find the cause and throw all your strength into making it less noticeable;
• area of ​​interest. As a rule, choosing such a method of getting rid of excess weight as cleansing, a girl in vomiting finds satisfaction in her needs, often she becomes an end in itself. You need to find a suitable occupation, directing energy in an interesting direction for the girl. Thus, devoting a lot of time to a hobby, she will gradually forget about vomiting, which previously brought her pleasure;
• violations of this kind do not appear in a healthy family environment. Parents should be more attentive and understand that in this way the child wants to convey something to you;
• with a significant decrease in appetite, you can use high-calorie cocktails, as well as teas that will increase appetite;
• sport will be beneficial. Your body will become more resistant to stress, and besides, it will help you get the right shape. in a healthy way;
• to relieve existing tension and anxiety, you can master the techniques of meditation and relaxation yourself, with the connection of visual images.

And most importantly, despite external evaluations, which may be caused by a momentary bad mood of the offender, the patient must understand that he is an individual.

It has specific external and internal features and should not rush to drive itself under the social standard.

Need to go more complicated but effective way: self-assess your positive traits, direct energy into activities that are useful for him and develop, knowing all the delights of the world.

Outcome

Summing up, we can say that anorexia is a very dangerous, but treatable disease.

Much here depends on how ready the diseased person and the people around him are to realize this and prevent the occurrence of irreversible processes in the patient's body that can lead to his death.

Anorexia, the symptoms and causes of which everyone should know, is a dangerous disease, most often caused by stereotypes modern society about the ideal figure, beauty in general. The disease in the vast majority of cases affects young girls, so it should be considered from this perspective. It should be analyzed in more detail, by what signs anorexia can be detected, and the causes of its occurrence should be established.

1 Causes of anorexia

Anorexia is a disease in which, for some reason, there is a malfunction in the part of the brain that controls the eating behavior of a person, resulting in a restriction of food intake to complete failure. Negative Consequence This eating disorder is an uncontrolled weight loss, leading to protein-energy malnutrition and the appearance of various concomitant serious diseases of a mental, neurological, somatic, endocrine, oncological nature. Often, particularly severe cases of anorexia end in death. It is very important to recognize the deadly dangerous disease at an early stage and return a person to a full life.

It is necessary to name the reasons characteristic for anorexia. All of them can be formed into several large groups:

• medical;
• psychological;
• mental;
• social.

The medical group of causes of anorexia includes some serious medical conditions. internal organs, including a tumor of the hypothalamus, in which the human body is depleted due to disorders associated with the absorption of food.

At psychological anorexia The reasons are somewhat different. This may include:

• problems in communicating with others;
• low self-esteem due to rejection of one's body;
• dissatisfaction in love;
• perfectionism and many others.

The unformed personality of a teenager with a fragile psyche often falls into the network of the disease.

The emergence and development of mental anorexia is facilitated by various violations psyche: delusional ideas, depression, schizophrenia, etc.

Causes of anorexia social sphere should be sought in the society itself. Currently, such concepts as beauty and thinness are identified. The concept of beauty is constantly dependent on body weight. The image of an ideal figure with parameters of 90x60x90 is widely imposed on television, the Internet, and fashion magazines. Especially often there are manifestations of anorexia in girls and young women seeking to lose weight and become as close as possible to their ideal.

2 Stages of the disease

Before considering in detail the symptoms of the disease, you should understand its stages. Scientists distinguish 3 main stages in the development of anorexia:

• dysmorphophobic;
• dysmorphomanic;
• cachectic.

The dysmorphophobic stage is the initial stage that the patient with anorexia goes through. She has thoughts about being overweight. It seems to her that others notice this and laugh at her, which makes her depressed. An anorexic patient begins to lose weight, practicing all kinds of diets. But, unable to withstand the acute feeling of hunger, it often breaks down, emptying the refrigerator at night.

In the dysmorphomanic stage, an anorexic patient is already confident in her fullness, she dreams of an ideal figure. The depressive state is replaced by activity and readiness to fight extra pounds. The patient secretly from others uses for this various means Key words: diets, fasting, exercise, appetite suppressants. After a sudden breakdown, she may apply cleansing enemas and artificial vomiting.

The cachectic stage threatens the patient with anorexia with death. Gradually, she develops a strong aversion to food. The body stops taking any food. The patient's weight is reduced by almost 2 times, but she does not notice it. Negative irreversible transformations begin in the body, dystrophy of the most important organs develops. Blood pressure and body temperature drop, the pulse slows down noticeably. Only an experienced psychiatrist can save the patient from inevitable death.

3 Signs of the initial stage

It is very important not to miss the moment when anorexia begins. At this time, the health of the patient caused even minor harm. Here, the main role in the detection of the disease is assigned to relatives, friends, acquaintances, because. the girl or woman herself does not recognize the presence of the disease.

It should be called the first signs of anorexia, which should alert others. These include:

1. Fear of getting fat. The main topic of conversation for a patient with anorexia is the problem of excess weight and the means of getting rid of it: all kinds of diets for weight loss, exercise, dietary supplements, etc.
2. Changing the way you eat. Can be used various variations food consumption: only vegetables and fruits cut into small pieces, or only liquids, a significant reduction in portions, etc.
3. Belief in the presence of excess weight in general or in any part of the body. The ability to constantly prove to others the need to lose weight to get the perfect figure.
4. Refusal to eat, the use of various excuses and tricks: a stomach ache, fatigue, etc. Despite this, an anorexic patient is able to cook various dishes for others, long time be in the kitchen.
5. Frequent release from food consumed by inducing vomiting or by using an enema.
6. Exhausting classes physical education and sports, pursuing only one goal - to lose weight.
7. Restriction of the circle of communication. The fear of having to eat at various events and obsession with discussing the problem of being overweight make the anorexic patient spend most of their time alone.

Knowing how the disease begins, and suspecting the first signs of a loved one, it is necessary to persuade him to seek help from a professional psychologist.

4 How does the disease progress?

If not everyone can determine the first signs of anorexia, then the symptoms of an advanced disease are visible and understandable to everyone. The patient inadequately evaluates her condition even when exhaustion becomes dangerous for her life.

The main signs of anorexia in women are the complete refusal of food and significant weight loss for short span time.

You can note general symptoms anorexia:

• feeling of guilt when consuming food in any quantity;
• panic fear of gaining weight;
• sleep disturbance;
• decrease in body temperature and blood pressure.

As the disease progresses general state the patient's health deteriorates harmonious work the body's major systems are collapsing.

You can make out the following additional symptoms of anorexia, which has gone quite far:

1. Many serious diseases develop due to the fact that the patient's body for a long time does not receive the necessary nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, proteins. More often than others, people suffering from anorexia have serious violations in the work of the kidneys, endocrine system, CNS, gastrointestinal tract, osteoporosis develops, Iron-deficiency anemia and etc.
2. Severe fatigue, weakness, frequent fainting. This is due to the lack of energy due to a half-starved state for a long time.
3. The skin becomes pale, acquire a bluish tint. The normal microcirculation of the skin is disturbed.
4. Serious changes occur in the emotional sphere of the patient: irritability appears, sudden mood swings, memory is disturbed.
5. Hormonal failure in the body of a woman, leading to the cessation of menstruation.
6. The condition of hair and nails noticeably worsens. Due to the lack of minerals, vitamins and nutrients, they become dull and brittle.
7. Violation electrolyte balance The body is due to non-receipt by the body in full of magnesium and potassium. In especially severe cases, signs of cardiac arrest can be diagnosed.

If the development of the disease is not stopped in a timely manner and proper treatment is not started, then the patient can pass the point of no return, reaching the cachectic stage of anorexia, which means degeneration of internal organs and leads to death.

Thus, knowing the causes and main symptoms of anorexia, it is important to be attentive to yourself and others, promoting the correct eating behavior in order to prevent the occurrence of this dangerous disease.

Beautiful slim model with ideal forms And long legs- ideal for almost every schoolgirl. Sometimes in pursuit slim body girls torture their body so that all sorts of diseases begin to develop. Weight loss, weakness, fainting are far from all signs of anorexia, which cannot end in anything good for a person.

What is anorexia?

Anorexia is a disorder of the alimentary tract, which is accompanied by a sharp decrease in body weight due to malnutrition. This disease is mostly psychological ailments, as a person constantly seems to be overweight. Patients no longer see their true reflection in the mirror and continue to torture the body, often completely refusing to eat.

The fear of gaining weight far outweighs the feeling of hunger. People suffering from anorexia develop muscle atrophy, problems with hair and skin begin. Bones become brittle, teeth fall out, and nausea, weakness, and dizziness are perceived as normal.

How to recognize the disease?

In the early stages, the disease is easier to identify, and the treatment will be more effective. After all, often anorexia ends in death, that is, death.

So, the first symptom - a person began to eat less. At any opportunity, he gets rid of food by all means. Changes in skin color, sunken eyes - all due to poor blood circulation and not enough nutrients. Exhaustion of the body leads to a sharp and noticeable weight loss.

How to treat?

First of all, it should be remembered that the disease proceeds on mental level. Therefore, in addition to proper nutrition, consultations of psychologists are necessary. In other words, the treatment of anorexia is a complex therapy that consists of two stages - physical recovery and psychotherapy.

Experts prescribe a balanced high-calorie nutrition, as well as drugs that stimulate appetite. Food should be taken in small portions. It is possible to use drugs such as Chlorpromazine, Amitriptyline, Cyproheptadine. There are cases when hypnosis is used for treatment. Sometimes the patient may also be prescribed strong antidepressants.

Apply and folk remedies. These are mainly decoctions and infusions of mountain ash, yarrow, mint, lavender, nettle, oregano.

Anorexia in children

Most parents are very concerned about the appetite of their child. All the most delicious, all the most useful - and the child, as luck would have it, refuses. Spoon chase games or feeding during the cartoon begin, which only aggravates the situation as a result. It is not uncommon for a mother, suspecting anorexia in a child, to try to stuff as much food as possible into it, which causes hatred and aversion to food in the baby, programming the disease on her own.

In fact, a child’s refusal to eat can be quite justified - the baby is sick, tired, he doesn’t like food ... When a child refuses to eat enough for a long time, then it's already worth "sounding the alarm." It should also be remembered that signs of anorexia in adolescents are accompanied by growth retardation. It is best to visit a specialist when symptoms are detected.

We lose weight correctly

Like it or not, but even knowing the grave and sometimes irreversible consequences anorexia, obsessive slim figure will deplete their body with diets and starvation. However, diets can sometimes be helpful. The main thing is to use them without fanaticism.

Rules for weight loss:

1. You need to lose weight slowly. The weight that has been gained over the years cannot be thrown off in a few months.
2. If used high-calorie foods need to do physical activity.
3. Eating should be frequent, but in small portions.
4. Forget fast food. Eat like you're in a restaurant and you're in no hurry.
5. Do not forget about vitamins and minerals.

The right diet will not only help you lose weight, it also has a beneficial effect on health.

Be healthy!

Sudden weight loss, dizziness, nausea and fainting are the main signs of anorexia. A person suffering from this disease is often unable to help himself. Therefore, relatives should be vigilant and, at the slightest suspicion, contact a specialist together with the patient.

The treatment of the disease is complex methods stationary. Therapy should not be postponed, because anorexia can end in death.

Anorexia (anorexia nervosa) is a serious mental illness hallmark which is the obsession to lose weight, the refusal of food and the presence of a pronounced fear of gaining weight. Usually, anorexia nervosa progresses in girls and young women who have low self-esteem and at the same time make too high demands on their own appearance.

There are the following The main symptoms of anorexia nervosa are:

self-restriction in food intake or consumption a large number food, after which the patient induces vomiting by artificial means

weight loss below normal

worry about your own weight

fanatical dieting and exercise

Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

For the syndrome of anorexia nervosa to form, a number of social and biological prerequisites are necessary. plays a significant role in the development of anorexia nervosa. hereditary factor, exogenous hazards in the first years of life, personality traits, as well as microsocial factors, such as, for example, the importance of the family. Also important depressive states, exhaustion, aversion to food, stress.

Exist risk factors that increase the risk of anorexia nervosa. These include:

In some cases, excessive concern for one's own weight, an increased interest in diets and other methods of losing weight can “help” develop anorexia.

There is a certain type of personality that is more prone to the appearance of anorexia: usually they are meticulous, pedantic, people who make high demands on themselves and others, they have low self-esteem.

The hereditary factor plays a role in the development of anorexia: if a parent has anorexia, this increases the risk of developing this disease in children.

Living in an environment where there is an obsession with the ideals of beauty, maintaining a certain weight, thinness to a greater extent contributes to the development of anorexia nervosa.

The cause of anorexia nervosa may be psychological trauma such as loss of a loved one, rape.

Types of anorexia

First type- restrictive, which is characterized by the patient limiting himself to food intake, while the patient almost never eats up to a feeling of fullness, after eating artificially provokes vomiting.

Second type- cleansing. Its difference is that the anorexic constantly eats up to a feeling of fullness, after which he provokes vomiting, bowel movements (by taking laxatives), uses diuretics, and so on. People with the purgative type of anorexia nervosa tend to eat a lot (more than a healthy person of similar build) because they don't have internal control over meals.

Signs and symptoms of anorexia

Most people with anorexia nervosa, despite being thin enough, begin to worry about overweight and try to limit themselves in the food they take, up to the appearance of exhaustion. It follows that the prerequisite for the appearance of anorexia nervosa may be distorted perception of your body.

According to statistics:

• The number of patients with anorexia over the past 20 years in economically developed countries has increased significantly
• With a frequency of 1 in 90 cases, girls aged 16 years and older suffer from anorexia.
• 10% of anorexics who do not seek treatment die

There are several main symptoms and signs of the development of anorexia:
1) People suffering from anorexia nervosa devote a lot of time to food: they study diets and the caloric content of certain foods, collect collections of recipes, prepare gourmet dishes to treat others, while they themselves refuse to eat - they come up with what is wrong have eaten for a long time, are not hungry, can also simulate eating (they do not swallow food, hide it, etc.).
2) Usually an anorexic hides obsession with their weight and tries not to declassify the fact that after each meal causes vomiting artificially.
3) Approximately 50 percent of people with anorexia nervosa progress to severe constant feeling the hunger they satisfy big amount food (so-called bulimia). The eaten food is then removed from the body by inducing vomiting or using other methods.
4) Patients with anorexia nervosa great attention give physical exercises, keep active, mobility.
5) Usually, patients with anorexia nervosa lose interest in sex.
6) Due to a lack of nutrients, a violation occurs hormonal balance, which often leads to the cessation of the menstrual cycle (amenorrhea appears - the absence of menstruation).
7) Patients with anorexia nervosa have low temperature body and arterial pressure. There may be a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart muscle, this is due to the lack of necessary electrolytes in the body (during vomiting, a large amount of potassium is lost).
8) Patients with anorexia nervosa often have constipation, flatulence (bloating), a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen.

Consequences of anorexia nervosa

Long-term, untreated anorexia nervosa can lead to serious consequences, such as:

Disruption of the heart muscle- a common cause of death among patients with severe forms of anorexia nervosa. The following characteristic symptoms of a heart disorder in anorexics are distinguished: a feeling of malfunctioning of the heart (arrhythmia), palpitations, decreased blood pressure, the pulse becomes rare (less than 55-60 beats per minute), momentary loss consciousness, dizziness, etc.
Decreased production of hormones thyroid gland and female sex hormones leads disruption of the endocrine system. As a result of these violations, there is a cessation of menstruation, the disappearance sexual attraction, lethargy, infertility, etc.
calcium deficiency causes thinning and increased fragility bones. In those with severe anorexia, even a slight impact on the bone can lead to a fracture.
Frequent artificial provocation of vomiting in anorexics leads to the fact that the acidic contents of the stomach damage the esophagus and teeth: inflammation of the lining of the esophagus(esophagitis), tooth enamel is destroyed.
Anorexia nervosa is often accompanied by feelings of despondency, depression, inability to concentrate. In some cases, it can end in suicide.

Often patients with anorexia nervosa do not perceive themselves as sick and do not pay attention to their condition. However, anorexia nervosa is serious illness that can lead to serious consequences, up to lethal outcome. That is why relatives and friends of people with symptoms of anorexia need to recognize this disease in time and persuade the patient to see a doctor.

Diagnosis of anorexia

When the main symptoms and signs of anorexia nervosa appear, it is necessary to consult a specialist psychiatrist. He will put correct diagnosis and determine the course of treatment.

The main methods for diagnosing anorexia are as follows:
1. Conversation with the patient or his relatives and close people. During the conversation, the doctor asks those who come to the reception questions of interest to him. Usually, during such a conversation, the specialist determines the existing risk factors for the development of anorexia, the presence of certain signs and symptoms of the disease, as well as the complications of anorexia.
2. Calculation of body mass index (BMI) helps to diagnose anorexia. To calculate BMI, use the following formula: body weight in kilograms divided by height in square meters.
For example, if the body weight is 65 kg and the height is 1.7 m, then the body mass index will be 22.5.
normal index body weight can be in the range from 18.5 to 24.99. If the BMI is below 17.5, this may indicate the presence of anorexia.
3. To identify the consequences of anorexia, such as a decrease in hemoglobin, electrolyte deficiency, lack of hormones, etc., the following tests are performed: biochemical analysis blood, general blood and urine analysis, determination of the level of hormones in the blood. In addition, to diagnose the consequences of anorexia, the X-ray method of the bones of the skeleton is used (thinning of the bones is detected), fibroesophagogastroscopy (diseases of the esophagus and stomach are shown), electrocardiography (cardiac disorders are determined), etc.

Treatment of anorexia nervosa

Depending on the severity of the disease, the form of treatment for anorexia nervosa is chosen. In most cases, the treatment of patients with severe anorexia is carried out in a specialized institution under the supervision of specialists. The main goals of the treatment of anorexia: the gradual reduction of body weight, restoration of the balance of fluid and electrolytes in the body and psychological assistance.

In patients with severe anorexia normalization of body weight carried out gradually: from half a kilogram to one and a half kilograms per week. Patients are prescribed an individual diet that contains the required nutrients in sufficient quantities. When compiling an individual diet, the degree of malnutrition, body mass index, the presence of symptoms of a lack of any substances are taken into account (for example, if bone density is reduced, you need rich in calcium food, etc.). The best option - self-catering a person, but if the patient refuses to eat, it is possible to feed through a special tube that is inserted through the nose into the stomach (the so-called nasogastric tube).

Drug treatment anorexia involves all sorts of medications that eliminate the effects of anorexia: for example, if there are no periods, they prescribe hormonal agents; if bone density is reduced, calcium preparations and vitamin D are used, and so on. Great importance in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, they have antidepressants and other drugs that are used for mental illness: for example, Prozac (Fluoxetine), Olanzapine, etc. Only the attending physician can determine the duration and dosage of these drugs, based on knowledge of the symptoms.

Psychotherapy is an essential component of the treatment of anorexia nervosa. There are two main types of psychotherapy used for anorexia: family (used for adolescents) and behavioral ( greatest effect gives in adults). Usually the duration of psychotherapy courses depends on the patient. It can last one year in patients who have regained their normal weight, and two years in patients whose weight is still below normal.

The treatment of an anorexic patient also involves the participation of close relatives and friends, who must be patient, but persistent in continuing the treatment of this serious disease.

Content:

Anorexia (translated from Greek "no appetite") - mental illness, characterized by a complete refusal of food, lack of appetite when the body needs to eat food. Since 1870, this disease has been recognized and considered independent, with its own diagnostic criteria. But it was popularized not so long ago, about 30 years ago. Although the first patient was registered in ancient Greece.

The emergence of a new disease was associated not only with changes in medicine, but also with a change in the idea of female beauty. Anorexia is inextricably linked with the social and cultural sphere of human life.

Most often, anorexia occurs in girls who deliberately cause a lack of appetite, in view of imaginary excess weight and the desire to lose weight. The main causes of the disease include a distorted perception of one's own personality and the state of the physical form.

Anorexia is a mental illness that has nothing to do with a “bad” lifestyle. With this disease, the guardian of gaining extra pounds is accompanied by pathological desire reset excess weight.

Weight loss can happen in two ways:

Reasons for the development of the disease

There is no strictly one specific reason for which a patient can get sick - basically they go in a complex:

• genetic predisposition;
• Psychological and social factor(influence on self-esteem in the family circle or outside it);
• Influence of biological factors.

While working with the patient, the doctor takes into account all three factors in order to achieve a cure for the patient.

Anorexia symptoms:

• Weight loss. Often, girls suffering from anorexia do not notice that weight loss is critical, thinking that they have not yet lost enough weight. This causes dystrophy of internal organs, which often leads to death;
• Feeling of fullness. Often certain parts body;
• Eating in a certain way: standing up or eating small pieces of food;
• Insomnia or constant fatigue;
• Fear of gaining extra pounds;
• Removal from society;
• The opinion that everything around looks much better.

As a result, due to insufficient food intake for normal functioning the body may develop concomitant diseases, such as: arrhythmia, menstrual irregularities, irritability, cramps, depression.

Male / Female - Half of me. Anorexia:

Types of anorexia

The causes of the development of the disease can be various factors, therefore medical specialists It is customary to distinguish several forms of the development of the disease:

• Psychological. It can begin development during a mental disorder, the likelihood that appetite disappears. For example, it often happens with advanced depression, schizophrenia. It may also occur due to prolonged use psychotropic drugs;
• Symptomatic. It is not an independent disease, but only a consequence of the course of another disease. For example, it occurs in people with diseases of the lungs and stomach. Usually occurs during alcohol intoxication. This happens due to the direction of the body's forces to fight the disease, and not to digest food;
• anorexia associated with nervous system is completely different from the psychic. It is characterized by an obsessive desire of the patient to lose weight, a complete and conscious refusal to eat, food restrictions. Disturbed perception of one's own beauty, thoughts that one needs to lose weight;
• Medicinal. It can manifest itself with the use of psychostimulants and medications for depression.

Why does anorexia occur in women, which accompanies the disease?

Anorexia begins with an attempt to lose weight and put her body in order, however, the diet is delayed and, even having reached the desired indicator on the scales, the girl does not stop losing weight. During weight loss, an adequate assessment of their figure in patients with anorexia is absent. Even when close people say that it’s enough to lose weight, there is no reaction. And so begins a serious addiction to weight loss.

Of course, the desire to realize your dreams is very important for any person. Dependent people have an inadequate assessment of their condition. Often patients do not even know what they want from life: with whom to live, where to work, how to dress, etc. They are completely dependent on other people's ideals and attitudes. Initially, this position can be observed even in childhood, when the baby is constantly monitored, at home and at school.

Psychologists associate many cases of anorexia with such character traits.:

• Low self-esteem, the opinion that no one needs a girl, no one loves her. If a person feels this, then he begins to give himself an inadequate assessment.
• stressful situations. Nervousness also provokes refusal to eat. It also happens that when stressful situation a person forgets or loses the habit of eating;
• Loneliness;
• The desire to show their superiority;
• Fashion and stereotypes about beauty.

Consequences of diets / Anorexia:

When to start sounding the alarm?

If you notice the following symptoms in your family and friends, you should immediately consult a doctor:

• Refusal to eat;
• Thin fatty layer;
• Sunken stomach and eyes;
• Unhealthy thinness;
• Flabby muscles;
• dry hair;
• brittle nails;
• Loss of teeth;
• bruising and bruising;
• Depression;
• Violation of the menstrual cycle;
• Decreased libido.

Anorexia causes irreversible changes at the cellular level. Cells do not receive the necessary nutrients, as a result of which they cease to perform their functions correctly, which leads to bad job organs. It is important to take action in the early stages of anorexia to prevent complications.

Make no mistake / Anorexia:

Treatment of anorexia

Basically, the treatment of anorexia is carried out on an outpatient basis, only in serious cases, when the patient completely refuses to eat (catechsia), they resort to treatment in a hospital.

The therapy includes various drugs, depending on the causes of the development of the disease. The doctor prescribes antidepressants, drugs to correct calcium deficiency. In the hospital, the patient is prescribed high-calorie nutrition, and in case of refusal, parental (intravenous) administration of nutrients is prescribed.

Anorexia has a very strong effect not only on the body, but also on the human psyche, its social behavior and way of thinking. Therefore, the recovery process is quite difficult, even if needed help was provided on time. (In some cases recovery is not possible).

During the treatment process, due to psychological problems, include not only the restoration of normal weight, but also psychotherapy. Throughout the treatment, the patient should be provided with professional psychological support, it is desirable to conduct family therapy.
Treatment of anorexia takes from 3 months to six months.

Particular attention in the treatment is given to patients who artificially induce vomiting, it is they who very often return to their previous state. The most effective method of healing for such patients is therapy using hypnosis.

The psychological approach in anorexia is very important, and helps to correct eating behavior.

Therapies used are::

• Rational. Effective in severe stages of the disease and is to convince the patient that you need to fight for your life and gain weight. This therapy talks about correct weight, in relation to growth, about proper healthy nutrition. Explains the social background, the need to work, be useful to society, etc.;
• Behavioral. Integrated impact on personality. At the first stage, the doctor teaches the patient special techniques, after which he corrects the social problem;
• Hypnosis. The method is suitable for a person with mental disorder. Gives the best results in complex therapy;
• Family. This method allows you to improve relationships within the family, allow you to throw out the accumulated negativity and solve all problems.

It is very difficult to establish contact with the patient in a hospital environment. The patient is depressed and experiencing nervous tension, so psychotherapy is very important for a comprehensive cure for anorexia.

Treatment at home

The disease can be treated at home, if it is not life-threatening and has not taken severe form. The most important thing is to recognize the presence of the disease. Then set out to defeat him. It is very important to pull yourself together and engage in treatment, you can connect relatives or friends who would motivate and not let you weaken your efforts.

Treatment at home:

Pregnancy with anorexia

Does it happen that a girl suffering from anorexia is preparing to become a mother? Yes, and this happens - in most cases, the pregnancy is unplanned, since the patients do not want to get better in any case, even on such a happy occasion. Most often, pregnant women have an abortion, but some still agree to keep the child. There are also cases that anorexia recedes after treatment, but during pregnancy, the girl again begins to experience fear of getting fat.

If an anorexic patient finds out that she is pregnant, you should immediately seek advice from your doctor to check the condition of the fetus.

If you are just planning a pregnancy, then it is worth considering that if your weight is below the norm, then it will be quite difficult to bear a child or become pregnant, and in some situations it is impossible.

Dangers during pregnancy

When anorexia is diagnosed, there is a high chance of miscarriage or premature birth. It is also possible to bear and give birth to a child without experiencing difficulties, however, after birth, the baby can be diagnosed with congenital diseases.

If a girl suffers from anorexia, but it is advisable not to plan a pregnancy, but immediately bring weight and psychological condition back to normal. After all, depression during pregnancy negatively affects not only the mother, but also the baby. It can manifest itself due to a lack of nutrients or a fear of gaining excess weight. People with anorexia constantly need the support and supervision of a doctor.

Anorexia in boys

More recently, such a disease as anorexia was extremely rare in the male part of the population. Today, a quarter of all anorexics are men. Anorexia is very rare as an independent disease in men, it is mainly the result of mental disorders.

Predisposition to anorexia (risk factors):

The basis of the development of the disease is the opinion of completeness and extra pounds. For some, it is essentially nonsense even at the initial stage of the disease and is completely unrelated to reality. Even with a shortage of mass, men do not notice shortcomings, but attribute invalid flaws to themselves.

Ways to lose weight in men are no different from women. Refusal to eat, also, absurdly asserted, the desire to lose weight occupies all thoughts. There may be signs of the development of schizophrenia, there comes an immersion in oneself, refusal to communicate, isolation.
Men very rarely go to the doctor with symptoms, mostly they drag it out to the last, and their relatives are already asking for help to prevent them from dying.

The appearance of men suffering from anorexia can only cause concern when the disease is already in a severe stage. They look very worn and tired, they are malnourished and have a pale, unhealthy complexion.

Psychologists and therapists are involved in the treatment of the disease. The causes of anorexia in men are often only psychological, so the support of a psychotherapist is very important at any stage of the disease.

But without medicines still not enough. The patient is prescribed antidepressants and tranquilizers. Such therapy is intended to help the patient adapt to society and return to habitual image life, normalize nutrition.