Anorexia Nervosa SelfStarvation Essay Research Paper Anorexia — страница 2

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a musculoskeletal problem, and if not treated, permanent damage can occur. Other severe physical symptoms that may be permanent are the judgment of the brain. The neurotransmitters of the brain can be altered, leaving the perception affected. Hypothermia can occur due to the loss of fat tissue from starvation. An anorexic suffering from hypothermia has a slow reaction time, is clumsy, lethargic, has blurred thinking, and hallucinations. The severe symptoms of hypothermia can produce the anorexic to wander off, fall down or die. Malnutrition can affect the brain and the central nervous system by slowing down the anorexic?s thinking process and making the anorexic delirious and forgetful. If this malnutrition continues and is not treated with proper nutrition, the malnutrition can

lead to permanent brain damage. In the body?s reaction to the lowered intake of calories, the body?s heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature drops. This is the only attempt the body can make to survive in response to the starvation of an anorexic body. There is a direct correlation to the severe physical symptoms in the anorexic and the psychological changes that follows. Psychological symptoms in the anorexic can lead to depression. Depression in anorexia far exceeds the feelings of every day sadness or grief. The healthy body can recover in a short time whereas the anorexic body cannot. The anorexic suffers from guilt and shame. Even though the anorexic may have lost fifteen percent of his/her body weight and is emaciated, the anorexic continues to feel shameful about

the state of being overweight (NAMI 1). Guilt from consuming any food is a result of a loss of control to the anorexic. The anorexic loses hope from his/her sense of failure to control his/her eating. Obsessive thoughts and preoccupation with the anorexic?s unhealthy physical state and obsessive rituals of the eating pattern occurs because he/she is in a vicious cycle of lack of control in his/her life. This lack of control in the anorexic exacerbates the alienation and loneliness already present. Motivated by the belief that the anorexic is not worthy of friendships with certain peers, the anorexic is consumed by food. The fear of discovering that he/she is anorexic is terrifying. This terror of discovery produces social anxiety and sometimes nervous breakdowns. The depression

resulting from the anorexic?s psychological symptoms can lead to suicide. In cases of depressed anorexics the lack of control to overcome the state of control of self-starvation produces the feelings of failure and desperation and often leads to suicide. Treatment for the anorexic is a long-term process that includes psychotherapy. Treatment must begin with an evaluation of the anorexic patient. Here the evaluator must learn as much information about the anorexic patient by exploring the family history, health status, and how the anorexic perceives himself/herself and the anorexic patient?s lifestyle. Establishing a treatment plan designed for the specific individual anorexic patient is important for success. Initially, antidepressant medication can help in treating the anorexic

because treating the state of depression is essential to the psychotherapy. Psychotherapy helps with the underlying emotional issues in the anorexic?s mind. Cognitive, interpersonal, nutritional, and behavioral therapy are all parts of psychotherapy. Cognitive therapy helps the psychotherapists learn how the anorexic patient thinks and feels involving self- analization of the anorexic to understand the reason he/she has developed anorexia nervosa. Through cognitive therapy, the anorexic patient can realize how the anorexic behavior is distorted and negative. The therapist can teach the patient to substitute positive and realistic solutions for the negative and unrealistic. Anorexics learn to build self-esteem by focusing on his/her strengths while in an atmosphere where food is

absent. Interpersonal therapy success is based on improving the socialization of the anorexic. In interpersonal therapy, the psychotherapist teaches the anorexic patient how to resolve harmful relationships. New coping skills with mood disorders such as loss of control is attained by suggesting to the anorexic patient a better plan to improve the existing lifestyle and socialization. It is imperative that the psychotherapist is non-judgmental. This entails hours of listening from the psychotherapist. Nutritional therapy is necessary to aid in the anorexic?s distorted attitudes toward food and eating. The nutritional therapist teaches and introduces the anorexic patient to food by working on defining what foods are healthy and replacing the self-taught unhealthy eating habits with