My name is Marilyn Baker, and I have horrible allergies. I’m 42 years old and have been suffering from allergies since I was a child. I have seasonal and environmental allergies. Allergies plague me year round. When I was young, my parents even moved to a dryer area in the hope of helping me. Over the past eight years, I have done extensive research both through doctors and online. I have managed to come up with some combinations that have helped me a great deal. My allergies aren’t gone, but they have become manageable. I do have to have allergy shots, but I also use some natural remedies. I am happy to be able to share my findings with you here on my blog. I hope you can find some of this of value.
While the image in popular culture of someone suffering from anorexia is a too-thin body and low body mass, there are many more subtle signs that someone is dealing with this condition. Being alert to these signs can help friends and family get treatment for someone with anorexia before they get to that dramatic and potentially dangerous, ultra-thin state.
What is anorexia?
Anorexia, formally anorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder characterized by a very low body mass index (BMI.) This disorder is classified as a psychological disorder, since those affected believe themselves to be overweight, even when they are dangerously thin. However, anorexia can have serious health complications, such as heart damage, osteoporosis, and infertility.
Early signs of anorexia
While everyone with anorexia is unique, there are a number of signs and symptoms that should be a red flag to family and friends that a person may have an eating disorder.
1. Dieting even though thin. A person with anorexia can exhibit an obsession with food and often refuses to eat certain categories of foods, such as carbohydrates. They may also talk frequently about dieting, even though they are already thin.
2. Lying about food. An anorexic person may also lie to family or friends to avoid having to eat a meal, saying that they have already eaten. They may also throw away food or feed it to the family pet, rather than consume it themselves.
3. Unusual food rituals. A person struggling with anorexia may also have rituals around food that seem strange, such as never wanting to eat in public, only eating at specific times of the day and making sure that their food is cut in a certain way before they are willing to eat it.
4. Depression and isolation. Since anorexia usually has underlying psychological triggers, a person with anorexia may seem depressed, have trouble sleeping, be irritable, and/or isolate themselves from their family and friends.
5. Perfectionism. Anorexia is often a way for people to feel that they have control over some aspect of their lives.This often goes along with perfectionism and being overly cooperative and eager to please with others.
While a very thin body is the most commonly-recognized sign that someone is suffering from anorexia, there are many subtle signs, such as embracing unusual food rituals, exhibiting signs of depression and being obsessed about dieting even though they are thin. Recognizing these can help you get someone you care about the treatment they need. For more information, talk to a professional like Focus Treatment Centers.
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