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Self-Image in Anorexic Individuals
by Anya Konsletto
http://www.foranorexia.com
In order for an adult to enjoy a healthy, balanced life, a
positive self-image is necessary. For many, the image that
they have of themselves is distorted far beyond anything
resembling reality, such as in the case of those who suffer
from anorexia. This debilitating ~ often deadly ~
disorder afflicts those who either have the inability or
unwillingness to see themselves as they truly are, in the
physical sense. As a result, their lives become more and
more restricted, until they~ve locked themselves into an
invisible prison from which some never escape.
In a nutshell, anorexia is an eating disorder that causes
individuals to starve themselves, as a result of their
warped perception of their own physical appearance. In
other words, no matter how thin they become, they continue
to see themselves as obese and take every desperate measure
to shed those unwanted ~ if non-existent ~ pounds.
Inevitably, this deteriorates into the refusal to eat and,
if left untreated, will cause death due to the breakdown of
the body~s systems.
The average anorexic is at least 15% below the recommended
weight for their age, height and build. Besides refusing to
eat, or eating barely enough to survive, they will very
often embark on a grueling exercise program and even resort
to using laxatives to disgorge themselves of the food they
do eat, all in an effort to lose more weight. These lethal
combinations in all too many cases lead to death, as the
body is starved of essential fuel, physically pushed beyond
its limits, and then pumped with medicine that, when used
to excess, damages the internal alimentary and digestive
organs,and can cause them to shut down.
The profile of an anorexic individual is: Caucasian female
in early or late puberty, and from a high socio-economic
class. They will usually be engaged in activities that
stress the need for thinness and also seem to breed
anorexia. Theater, dancing, especially ballet, and certain
sports activities such as track and field usually attract
people with a higher than average rate of anorexia.
Among the symptoms that may indicate the presence of
anorexia are extreme or rapid weight loss, refusal to eat
in public or the absolute refusal to eat, disruption of the
menstrual cycle (three or more missed cycles,
consecutively), shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue,
anxiety, brittle skin and obsessive behavior in the area of
caloric intake. It~s important to remember that not all
symptoms are apparent in every individual. If even some of
these become apparent, it~s important to consult a
physician immediately. Whether these symptoms are due to
anorexia or some other illness, they indicate a serious
health issue.
Since those who suffer from anorexia aren~t seeing reality
on the same plane as others, they can become angry,
combative, secretive and resistant to assistance. Although
they~re sometimes known to cook large meals for others ~
without eating any of the meal themselves ~ they, somehow
only see themselves as obese, which will worsen until their
very death, unless confronted and treated.
If you notice a loved one exhibiting any of the above signs
of this illness, you should immediately contact a physician
to be sure the necessary steps are taken to get them help.
Treatments do exist to help anorexics overcome this
condition. You also need to provide a strong support
system throughout the recovery period. Remember, if you
are helping someone with this disease, fear and denial may
lead them to say almost anything, so do not take anything
they say to you personally. Just continue to offer as much
love and support as you can.
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