Anorexia Help, Advice and Counselling
Anorexia thrives around the shame which holds its victims trapped within their illness. Those suffering with anorexia often drift between wanting help, thinking that things ‘aren’t that serious’ and not thinking that there is a problem at all. At The Recover Clinic we believe that when someone with an eating disorder asks for support… we need to act fast and not miss what is often a small window of opportunity to help. It you are suffering with anorexia, or know someone who is, you can talk to a therapist today who will gently guide you through all of the available options.
How Can We Help Beat Anorexia?
Our team of specialists will be able to offer you help with anorexia by guiding you towards the most appropriate inpatient clinics, treatment centres and outpatient treatments to help you to start to beat anorexia today.
Call us and speak to one of our specialists for help and advice on 0845 603 6530.
Do you have anorexia?
- Is your mood affected dramatically by how much you weigh?
- Do you find that you restrict the amount of food that you are eating?
- Do you over-exercise in order to lose weight?
- Do you ever make yourself sick after eating?
- Have your friends and family voiced concerns about your weight or eating habits?
- Do you find that you are obsessive about what is in food and calories?
- Do you have symptoms such as thinning hair, worn dental enamel, hypoglycemia or osteoporosis?
- Are you extremely anxious about gaining any weight?
- Do you use laxatives, diuretics or enemas to lose weight?
- If you are a woman, have you stopped getting your period?
If you find that you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions then you may have a problem with anorexia.
What is anorexia?
Anorexia is a serious and potentially life threatening illness. The illness is manifested by obsessive thoughts about weight and appearance and compulsive behaviours around food. There are two ‘sub-types’ of anorexia: restricting and binge/purging.
Restricting anorexics: Someone suffering with this type of anorexia will generally restrict their food intake and frequently over-exercise in order to maintain a low weight.
Binge/purge type anorexia: sufferers will also restrict their food but will also binge on foods and induce vomiting. Symptoms vary between patients and some may have a mix of symptoms.
Anorexia is generally associated with people who have low self-esteem and feelings of self-loathing. It can often manifest itself in high achieving individuals who have an obsessive desire to seek and achieve perfection. Our team of specialists are skilled in working with people suffering with anorexia and are often able to bridge a relationship with them to help take those first steps toward treatment. Call us today to speak to a therapist on 0845 603 6530.
Behavioural symptoms of anorexia:
- Irritability and a difficulty in interacting with other people
- Decrease in concentration levels
- Difficulty sleeping and fatigue during the day
- Compulsive and obsessive behaviours around cleanliness, tidiness and exercise
- Obsessive about their body/appearance
- Obsessive about food/fat/calories
- High academic achievers – constant strive for perfection
Physical symptoms of anorexia:
- Weight loss
- Dry/flaky skin
- Downy hair growing on the face/back/arms
- Hair thinning or loss on the head
- Brittle nails
Medical complications of anorexia:
- Slow heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Arrhythmia
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Hormone imbalance (which can effect fertility)
- Slow thyroid function
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney failure
- Anemia
- A potential high risk of infection and suppressed immunity
- Death
Statistics about anorexia:
- Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women (Hsu; 1996)
- Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness
- One study reported that prevalence rates of anorexia in western countries are higher than they are in other parts of the world
- Approximately 10 percent of cases of anorexia arise in men
- A history of sexual abuse is seen in 3 out of 10 people with anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to mid-adolescence
- Between 5-20% of those suffering with anorexia nervosa will die (Zerbe; 1995)
- For those who receive treatment, the mortality rate is far lower, at 2-3% (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., 2006)
Whatever the level of support it is that you are looking for...we can help. Call us today and speak to one of our experts on 0845 603 6530.
Anorexia Treatment | Bulimia Treatment | Compulsive Overeating
