Recovery from an eating disorder can be challenging but it is possible if you follow the right steps. A lot of people who suffer from anorexia are clueless on how to stop being anorexic.
People who suffer from eating disorders find it difficult to believe that they need help. Most of anorexic people believe that “being fat” and “gaining weight” is abnormal. So, they keep find ways to lose more weight even when they look extremely thin.
Most people develop anorexia intentionally and some people became anorexic unintentionally due to dieting.
You should try the tips provided in this article, if you find it difficult to return to healthy weight and healthy eating patterns. Also, you should share the tips with any anorexic person you know.
Before, we share the tips, let us briefly discuss about anorexia, from the meaning to the causes, and symptoms.
Table of Contents
What exactly is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa, popularly called “anorexia” is a life-threatening eating disorder, characterized by low body weight, fear of gaining weight, and self starvation.
According to WebMd, People with anorexia usually have a weight of at least 15% less than the expected weight for their age, sex, and height.
Causes of Anorexia
The exact cause of anorexia is unknown, even health professionals don’t know the causes. According to research, there are genetical, environmental and psychological factors that may contribute to the developing anorexia.
Genetical: Someone may develop anorexia if there is a family history of eating disorders and mental health conditions like depression.
Psychological: Anorexia is not just an eating order, it is also a serious mental disorder. Anorexia can be linked to some mental disorders – anxiety and depression. A depressed person have a higher chance of developing anorexia.
Environmental: Pressure from friends that equates thinness and physical appearance with beauty. These friends talk so much about their perfect body and try to make you feel bad about your body. Pressure from society to look some certain ways may also contribute to developing anorexia.
Symptoms of Anorexia
Common symptoms of anorexia includes:
- Restricted eating patterns
- Extreme weight loss
- Fear of gaining weight
- Irregular menstrual period in females
- Insomnia
- Abnormal heartbeats
- Dehydration
- Constipation
- Thin appearance.
People with anorexia may also display certain behaviour, such as:
- Eating in the secret
- Checking their body weight frequently
- Wearing loose clothing to cover weight loss
- Social withdrawal
- Showing too much concern with weight, body size, and food
- Excessive exercise
- Talking about being fat.
How to stop being Anorexic in 7 Steps
Here are the steps to follow when you are trying to recover from anorexia.
Step 1: Seek Medical Assistance
The first step to recovery from anorexia is treatment. Treatment for eating disorders includes: psychotherapy, nutrition counselling and medication.
Psychotherapy: It is a type of individual counseling that focuses on changing the thinking (cognitive therapy) and behaviour (behavioural therapy) of a person with an eating disorder.
Medication: Certain depressants are prescribed for anoxeric people, to help control anxiety, depression and other mental disorders associated with an eating disorder. Physicians may also prescribe drugs that may help in restoring weight.
Nutrition counselling: Anorexic people learn how to restore healthy relationship with food, how to develop healthy eating patterns, importance of nutrition and a balanced diet.
Treatment for anorexia is usually done by a team of health professionals – doctors, psychologist, dietician. The team will set up a treatment plan for you.
Step 2: Build a healthy relationship with food
Anorexic people usually consume a small amount of food and adopt a lot of rigid eating rules. As a result, people with anorexia have bad relationship with food.
Inorder to regain weight, people with anorexia will need to consume enough healthy foods.
A dietician or nutritionist can help you develop a meal plan and also educate you on how to develop healthy eating patterns.
To build a healthy relationship with food, you will have to:
- Stop restricting the amount of food you consume
- Avoid skipping meals
- Eat three meals in a day, with regular snacks
- Stay away from diet plans, such as baby diet plan and 5-bite diet plan
- Avoid binge-eating and purging
- Stop avoiding certain foods – most anorexic people avoid carbohydrates because it contains high calorie content.
Step 3: Identify and avoid the things that made you become anorexic
Protect yourself from unhealthy situations that may contribute to the development of anorexia.
You may need to change your environment or job, if it supports being anorexic. For instance, actors, models, and athletes are expected to maintain a type of body weight and shape.
If you are clueless on things to avoid, then do the following:
- Stop exercising on an extreme level, instead take a walk or jog
- Avoid pointing out flaws from your body, especially when you are at the front of a mirror
- Stop checking your weight frequently
- Stay away from people or friends that fat-shame, make bad comments about your body, and are obsessed with their weight
- Avoid websites, social media accounts, TV shows that make you feel bad about your body
Step 4: Develop a Positive Body Image
Anorexic people usually have an unrealistic body image in their mind, no matter how they lose weight, they will never be satisfied with their weight.
To overcome this, you will have to replace the unrealistic image with a healthy body image.
If you clueless on how to achieve this, then do the following:
- Always remember that gaining weight is not abnormal
- Stop comparing your body with other people’s bodies
- Always remember there is no “perfect body”, healthy human bodies come in different shapes and sizes
- Remember that a certain body weight won’t get rid of any negative emotions you are experiencing. Try to engage in activities that make you happy
- Always remember to make positive comments about your body, like “my hair is so beautiful”, “I have a beautiful smile”.
- Stop being a perfectionist
Step 5: Understand the risks of Anorexia
Anorexia can lead to several life threatening health issues. Understanding the risks of anorexia may motivate you to take your treatment plan serious.
Anorexia can cause a variety of medical issues, including:
- Osteoporosis – a health condition there weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break
- Infertility
- Damaged organs, especially the heart, brain and kidney
- Arrhythmias – irregular heartbeat
- Hypotension – low blood pressure
- Mental disorders like anxiety and depression
- Amenorrhea – absence of menstruation
- Development of seizures.
Step 6: Ask for support from Friends and Family
Don’t be shy or afraid to tell your close friends and family members about your condition.
It is usually difficult for people with anorexia to accept help from others, but you need emotional support. You don’t have to go through this alone.
These people will help you to stick to your treatment plan. How? Your friends or family members will always be around to tell you to take your medications, stop you from skipping or restricting meals, and help with preparing healthy meals.
Step 7: Trust the process
You need to know that recovery from anorexia takes a lot of time and effort, especially if the condition was not diagnosed early.
To make recovery easier and faster, you need to stick to your treatment plan, eat healthy foods only, and become more confident about your body.
Make sure you communicate any problem with your team, relax and trust the process.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stopping Anorexia
Can anorexia be treated?
Anorexia can be treated, and someone with anorexia can return to a healthy weight and healthy eating patterns, if they seek for medical assistance.
Can anorexia be permanent?
In some cases, the damage caused by anorexia may be permanent. This is why it is advisable to receive treatment as soon as possible.
How do I help someone with anorexia?
If you notice signs of anorexia in your friends or family members, ask them about the condition. Let them know you are worried about them and they don't have to be in the condition alone. Show support and encourage them to seek for medical assistance.
Can men have anorexia?
Anorexia can affect people of any age, gender, or race. But, it is common in young women, especially among teenagers and those in early adult stage.
What is the cure rate for Anorexia?
According to Medscape, the prognosis of anorexia nervosa is guarded. Morbidity rates range from 10 to 20%, with only 50% of patients making a complete recovery. Of the remaining 50%, 20% remain emaciated and 25% remain thin. The remaining percent become overweight or die of starvation.
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Conclusion
Always remember that no amount of weight lost can bring you happiness. Try to find happiness in other things, like discovering new talents.
Also, stop comparing your body with other people’s bodies. Always remember that there is no perfect body and people come in different sizes.
If you believe a friend or family member is showing symptoms of anorexia or any eating disorder, encourage him or her to visit health professionals – a dietician, physician, and a psychologist.
Anorexia is a very serious eating disorder that can lead to a lot of short term and long term health issues. Try as much as possible to prevent anorexia and get help if you are anorexic.
We have now come to the end of this article on how to stop being anorexic, Do you find the steps helpful? It was a lot of effort. Let us know your thoughts in the Comment Section.
