HOW I LEARNED TO CONTROL AND OVERCOME MY ANOREXIA

Before I briefly explain here how I overcame my bouts with anorexia please understand that my example is not a model for everyone. Each persons case with anorexia has different causes, and addressing the causes of each individual based on their symptoms and triggers of the disorder is the only way to treat anorexia in the sufferer. The anorexic must see a trained and experienced mental health specialist in order to get well and recover from this life threatening disorder. My Anorexia is caused by my OCD. I would say that I feel I have control over my Anorexia . Sure I have periods where I may starve myself but the starvation usually does not last more than a few days and I am pretty good at eating foods that are pretty high in nutrition. Although people around me laugh when ever I comment that I need to lose weight, they always tell me that I'm crazy if I think I need to lose weight. I am always encouraged by others to eat more. Although I do have very thin wrists I truly am trying to keep my wieght at 120 and that is the weight I really like to be. My weight does stay around the 128 mark and I know that is not a bad weight. I overcame my anorexia by slowly learning what proper foods I could eat that had high nutrients and low calories. Often times during my anorexic periods I would get light headed and nearly pass out. I am 5 foot 8 inches and at my lowest weight I weighed 116 pounds. I don't consider myself a severe anorexic, but for a man, 116 pounds is not a proper weight by any means. People around me would always ask me if I was sick. It got to be quite annoying.




"He believes that when families stop criticizing, stop judging and controlling, and instead just try to help and understand their loved one's struggle, that's when things start getting better."
husband of a recovering anorexic

UNDOING PAST NUTRITIONAL DAMAGE AND EVEN THE CURED ANOREXIC COULD VERY WELL HAVE HEALTH ISSUES LATER IN LIFE DUE TO THE NUTRIENTS THEY STARVED THEIR BODY FROM EARLIER IN LIFE.


For anorexic patients a complete health examination will be required along with future recording of weight. Gums or teeth must be checked, a doctor must also look for unusual heart rhythms, checking of bone density, changes with menstrual cycle and tests for anemia(low red blood cell count) and heart disease. Anorexia can also lead to smaller heart muscles.
I recall a recent study of patients admitted to hospitals for heart attacks. The study found that heavy overwieght people had a higher chance of surviving a heart attack than did skinnier people. The study never fully concluded why this was so. But my opinion for this is that overwieght people probly ate more protien and had stronger hearts compared with thinner people who ate less protien. Just a little something to think about.


Hormonal changes. Changes in reproductive hormones and in thyroid hormones can cause absence of menstruation (amenorrhea), infertility, bone loss and retarded growth.
Imbalance of minerals and electrolytes. Your body needs adequate levels of minerals, particularly calcium and potassium, in order to maintain the electric currents that keep your heart beating. Disruption of your body's levels of fluids and minerals creates an electrolyte imbalance. Unless restored, this imbalance can be life-threatening.
Nerve damage. Anorexia may cause brain and nerve damage, seizures and loss of feeling.
Digestive problems. Anorexia can cause constipation and bloating.


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