ANOREXIA NERVOSA
Systems Affected: Pyshic-emotional, many other systems.

Definition: Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a compulsive aversion to food.The anorectic (usually a young woman) fears obesity and creates a false body image; as a result, she intentionally starves herself. The extreme weight loss that often results can cause such medical problelms as skeletal muscle atrophy, dental carries, constipation, hypotension, hair loss, amonorrhea (cessation of menustration), and electrolyte imbalance. Cardiac arrest or circulatory collapse can occur and may prove fatal. Intensive psychiatric counseling and perhaps hospitalization to correct the symptons of severe malnutrition are required.
(Exerpt from Medical Encyclopaedia of Doctors)

Anorexia Nervosa is a condition characterized by self-induced weight loss, loss menstrual cycle, and psychiatric systoms. Following are other characteristics:

• Onset before age twenty-five
• Compulsive eating and vomiting (episodes)
• Loss of over 25% of original body weight
• Obessions
• An urge not to eat
• Loss of menstrual cycle
• A phobia toward food
• Agressive behavior
• Body-image distortion
• Sexual dysfunction
• Body growth of thin hair
• Insomnia
• Slow pulse of heart rate
• Family constellation disturbances
• Hyperactive behavior

WILL LACK OF FOOD HURT MY BODY:
Lack of food will hurt your body, as happens in any other condition where starvation is present. The whole body will suffer tremondously, as you can see in the following physical symptons:

• Brain atrophy
• Infections
• Swelling of the legs
• Loss of teeth
• Loss of muscular mass
• Stomach distress
• Bone growth in the joints
• Bowel dysfunction
• Yellowish tint in the skin of the palms
• Lack of vitamin A
• Liver damage
• Loss of menstruation
• Loss of fatty tissue
• Thyroid conditions

IS ANOREXIA A UNIQUELY FEMALE CONDITION?
Not always. Male cases of anorexia nervosa have been reported, although these cases are uncommon.

IS ANOREXIA NERVOSA RELATED TO OCD (OBESESSIVE-COMPULSIVE) DISORDER?
As far back as 1939, researchers have drawn similarities between anorexia nervosa and OCD, patients display obsessive-compulsive behavior. They are obsessed with food and complain of an urge to eat. They are obsessed with their body shape and ritulistics preperation of food. If they dont give in to their compulsion to eat or not to eat, anxiety builds up.

WHAT IS THE CAUSE?
No definite or single cause of eating disorders have been established. Important factors are depressions, perfectionism, phobias toward food, family disturbances, and severe perpetual distortion of body image. Biochemical theories have included dysfunction of the hypothalamus-a cerebral region intimately associated with our emotional balance. Abnormal biochemistry involving neuro-transmitters has been mentioned as another factor contributing to anorexia nervosa.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF RECOVERY?
The outcome of the treatment depends on the lenght of the illness and severity of symptons. Poor family relationships and angry behavior will seriously reduce the chances of a favourable outcome. In addition,there is a group of patients who display hysterical behaviour. These patients are very angry and extremly moody, tend to act out, and unable to follow treatment. If they ever improve, they will immediately sabotage treatment until they worsen again. Patients with severe obsessive-compulsives symptons also have a poor prognosis, unless these symptons are specifically treated.

CAN SOMEONE DIE FROM ANOREXIA NERVOSA?
Going into starvation is dangerous and can be fatal.The mortality rate of the anorexic population reaches up to 30%.

TREATMENT FOR ANOREXIA NERVOSA
Treatment for anorexia nervosa varies according to the therapist's belief's. A pscyhologist will choose a pscylogoical approach (analytical, behavioral,cognitive, or family therapy), while a biological psychiatrist will use medications (antidepressants, anti- obsessive compulsive agents or cyproheptadine [periacti]). Ideally, a joint approach would be more comprehensive and successful.

BEST WAYS FOR CLOSER COMMUNICATION
A woman under stress is not immediatlely concerned with finding solutions to her problems but rather seeks relief by expressing herself and being understood. To feel better, woman talk about past problems, future problems potential problems,even problems that have no solutions. The more the talk and exploration the better they feel. This is the way woman operate. To expect otherwise is to deny a woman her sense of self.
When women talk about problems, men usually resist. A man assumes she is holding him responsible. The more problems, the more he feels blamed. He does not realise that she is talking to feel better and that she truly appreciates him more if he just listens.
If he offers solutions to her problems, she just continues talking about more problems. When she doesn't feel better, he feels his solutions have been rejected and he feels unappreciated. Most important, if a woman can remind a man that she just wants to talk about her problems and that he doesn't have to solve any of them, it can help him to relax and just listen.

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