The Symptoms and Treatment of Anorexia

Anorexia is a disorder in which people are force themselves, in fear of weight, to lose one’s weight. According to DSM-IV, it belongs in the category of an eating disorder.

There are various causes of anorexia. First of all, many people especially young women get anorexia because of the media. Media shows thinness as an ideal trait in a woman, and it indirectly depicts that thinness is part of success of life. This pushes many into anorexia. Not only do society and culture cause anorexia, but it is also causing a partly emotional issues. People who have extreme thoughts like perfectionism, black-or-white thinking, low self-esteem, or other negative thoughts that critically affect one’s life may have anorexia. Relationships with people or major life events that upset or critically influence someone can also trigger anorexia.

Symptoms of Anorexia can easily be witnessed, and most are related to both physical expression and mental expression. One should consider getting a check-up when experiencing several of the following symptoms. The most symbolic symptoms of anorexia include: refusal to eat in public, frequent counting of calories, skipping of meals, dramatic weight loss, constant weighing of oneself and concentration on tiny fluctuations in weight, pursuing exercise activities that were designed to burn off excessively, and lower self-esteem.

There are several ways to treat anorexia, but a combination of psychotherapy is needed along with nutrition counseling. Psychotherapy helps treat anorexia by helping to identify and solve the patient’s problems. Two main methods of psychotherapy are group psychotherapy and individual psychotherapy. The advantage of group therapy is that it reduces isolation and the feeling of loneliness. Since patients share the same or similar disorder, patients can be an encouragement to each other. However, although people may have the same disorder, they may not have the same causes. The Strongest facet of individual therapy is that it focuses on the details of an individual’s disorder. Another way to treat anorexia is nutrition counseling. Counselors help increase weight and restore health by suggesting of food guidelines.

Recent research on anorexia has involved a study a whether Prozac which often use for patients having anorexia is effective on anorexia. This study led by B. Timothy Walsh who is a physician at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Medical Center, resulted in the report that Prozac does not work for preventing relapses of anorexia.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is anxiety disorder according to DSM-IV caused by traumatic events, especially those that are life threatening. This mostly happens to soldiers who have fought in wars.

The causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are clear. Most people who have had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are those who have gone through life-threatening situations like war. However, causes for PTSD are not only limited to war, but also include any kinds of life threatening events. Natural disasters, man-made disasters like explosions in factories, or car accidents can also be the root of PTSD. People who have had a history of depression or abuse can also get PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD appear physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Physically, rapid breathing, panic attacks, tension, and sleeplessness occur. Emotionally, patients may show irritation, fear, exaggerated feelings, or loss of confidence. They also experience confusion, an inability to concentrate, and memory loss. They may be spiritually discouraged with no hope.

Early treatment is the most important thing in PTSD because people having PTSD can also have depression or another anxiety disorder. Some may become alcoholics. There are two ways to treat it: psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Usually psychotherapy is a priority, but both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy can be used simultaneously at the doctor is discretion. According to Dr. Park, who was the writer’s psychotherapist, sometimes pharmacotherapy can be a priority because of its immediate effectiveness.

Recently, researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center led by Dr. Charles Marmar have found the effectiveness of D-cycloserine, generally used to treat tuberculosis, on PTSD. They are planning to launch experiments on people.