What is Psychosis?

The word psychosis causes consternation and fear and is most commonly associated with madness and encourages stigma and degrading treatment of people with mental illness. In this article, mental health specialists from The Meadowglade, will try to clarify your doubts and at the same time reduce the stigma that surrounds this term. 

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by repeated episodes of excessive food intake in a short period of time. This is coupled with excessive concern about body weight control, which may lead you to use methods to control weight gain.

We went to The Meadowglade, a rehabilitation center, specialized in health and eating disorders, and spoke with the specialists about this disorder.

Who suffers from anorexia?

Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, overeating) affect about 4% of adolescents. Severe anorexia nervosa is rare, affecting about 0.5% of the population. However, milder cases were probably not diagnosed. This disorder is primarily a phenomenon characteristic of puberty and young adulthood. About 95% of anorexia cases are women. Anorexia is much more common in industrialized societies where leanness is a prerequisite for attraction. Twenty years ago, this phenomenon was mainly related to middle- and high-income families, but today it is spread across all social classes.

When it comes to treating anorexia, find a good eating disorder specialist or someone who understands anorexia, is of vital importance. Located in Moorpark, California, only 20 minutes from central Los Angeles, The Meadowglade is an outpatient rehabilitation center specializing inmental health and eating disorders. The Meadowglade’s mission is to help clients achieve an independent work-life balance by following the therapeutic principles of benefitting mind, body and spirit, to maximize the quality of life in every way. 

Signs and symptoms of anorexia

A person with anorexia nervosa may have a large number of clinical symptoms and signs that can cause complications in any organ system. Some of the symptoms of the disease are:

·         Refusal to maintain a normal body weight index for the patient's age

·         Amenorrhea - loss of menstruation

·         Fear of even the slightest weight gain

·         Obvious, rapid and dramatic weight loss of at least 15% below normal body weight

·         Hair growth on the face and body, more brittle hair, yellow and unhealthy skin

·         Abnormal food cravings such as calorie counting or obsessive cookbook study

·         Suppression of sexual desire

·         Cold hands and feet at normal room temperature

·         Chronic insomnia and fatigue

·         Rituals like chopping food into small pieces, refusing to feed in the presence of others

·         Taking laxatives, weight loss pills, intentionally vomiting immediately after a meal

·         Exquisite exercise

·         He blames the perception of the body as fat even though everyone says the patient is too thin

·         Hypotension and heart rate disorder

·         Depression

·         Desire for loneliness, avoidance of family and friends

·         Mood changes

·         Halitosis (bad breath) due to vomiting

Anorexia diagnosis

Assessment of anorexia involves examination of the patient's mental and physical condition, that is, the current mood and content of thoughts (with emphasis on weight and dietary patterns), the circumstances in which the person is present, their illnesses to date, present symptoms, and family history. Anorexia is usually evident on the basis of characteristic symptoms and signs, especially the loss of more than 15% of body weight in a young person who is afraid of obesity, loses menstruation, denies the disease and otherwise appears in good condition. The key to diagnosis is to detect a central "fear of obesity" that is not mitigated by weight loss. Because treating anorexia is a rather complex process, The Meadowglade’s treatment modalities are individualized, multi-disciplined, therapeutic, diverse and designed to address each individual’s needs in a professional, unique and holistic manner.

Identifying Eating Disorders

It is generally not easy to determine that the person we care about has developed an eating disorder. As a professional rehabilitation center specializing in mental health and eating disorders, The Meadowglade has at its disposal a qualified team of doctoral level medical healthcare professionals, mental health specialists and therapists, and eating disorder practitioners and therapists.

According to these specialist, the warning signs you should pay attention to are:

• ·         They skip meals
• ·         They keep complaining about being obese even though they have a normal weight or are thin
• ·         They are constantly measuring on the scale and observing in the mirror
• ·         They say they have already eaten or that they will go out and eat outside
• ·         They cook rich and complicated meals for others, eating very little or nothing
• ·         They only eat certain low calorie foods; for example celery and cucumber
• ·         They feel uncomfortable and refuse to eat in a public place
• ·         They visit websites that promote anorexia

The fact that a person suffers from an eating disorder can go unnoticed for years, as body weight is often within normal limits. Over eating and purging are often done in secret and with a great sense of shame. At The Meadowglade, we offer acceptance and commitment therapy, which stops the behaviors of the eating disorder. We also help you work through the underlying needs and issues that are at the root of the eating disorder. Our treatments help the whole person, not just the symptoms of the disorder.