In a BBC report on 22 February 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7905223.stm , a study be the charity BEAT, found that only 15% of patients felt that their GP understood or knew how to help them.
Eating disorders like aneroxia are a subject close to my heart, as something that I wrestled with as a child and watched my ex-wife suffer with. It is a terrible disease, and whilst I know that the trigger and the route cause is always different, from person to person, it nearly always has a connection with a lack of control felt by the person.
Not eating, or bingeing and vomitting result in rapid weight loss, and happy feelings as brain chemistry changes, and saiety centre of the brain gives a full sign. Body shape changes, are often initially very pleasing, and this adds to the happy feeling, feelings of regained control.
Unfortunately, this comes at a cost to both the persons body and mind. The body, is starved of the nutrients it needs to function properly, and when combined with over exercising, the adrenal glands pump out cortisol to just keep going, and this leads to the breakdown of almost any cell in the body for energy. With regard to the mind, in my experience, once a desired change on body shape has happened, then fear becomes a dominant motivator, the fear of putting weight back on, and not being able to control it. Fat and protein are avoided, in favour of liquid foods, fruit, vegetables, so thebody becomes further deficient in nutrients especially those required to repair, rebuild and digest food.
Problems with the gut (bloating), kidney and liver ensue, which fight for attention against the continued happy feelings coming from the brain.
Unravelling these problems, take care and attention, and above all a lot of time, to get past the issue of ‘eating a balanced diet’ to the underlying cause. I have found that this can only happen if the person with an eating disorder wants to stop his or her behaviour, and has a reason to do so. While the person continues with the same behaviour, they feel they have control where they didn’t, so without really solid reasons and desires they will not change.
Changes in diet are important, and are vital in the repair of a severly malnourished body, but in my experience will not work in the long term without finding the persons ‘control issue’. If they are willing to seek help, and if they can be honest (lieing to self and others is common with anorexia) then working on a parallel path with specific diet and supplements, and establishing feelings of self control and desire (rather than fear), then eating disorders can be overcome.
[...] Original post by DC Integrated Health | with Damien Clements in Partnership with The Therapy Room [...]