Redbridge For Mental Health

Body image is the sum of thoughts and feelings people have about their physical appearance. Oftentimes, the media tend to promote a body image that can be unrealistic. Featuring role models for beauty and weight who are unnaturally thin can affect the physiological and psychological well-being of young women, especially adolescents, who are just starting to become conscious of the changes in their physical structures.

Women living in a culture focused on dieting and weight loss are more prone to develop eating disorders which are detrimental in one’s health. Dieting and the weight loss pill industry may lead young people to develop eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, as well as serious physical and psychological conditions, like lack of focus, depression, low self-esteem, and fatigue syndrome. Having an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image can lead to extreme behaviors of over-exercising, too much dieting, over-eating, binging, self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse.

A young woman who do not eat enough to keep her body working properly may be suffering from anorexia nervosa. Losing too much weight can make you become weak and unhealthy because of a poor diet. Most people with anorexia exercise too much in order to burn up the food they eat. They tend to “feel fat” even when they are actually losing weight. They try to convince themselves and the people around them that they are not hungry. They often take diet pills to control hunger and attempts to lose weight. Some of these pills side effects often make girls feel anxious or nervous. They drink caffeinated beverages that give a false sense of energy. Most people with anorexia develop emotional problems like low self-esteem, obsessive thoughts and behaviors. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by abnormal loss of weight, having distorted impression about one’s body size, and unreasonable fear of becoming fat.

Some of the symptoms of people with anorexia can be dizziness, heart problems, low blood pressure, low temperature and fainting spells. Anorexia can cause hair and fingernails to become brittle. Loss of hair on the head, dry skin, dehydration, and constipation are also symptoms of anorexia. People with anorexia experience anxiety, tiredness, and depression. Anorexia can also cause the growth of soft furry hair on face, back and arms, also known as lanugo. Since there is not enough estrogen to maintain the body’s normal function, menstrual periods usually stop and bones become weal, leading to osteoporosis. The combination of osteoporosis and over exercising can lead to stress fractures.

Another type of eating disorder is bulimia, a condition that makes girls resort to binge, or eat a lot of food out of control even if they are not hungry. Most people with bulimia often feel they have no control over their eating. After bingeing episode, people feel guilty and anxious that they desire to get rid of the food by self-induced vomiting or by exercising. People with bulimia may have unusual tendency to eat in private and hide what they eat from others or eat until they are uncomfortable and exhausted. Bulimia causes people to feel afraid or ashamed of themselves.

People with bulimia may develop serious electrolyte problems, irregular menstrual periods, dehydration, swollen face, sore throat, tooth decay, dry and flaky skin, upset stomach, heartburn, constipation, depression, or weight fluctuations. Low potassium levels due to too much self-induced vomiting may lead to serious heart arrhythmias, or even death.

Detecting bulimia may not be easy as someone can have a normal weight, but still suffer from the condition. Also, since they tend to be secretive about their eating habits, even their family and friends are not aware that they have a problem. Bulimia is a serious condition and can cause permanent damage to the teeth, stomach, digestive track, and heart.

If you have eating disorder, the goal is to improve your body image and self-esteem. Try to address other emotional issues such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or substance abuse. Discuss with your therapist feelings of sadness, anxiety, or anger with your therapist. Therapy greatly helps in providing the time and space where you can confidentially talk about your needs, your goals, and your understanding of the eating problem.

Understanding attitudes and behaviors where teasing and harassment about weight and body shape are parts of the culture can help prevent eating disorders. You don’t have to be resigned in accepting these unreasonable standards of body image but you have the option to go against the industry that conditioned your mind set about it and reverse the situation to your advantage and benefit.

Addictive behaviors are tough to overcome especially if you’re going to want to do it alone. Bulimia, an eating disorder, is no exception to this solo journey of self, as you entrenched in your vicious cycle of over eating or bingeing and then purging after the heavy meal. A person with this vulnerability should consider seeking some form of Bulimia treatment via regular therapy, group support or a self-help method available before this condition gets worse or become fatal.

Bulimia help for many is available in the form of one to one weekly therapy with a qualified counselor specializing in Bulimia or eating disorders. National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) reports high success with weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) session over minimum of six months for bulimia treatment. Some therapist offer sessions over the phone. Although most recent studies support the value of counseling, this may not be ideal if you are shy in nature or dread talking deeply about your bulimic life to someone intensely in person right now. Joining a local support group, embarking on a CBT based Self-help program or combination of any of these three choices may be what appeals to you most.

As bulimia recovery is extremely difficult to undertake alone, recruiting professional help, support and guidance along side the support of your family and friends will help you stand a good possibility of progressive recovery that lasts. Nowadays, silent sufferers worldwide can also access bulimia treatment help via the Internet. Some professional bulimia treatment sites provide therapeutic CBT based Bulimia self-help programs written by experts in the bulimia treatment field, with bulimia sufferer in mind, so he or she can be guided to help him/herself. Therapist worldwide are now are very mindful of how people are suffering from bulimia in the dark, a situation that can easily be remedied.

The initial step here is for you to recognize that you have a condition that needs to be treated professionally. Even the most effective cure for Bulimia would be useless, if your whole heart is not on your full reason to give up bulimia and lead a healthier lifestyle. Determination, self-discipline, and self-awareness are necessary if you are serious about your bulimia recovery.

These are just some of the skills you could learn using self-help program, with possible step-by-step programs to free yourself from these self-harming bulimic ways. The ongoing support, advice, motivation and recommendations from your therapist are a strong feature of an effective CBT program. The appeal of any self-help program, is that you can be at home working on yourself and bulimia recovery at the pace that is right for you, day by day, week by week with additional support from your bulimia therapist. Those already in therapy can also benefit from any bulimia self-help programs to fast track their personal development and a bulimia free life with reduced need to have lengthy or costly face to face sessions with their therapist.

You may involve a most trusted loved-one, to help you go through the self-help program, thus increasing the support around you and making sure the risk of lapse through lack of motivation or complacency does not cost you your recovery so far.

Effective bulimia treatment through various self-help programs, are available to those ready and willing to take that next step in self-empowerment and be willing to take one small step at a time on the path to recovery and freedom.

There are many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies for eating disorder treatment. They include herbal therapy, massage therapy, homeopathy, psychotherapy and nutrition therapy. Each CAM therapy approaches eating disorders from a different angle. Therefore, they can form part of a multi-pronged approach for eating disorder treatment. Here is a look at each of the CAM therapy in turn:

Herbal Therapy. There are thousands of herbs that act as stimulants in eating disorder treatment. They may be Indian Ayurvedic herbs, Traditional Chinese Medicine or western herbs. However, before consuming these herbs, you should let your doctor know about your intentions. Herbs can be very powerful and you should not mix your medications with herbs without consulting your doctor. Herbs that may be helpful for eating disorder treatment include Angelica Archangelica, Taraxacum Officinale, Cnicus Benedictus, Fenugreek Seed, Skull Cap, Cinnamon, Roman Chamomile and Gentiana Lutea. Massage Therapy. Massage therapy helps to relieve your anxiety levels. Massage stimulates the endorphin levels in your brain. Apparently, endorphins play an active role in appetite control and have pain relieving properties. They are usually released when the body is under extreme stress. Massage causes endorphins to be released during your therapy sessions, thus providing you with much relaxation. Homeopathy. Homeopathy is introducing minute doses of a drug that in large doses would cause the disease itself. It aims to stimulate the body in building up natural defences against invaders. Homeopathy can also help to stimulate the brain to relax and de-stress and be used to affect moods. Natural health experts claim that this method is effective. However, this method usually takes a long time. Pyschotherapy. As eating disorders are psychological disorders, going for pyschotherapy sessions will help you with coping with your emotional stress and help you address the root of your illness. Your therapist may also recommend behavior therapy, which will then teach you new signals to deal with this emotional stress. You are taught easy relaxation ways for your body and mind.

The more support that you get the higher the chances of recovery there will be for you. Hence family support is greatly beneficial. Group therapy is also helpful so that you have a group of friends that you can relate to. This is vital as you do not feel isolated, especially not during this period of your life.

Next, cognitive therapy and nutritional therapy, can also help in eating disorder treatment. Therapists educate you on the right way to view food and how to eat. To keep track, you will need to maintain a 24-hour diary of what you consume.

Research studies show that if you suffer from an anorexia eating disorder, then you may have inadequate nutritional reserves. You should consume more vitamins and supplements especially vitamin B complex, including vitamins B2 (riboflavin), niacin and B6 (pyridoxine).

Also, consume antioxidants to help reduce oxidative stress. Antioxidants include Vitamins A, C, and E. They lower the deterioration that your body experiences because of free oxygen radicals. Zinc is great for stimulating appetite, smell and cognitive function and reduces depression.

You will need polyunsaturated fatty acids for the normal development of your body. They include omega-6 fatty acid and omega-3 fatty acid. Hence, you should consume foods such as fish that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. You should also try to eat balanced meals, so that your overall health can improve.