The disease called Anorexia Nervosa

Literally translated Anorexia Nervosa means 'lack of appetite by nervous causes'. This is actually not the most correct meaning, because Anorexia patients are definitely hungry, but suppress it. Anorexia is a psychological disease - the only psychological one people can die from - which shows itself in an excessive preoccupation with food. This is also the reason why people think that if this is handled, the problem is solved. However, if we look further we see that it has nothing to do with food, but with an amount of personality traits and events in someone's life.

Possible causes and participating circumstances

People who suffer from anorexia are often perfectionists and have a low sense of self-worth. They believe they are less than others and therefore try to show themselves they can do something to feel proud. In most cases the low sense of self-worth is accompanied by a distorted body image. This is strengthened by the way they look at themselves and at others.

Research has shown that 'normal' women look at the bad things in others and at the good things in themselves. This way they look more positively at their bodies. Women with an eating disorder do the exact opposite. They look at the good things in other and at the more negative things in their own body.

Part of the chance of getting anorexia is in a person's genes. Some people have a bigger chance of this psychological disease than others do.

It is also usually about the idea of 'having control'. People who have experienced something in their lives they could not help (think of, for example, the divorce of their parents, abuse, etc), look for something in which they can choose. By controlling eating and not-eating they keep control over something in their lives, namely their weight.

What they don't realise is that it is a pretence of control, because actually the real choice is for the eating disorder.
Anorexia is also a way of dealing with problems or bad experiences. Because these people are preoccupied with losing weight all day they don't have to think of their problems. When there is extreme underweight the emotions of people flatten out too, and they can be even less preoccupied with them. Because of a combination of the perfectionism - never being able to do anything well enough - and a distorted body image, they will always continue to lose weight to be happy with themselves and eventually they will go downhill completely.

Anorexia patients will not see how badly their body is doing, even when others can literally see their bones through their clothes.
Therefore it is no use to confront them with this.

Prejudices

I would also like to get rid of a few prejudices, namely:

- ‘Anorexia is a choice.’ This is not true; people with this eating disorder do not choose it and therefore cannot simply start eating and gaining weight again.
- ‘Eating disorders are caused by the ideal of beauty in the media.’ Although this is often thought to be true, it is not. Because they already look at 'ugly' parts in themselves anyway it doesn't matter who they compare this to.
- ‘Anorexia is a disease for girls.’ Research has shown that 5 to 10 percent of the anorexia patients is male, so the statement that it is a disease for girls is definitely not true. This prejudice does cause more secrecy and fear of rejection from the male eating disorder patients, which makes it seems as though it is more of a girl's disease.
- ‘An eating disorder is a scream for attention.’ An eating disorder is actually a way of (sometimes subconsciously) walking away from or dealing with your feelings or problems. People who suffer from this don't want to be different and just want to be like everyone else. Instead of standing out they want to be 'normal'.
- ‘If you make sure someone eats normally again and gets a normal weight, the Anorexia is over.’ The psychological disease has nothing to do with how much someone weighs or eats, but with what's going on in the head of the particular person.

In practice

If you think someone in your surroundings has anorexia (or another eating disorder), then don't leave them to their own devices.
Try to let the person know you're there for them and ask if your suspicion is correct. Try to substantiate with arguments if necessary, so it can be clear.

This doesn't necessarily have to be about looks; you can also emphasise the way they handle food, how much they eat and weight. Use as many facts as you can and try to avoid conclusions based on opinions.

Sources: www.todio.nl