Emotional Consequences of Eating Disorders - Diseases and Conditions Article

By:Irina Webster

Eating disorders can only be described as a living hell. They consume every minute of your waking hours where the sufferer is so caught up in counting calories, reading the back of packets, measuring and weighing food, thinking when and where they are going to binge and how to sneak away to throw it all back up.

They eat a piece of cake and then they feel compelled to go for a 10k run to burn off the calories they think they have just consumed. Or they swallow laxatives and spend the next 3 hours on the toilet. Or they simply put their fingers down their throat and throw up.

Now do you see why these disorders are a living hell?
Not only that but they are slowly killing themselves and reducing their lifespan by 10 to 20 years. And the really sad part is they know they are doing it but can't stop.

Most people's reaction to this is for the anorexic to just start eating again with comments like "eat you idiot just eat". Or for the bulimic to stop binging and purging what's so hard about that, do this and all will be well. But I wish it was that simple, but it is not.

You see an eating disorder is a deep psychological problem that lives in the subconscious mind of the sufferer and it really has nothing to do with food. Food is only a symptom of the disorder, a way that the sufferer feels they have some kind of control in their lives.

Sure in the beginning to the sufferer this may have been the case, but in the end the ED controls them 100%. It dictates everything they do or say and controls them with an iron fist.

To you the casual reader you may not understand how such a thing can happen to someone and it is hard for you to think of a reason why.

But it can be caused by many things even something as simple as being called fat at school. Or just wanting to shed a few kilos to look better or it can be a violent episode in their life like sexual assault or verbal abuse.

It could even be as simple as not getting enough love and attention from their parents. No matter what the cause is, to the sufferer these are very real.

I have been told by many sufferers that their ED is like getting on an escalator, you know you are on it but you can't find a way off. This is because you are so totally consumed by the eating disorder you have become a slave to it.

I will make it perfectly clear, if you know someone with and eating disorder then realize they can not simply stop by themselves. It would be like you trying to stop breathing air, it can't be done.

So what to do? Well the good way that actually works is to find a self help program that will address all the things that stop the eating disorder sufferer from getting better. One that deals with the problem in a sympathetic way and is non-confrontational where the sufferer knows they are in a safe environment.

Emotional consequences can be eased by finding a good self help program if a person is willing to understand and accept that she/he has a problem. If the person denies the problem she/he probably needs to find extra help from a reliable source.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Emotional Consequences of Eating Disorders, Emotional Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Dr Irina Webster MD is the Director of Women Health Issues Program which covers different areas of Women Health. She is a recognised athority in the eating disorders area. She is an author of many books and a public speaker.learn more about eating disorders at http://www.eatingdisorder-cure.com

Top Diseases and Conditions Articles
1). Acid Reflux: What You Really Need To Know. By : Tyson J Stevenson The formation of gases and acidic substances in the stomach and its backing up into the esophagus causes severe pain or burning sensation in the stomach and chest area that is clinically known as Acid Reflux or Gastroespohageal Reflux Disease.
2). Alcoholism— What Should I Know About It? By : Geoff Hugh What is alcoholism? Alcoholism is a disease that affects the part of the brain that controls your feelings, the way you make decisions, and the way you act. People with alcoholism cannot control how much they drink. What causes alcoholism? Nobody knows what causes alcoholism. People with parents who have alcoholism have a greater chance of getting the disease.
3). What is Anorexia By : Keith George Self induced emotional eating disorder characterized by persistent loss of appetite is called anorexia. Excessive consciousness toward weight loss, counting calories and excessive exercises can lead to a severe emotional eating disorder called anorexia.
4). Alcoholism Disease Or Not? By : The Source Alcoholism can be given a lot of definitions and all of them stress the fact that there is a terrible disease that involves addiction to spirits. Apart from the physical dependence on alcohol, there are other psychological, genetic and social factors that may play a role in the development of alcoholism. Many social, economic and public health problems are determined by this very serious disease.
5). Hangovers and How to Deal With Them, By : Partybody A health related article that explains hangovers and how to help prevent and cure them.
6). Gastritis Is More Than Indigestion By : Kevin Pederson It is the inflammation of the stomach getting the defense system on roll. It would mean that the stomach is injured and the white blood cells move on the walls of the stomach for help. The inflammation can be caused due to an infection caused by bacterium which can lead to stomach ulcers. Any other injury can also cause such problems.
7). The Demonization Of Genital Herpes By : Christopher Scipio Those of us who have so-called “genital herpes” are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand we are ostracized by the minority of the population (about 40%) who don’t currently have herpes simplex in their body, which is bad enough, but more cruelly we are often isolated by our fellow members of the herpes community who have so-called cold sores (heroes simplex 1 of the mouth and face).
8). I am a mouth ulcers By : Ryan Fyfe Although it's not my favorite thing to be in the world, I am a mouth ulcer. My street name is most commonly: canker sore. I've got a fancy name, and that involves painful open sores that will exist in your mouth when the mucous membrane breaks. You might also choose to call me one of these other names: aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcer. Now that we have that out of the way.
9). Gall Bladder - A Place For Gallstones By : Kevin Pederson It is a pouch-shaped organ which is an important part of our body and lies next to the liver. It accepts the bile from the liver which is being stored to help digestion.
10). HPV Virus By : Ryan Fyfe Human Papilloma Ciruses (HPV) is a virus that infects humans. Some of the effects of the virus are associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). Over one hundred strains of the virus have been identified by Scientists. Most of these strains are harmless. Some of these strains can produce common skin warts which appear on the hands and feet.

New Diseases and Conditions Articles
1). 5 Easy Tips To Protect Yourself Against Dry Skin By : Joshua Poyoh Our skin can become dry for various reasons. Just following these 5 tips can help you withstand the winter unharmed, and without the cracked, chafed, itchy dry skin that is typical of the season.
2). Yeast Infections: Symptoms & Treatments By : Munya Chinongoza A yeast infection is an infection that is very common. Most people associate a yeast infection with women, but in fact it is common in both men and women alike.
3). Treating Back Pain Effectively By : Darrell Knox So what are the causes of back pain? Back Pain can result in many ways. The following are some of the reasons why back pain occurs.
4). Understanding Coeliac Disease By : Anne Wolski Coeliac disease is a genetic condition that is caused by an inability to digest gluten. Hence the reason that this disease is also known as gluten intolerance.
5). Uncovering The Relationship Between Asthma And Allergies By : David Silva You often hear the terms "asthma" and "allergies" lumped together. But do you know why?
6). Home Remedies For Breast Tenderness By : Kevin Pederson A problem like breast tenderness may arise due to combination of factors like diet, nutrition, water, weight, age, menstrual cycle and fluctuating hormones. Studies conclude nearly three in four women suffer this discomfort at least once in their mature life.
7). Which Is The Number 1 Killer: Cardiovascular Or Heart Disease? By : Joann Cheong Cardiovascular or heart disease is caused by the damaged arteries leading to the heart obstructing the flow of blood that supplies oxygen and other nutrients to the different parts of our body...
8). Alzheimer’s Disease: What Every Family Needs to Know By : Douglas Hardwick Alzheimer’s disease touches the lives of millions of Americans. Today, some 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 10 families have a loved one afflicted with it. With no cure in sight, it is important for families to arm themselves with information about this devastating disease.
9). Could You Have Asthma? By : Eddy Kong This article explained how to know whether this person could have asthma.
10). Breathe Again With Good Asthma Management Practice By : Dean Caporella Unless you understand the varying degrees of asthma attack then any management plan you have set for yourself can be futile.