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Self-Image Development: Seeing Through the Eyes of an
by Anya Konsletto
http://www.foranorexia.com
Individuals who suffer from anorexia see themselves as fat
when they may actually be rail thin. Imagine your self
image if you always thought you were fat, but nothing you
did, including starving yourself to death, did anything
to change it. Mentally healthy, balanced people enjoy a
positive self-image. Sometimes life events may lead to a
distorted self-image. People in this situation see
themselves in a disproportionately unrealistic way. This is
the case with people with anorexia. This distorted sense
of reality becomes a mental life sentence in prison.
An eating disorder that causes individuals to literally
starve themselves is called anorexia. The people who
suffer from it have a distorted sense of their physical
appearance and they constantly diet to become thinner.
However, no matter how thin they become, they continue to
see themselve as obese, and continue to take more desparate
measures to lose weight. The cycle continues until only
dieting eventually becomes refusal to eat. Without
treatment, this disorder can result in death.
The average anorexic is at least 15% below the recommended
weight for their age, height and build. Besides refusing to
eat, or eating barely enough to survive, they will very
often embark on a grueling exercise program and even resort
to using laxatives to disgorge themselves of the food they
do eat, all in an effort to lose more weight. These lethal
combinations in all too many cases lead to death, as the
body is starved of essential fuel, physically pushed beyond
its limits, and then pumped with medicine that, when used
to excess, damages the internal alimentary and digestive
organs,and can cause them to shut down.
Most commonly the victims of anorexia are Caucasian females
in their early or mid teens, typically from a high socio
economic class. There are certain activities that stress
the need for thinness and so also seem to breed anorexia.
Such activities as theater, dancing and certain sports
activities, especially track and field related sports have
participants with a higher than average rate of anorexia.
Among the symptoms that may indicate the presence of
anorexia are extreme or rapid weight loss, refusal to eat
in public or the absolute refusal to eat, disruption of the
menstrual cycle (three or more missed cycles,
consecutively), shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue,
anxiety, brittle skin and obsessive behavior in the area of
caloric intake. It~s important to remember that not all
symptoms are apparent in every individual. If even some of
these become apparent, it~s important to consult a
physician immediately. Whether these symptoms are due to
anorexia or some other illness, they indicate a serious
health issue.
People who suffer from anorexia can become angry, combative
and secretive because they think the world is against them
since they don't see themselves as others see them. They
don't even see themselves as they are in reality. Therefore
they often resort to such tricks as cooking large meals for
others but will not eat any of it themelves, fearing that
they will become more and more obese.
If you notice a loved one exhibiting any of the above signs
of this illness, you should immediately contact a physician
to be sure the necessary steps are taken to get them help.
Treatments do exist to help anorexics overcome this
condition. You also need to provide a strong support
system throughout the recovery period. Remember, if you
are helping someone with this disease, fear and denial may
lead them to say almost anything, so do not take anything
they say to you personally. Just continue to offer as much
love and support as you can.
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