Psychological Disorder: Anorexia
At times we all think about our physical appearances, especially when our clothes feel tight in certain areas. When we start to irrational fear of becoming fat and become obsessive pursuit of being thin, excessive weight loss, and have a perceptual distortion regarding our bodies image we have now enter the Anorexia Disorder Zone.
Symptoms of Anorexia:
• Extreme weight loss
• Thin appearance
• Abnormal blood counts
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Seizure
• Brittle nails/hair that thins/ breaks or falls out
• Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea)
• Development of fine hair on the extremities (lanugo)
• Constipation
• Dry skin/intolerance of cold
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Low blood pressure
• Dehydration
• Osteoporosis, the loss of bone calcium, which may result in broken bones
Warning Signs:
• Refusal to eat
• Denial of hunger, even when starving
• Difficulty concentrating
• Obsession with body size and shape
• Excessive exercise
• Flat mood, or lack of emotion
• Repeated weighing of themselves
• Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws
• Wearing baggy or layered clothing
• Complaining about being fat
Remember,
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalms 139:14)