5 Ways to Counter Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) by Greg Frost
Children are not the only ones who suffer from ADD, many intelligent adults are struggling with this condition as well. Whilst it is nothing to be ashamed of, it is important that you seek help and treatment, as this can significantly improve your quality of life. Most sufferers are apt to hide their condition, and over time experience low self confidence and find that there is little meaning in their lives.
If you have taken active steps to find out more about adult ADD and what it entails, as well as looked for a professional opinion, then you will find that the following 5 ways to counter ADD will be highly useful for you.
Method #1: Overcome your Inattentiveness
Being unable to focus or pay attention can be an annoying trait, but it is not difficult to deal with. Train yourself to follow a certain schedule everyday based on what you need to accomplish. This will give you something concrete to follow and focus on, as you have acknowledged the various tasks you are responsible for. This will cause your mind to stop pushing the various thoughts through your mind. It is also handy to keep a notebook with you at all times,"I'm happy. When you're concentrating on one task and random thoughts start filling up your mind, simply jot them down to think over at a later time,Catholic Voters Need to Rethink Morality.
Method #2: Face the Problem
Nothing can be more comforting that facing up that you have a problem, and that you are normal. By admitting that you have a problem, you will find that it is easier for you to take active steps to treat the problem,nobody knows if a relationships will work until it's entered. Talk to your friends and family and help them to understand why you behave a certain way sometimes. This will also highlight to you the areas that you need to work on or take notice of. Scheduling regular sessions with a therapist will also help you to work through your problems.
Method #3: Kick the Restlessness
Your mind and body are restless because they find the tasks at hand too boring, or a lack of a challenge. Engage in frequent sessions of exercise, such as going to the gym or playing soccer 4 times a week, to help you get rid of all the extra restlessness that seems to be bugging you,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots.
Method #4: Distance yourself when Necessary
After you've talked to your friends and family, you should be able to identify situations and possible warning signs that you are getting agitated or losing your focus. When you feel the symptoms coming on, take a deep breathe and calm yourself down. Focus on your breathing to relax. If that doesn't work, distance yourself physically by going out to take a breath of air or pace away the excess energy.
Method #5: Boredom, be Gone
If you are aware that your job is too boring for you, find ways to make it interesting and challenging. For example, a particularly tedious job could become challenging if you set yourself a time limit to beat, or if you promise yourself a nice reward for completing the task. Alternatively, you can engage your other senses to keep your mind challenged. Burning aromatherapy candles will have a dual purpose of exuding calming properties and engaging your senses. Listening to music in the background will also serve as a much needed distraction from the boredom of your task.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
‘ there are people who share the same world as you. This may seem an obvious point to make
Why Being Flexible with Others Brings Success by Andy Sullivan,place themselves at the
Other people live in the same world as you,Epictetus. Perhaps another way of looking at this is to say, ‘ there are people who share the same world as you. This may seem an obvious point to make, but many people believe the world revolves around them. The people who share the world with us have just as much right to follow their dreams as you or me. A lot of people fail to grasp that people in this world provide the opportunities for success. The adage, ‘its not what you know but who you know is true in every way. Whether you like it or not, other people will continue to exist in your world .Accepting that these people have the right to cohabit this Earth with you makes plain sense. You should also accept that other people may choose to live according to a set of values that are not your own .
You have probably noticed that humans come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. No doubt, you have seen that not all people share the same religion culture or political opinion. Accepting diversity is one of the best ways to increase your tolerance of others. Acknowledging that other people have a right to their own ideas about how to live their lives â€" even when you totally disagree with what they are saying â€" can save you a lot of emotional distress. People are going to continue to exercise their beliefs no matter what you think.
Accepting others is the key to being free of anger stressors and unhealthy rage. Wanting others to treat you well and with respect is fair enough. Similarly, you probably want other people to do a good job for you,the man without courage draws to himself all the qualities of a weak man. Social contracts are like gentlemens agreements where we presume a certain person will treat us in a particular way,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots. You need to ask yourself, ‘am I doing everything I can to fill my end of the bargain?
Keeping your attitudes flexible and based on preferences, rather than demands or expectations, can keep you in harmony with yourself. The more rigid and demanding you are of others, the more likely it is that you will become angry and bitter for no good reason. Being flexible towards others means you have to be prepared to tolerate disrespect from others too. Having a flexible outlook means accepting that there are some people in this world who do not share the same values or respect culture as you. Of course, this is slightly different when it comes to reacting to people we know personally, we are talking here about people in everyday life. Remember that people behave according to how they want to behave â€" not how you want them to behave.
The point I am making here is that putting people down makes respecting people in general difficult. You need to sustain a level of respect for others in order to be able to consider their behaviour correctly. The alternative is accepting them as people who make mistakes just like yourself. Accepting other people will make you a more tolerant and more pleasant person. There are rewards to reap from this mindset: your mind set will become more positive and energetic in the right way.
As we have been discussing, one of the best ways to determine your frame of mind is to think about how you are with other people. A great way to do this is to picture how you behave towards people you do not know. Are you outgoing and open to meeting and talking with others? Or are you insular and afraid. Believe it or not one of the best ways to overcome a negative frame of mind is to change your attitude to the world around you and that means the people in it as well
By believing that other people are complex, ever-changing and mistake ridden individuals, you will see the beauty of your new tolerant state of mind. Frustration will occur if you believe that the people around you are interfering with you goal. If you carry on in this way, you will experience the unhealthy sort of rage that makes your life plain miserable.
Other people live in the same world as you,Epictetus. Perhaps another way of looking at this is to say, ‘ there are people who share the same world as you. This may seem an obvious point to make, but many people believe the world revolves around them. The people who share the world with us have just as much right to follow their dreams as you or me. A lot of people fail to grasp that people in this world provide the opportunities for success. The adage, ‘its not what you know but who you know is true in every way. Whether you like it or not, other people will continue to exist in your world .Accepting that these people have the right to cohabit this Earth with you makes plain sense. You should also accept that other people may choose to live according to a set of values that are not your own .
You have probably noticed that humans come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. No doubt, you have seen that not all people share the same religion culture or political opinion. Accepting diversity is one of the best ways to increase your tolerance of others. Acknowledging that other people have a right to their own ideas about how to live their lives â€" even when you totally disagree with what they are saying â€" can save you a lot of emotional distress. People are going to continue to exercise their beliefs no matter what you think.
Accepting others is the key to being free of anger stressors and unhealthy rage. Wanting others to treat you well and with respect is fair enough. Similarly, you probably want other people to do a good job for you,the man without courage draws to himself all the qualities of a weak man. Social contracts are like gentlemens agreements where we presume a certain person will treat us in a particular way,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots. You need to ask yourself, ‘am I doing everything I can to fill my end of the bargain?
Keeping your attitudes flexible and based on preferences, rather than demands or expectations, can keep you in harmony with yourself. The more rigid and demanding you are of others, the more likely it is that you will become angry and bitter for no good reason. Being flexible towards others means you have to be prepared to tolerate disrespect from others too. Having a flexible outlook means accepting that there are some people in this world who do not share the same values or respect culture as you. Of course, this is slightly different when it comes to reacting to people we know personally, we are talking here about people in everyday life. Remember that people behave according to how they want to behave â€" not how you want them to behave.
The point I am making here is that putting people down makes respecting people in general difficult. You need to sustain a level of respect for others in order to be able to consider their behaviour correctly. The alternative is accepting them as people who make mistakes just like yourself. Accepting other people will make you a more tolerant and more pleasant person. There are rewards to reap from this mindset: your mind set will become more positive and energetic in the right way.
As we have been discussing, one of the best ways to determine your frame of mind is to think about how you are with other people. A great way to do this is to picture how you behave towards people you do not know. Are you outgoing and open to meeting and talking with others? Or are you insular and afraid. Believe it or not one of the best ways to overcome a negative frame of mind is to change your attitude to the world around you and that means the people in it as well
By believing that other people are complex, ever-changing and mistake ridden individuals, you will see the beauty of your new tolerant state of mind. Frustration will occur if you believe that the people around you are interfering with you goal. If you carry on in this way, you will experience the unhealthy sort of rage that makes your life plain miserable.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
going for a walk etc
Stress Management
With stress being a major influence on illness it helps to know a bit about it and to plan how you are going to manage it. Make sure you have a stress management plan. This involves identifying the stresses and non stressors in your life,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots. This can be work,thus if Alex succeeds in selling them all, family, traffic and things that you enjoy doing (listening to music, going for a walk etc). It may relate to a particular person, a particular environment or a particular day of the week. Monday is easily the most stressful day of the week but there are ways you can manage the stress. This however, requires a plan.
Regular self evaluation is an important part of stress management and managing your stress so you can have better health and a better life. Ok, you've now looked at yourself and your life and you've identified a few areas that create stress for you. Now what? This is where you have to strategize,But he said. Don't do it alone either, involve family, friends and people who know you really well and can get good feedback from. Look at the different areas and see if you can make minor changes to reduce your stress,one cookie. Ask people close to you what they think and work out the different areas that you need to monitor, make changes in and look after so you can have a healthier life. For each area write down a particular stressor and match it up with a non stressor. This is the first part of your plan. If traffic stresses you out (your stressor) you are going to use listening to music (your non stressor) to bring your stress level down.
Using your non stressor list have 2 or 3 non stressors for each stressor, this is the essence of your plan. Write them down, keep them in your wallet, tape them to your computer screen and put them anywhere where you're likely to get stressed. This will remind you what to do in these situations. And after a while it will become a habit and unlike a lot of habits out there, controlling your stress is a good habit to have.
We have a website for resources and information on living with epilepsy and better managing the disorder with helpful information for family, friends and others.
With stress being a major influence on illness it helps to know a bit about it and to plan how you are going to manage it. Make sure you have a stress management plan. This involves identifying the stresses and non stressors in your life,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots. This can be work,thus if Alex succeeds in selling them all, family, traffic and things that you enjoy doing (listening to music, going for a walk etc). It may relate to a particular person, a particular environment or a particular day of the week. Monday is easily the most stressful day of the week but there are ways you can manage the stress. This however, requires a plan.
Regular self evaluation is an important part of stress management and managing your stress so you can have better health and a better life. Ok, you've now looked at yourself and your life and you've identified a few areas that create stress for you. Now what? This is where you have to strategize,But he said. Don't do it alone either, involve family, friends and people who know you really well and can get good feedback from. Look at the different areas and see if you can make minor changes to reduce your stress,one cookie. Ask people close to you what they think and work out the different areas that you need to monitor, make changes in and look after so you can have a healthier life. For each area write down a particular stressor and match it up with a non stressor. This is the first part of your plan. If traffic stresses you out (your stressor) you are going to use listening to music (your non stressor) to bring your stress level down.
Using your non stressor list have 2 or 3 non stressors for each stressor, this is the essence of your plan. Write them down, keep them in your wallet, tape them to your computer screen and put them anywhere where you're likely to get stressed. This will remind you what to do in these situations. And after a while it will become a habit and unlike a lot of habits out there, controlling your stress is a good habit to have.
We have a website for resources and information on living with epilepsy and better managing the disorder with helpful information for family, friends and others.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
does almost everybody in this world leave their homes each morning mentally "nude"
Get Your Head in the Game by Willie Horton
How did you start your day today? When you leaped out of bed, were you ready and alert for all today will offer or did you drag yourself out of bed on automatic pilot, and lurch into the bathroom in the normal early morning daze. If, of course, you were awoken by an alarm clock, then you started your day already on the wrong foot because your subconscious mind wasn't ready to wake up and,5. Success, anyone reading my articles or watching my videos on my website will have a good appreciation for the extent to which your subconscious runs your daily life.
It runs it totally!
So, before you let your day get going,and she compensated and smiled. Now, your subconscious mind needs to be up and running or you'll never properly get up and running yourself. Most people wouldn't consider leaving the house in the morning, to tackle the day ahead, unwashed. And almost nobody (I do know one person!) would even think about leaving the house undressed (the person in question has left the house totally nude - but that's another story!). So why, oh why, does almost everybody in this world leave their homes each morning mentally "nude",A big problem for most people, mentally "unwashed" and "unshaven", mentally totally unprepared for all that life has to offer in the upcoming day?
I say "almost everybody" because a good number of universities, on more than a couple of continents, have come to the conclusion, based on decades of research, that about 96% of us are "normal" and that "normal people" are mad. I haven't put mad in inverted commas because it's not a joke. "Normal people's" subconscious minds control them - not the other way around. Surely that's a definition of madness. Our subconscious mind controls our reactive behaviour which, 99 times out of a 100 comes flying out our mouth (or from our fist) before we have had time to think about the sense of doing it. You know what I mean. How many times to you react to some argument or problem and make it better? How often do you react to someone you've never met and will probably never see again, just because they've pulled in front of you in traffic. Almost always, "normal" knee-jerk reactions make things worse.
Which leads me back to where I started. If you've woken up this morning and your subconscious mind wasn't ready and if you haven't bothered to get your subconscious mind in gear for the day ahead, then don't blame anyone else if you have another "one of those days" or if, when you arrive at work this morning and someone asks you how you're doing that you automatically react by answering "not too bad". Because, if you haven't got your subconscious mind in gear, "not-too-bad" is about as good as it gets!
So, here's a quick tip. There are things you have to do each morning (I assume), like brushing your teeth, shaving (only applies to some people!!), getting dressed and driving to work or taking the bus or train,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots. Early on each day, stop yourself in your tracks and do some, or all, of those things differently. In other words, brush your teeth with the "other hand", shave with the "other hand", but the "other leg" into your pants first, the "other arm" into your shirt.
Harvard University has shown that by doing little things differently you pay more attention to them and paying attention more attention to the little things enables you break the cycle of daily repetitive behaviour before it has a chance to drag you down into another repetitive day. And decades of research proves that paying attention to what you are actually doing in the here and now is how you turn your subconscious mind on. It's that simple. If you drag your subconscious mind out of automatic mode by something as simple as brushing your teeth differently, you will stop your automatic reactive behaviour and you will begin to pay attention to what's actually happening in the here and now. And, again, years of research proves that this is a sure-fire way of noticing today's opportunities which, if you're on auto-pilot, you simply cannot notice.
So, try it tomorrow morning and break the habit of starting your day on auto-pilot. Paying attention is the beginning of all wisdom - and the beginning of a much better day.
Copyright (c) 2009 Willie Horton
How did you start your day today? When you leaped out of bed, were you ready and alert for all today will offer or did you drag yourself out of bed on automatic pilot, and lurch into the bathroom in the normal early morning daze. If, of course, you were awoken by an alarm clock, then you started your day already on the wrong foot because your subconscious mind wasn't ready to wake up and,5. Success, anyone reading my articles or watching my videos on my website will have a good appreciation for the extent to which your subconscious runs your daily life.
It runs it totally!
So, before you let your day get going,and she compensated and smiled. Now, your subconscious mind needs to be up and running or you'll never properly get up and running yourself. Most people wouldn't consider leaving the house in the morning, to tackle the day ahead, unwashed. And almost nobody (I do know one person!) would even think about leaving the house undressed (the person in question has left the house totally nude - but that's another story!). So why, oh why, does almost everybody in this world leave their homes each morning mentally "nude",A big problem for most people, mentally "unwashed" and "unshaven", mentally totally unprepared for all that life has to offer in the upcoming day?
I say "almost everybody" because a good number of universities, on more than a couple of continents, have come to the conclusion, based on decades of research, that about 96% of us are "normal" and that "normal people" are mad. I haven't put mad in inverted commas because it's not a joke. "Normal people's" subconscious minds control them - not the other way around. Surely that's a definition of madness. Our subconscious mind controls our reactive behaviour which, 99 times out of a 100 comes flying out our mouth (or from our fist) before we have had time to think about the sense of doing it. You know what I mean. How many times to you react to some argument or problem and make it better? How often do you react to someone you've never met and will probably never see again, just because they've pulled in front of you in traffic. Almost always, "normal" knee-jerk reactions make things worse.
Which leads me back to where I started. If you've woken up this morning and your subconscious mind wasn't ready and if you haven't bothered to get your subconscious mind in gear for the day ahead, then don't blame anyone else if you have another "one of those days" or if, when you arrive at work this morning and someone asks you how you're doing that you automatically react by answering "not too bad". Because, if you haven't got your subconscious mind in gear, "not-too-bad" is about as good as it gets!
So, here's a quick tip. There are things you have to do each morning (I assume), like brushing your teeth, shaving (only applies to some people!!), getting dressed and driving to work or taking the bus or train,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots. Early on each day, stop yourself in your tracks and do some, or all, of those things differently. In other words, brush your teeth with the "other hand", shave with the "other hand", but the "other leg" into your pants first, the "other arm" into your shirt.
Harvard University has shown that by doing little things differently you pay more attention to them and paying attention more attention to the little things enables you break the cycle of daily repetitive behaviour before it has a chance to drag you down into another repetitive day. And decades of research proves that paying attention to what you are actually doing in the here and now is how you turn your subconscious mind on. It's that simple. If you drag your subconscious mind out of automatic mode by something as simple as brushing your teeth differently, you will stop your automatic reactive behaviour and you will begin to pay attention to what's actually happening in the here and now. And, again, years of research proves that this is a sure-fire way of noticing today's opportunities which, if you're on auto-pilot, you simply cannot notice.
So, try it tomorrow morning and break the habit of starting your day on auto-pilot. Paying attention is the beginning of all wisdom - and the beginning of a much better day.
Copyright (c) 2009 Willie Horton
Monday, November 5, 2012
core values and company structure. That may be all part of the 'what' that needs to be covered
What's Your Point? by Vincent Stevenson
Be very clear about the purpose of your training programme. What will you be doing and why specifically are you doing it?
You could say this follows on from the maxim of:
'You cannot teach what you don't know and you cannot lead where you won't go.Clarity of purpose is the be all and end all.
Often training misses the mark because the company or maybe even the trainers themselves, although they may have a fair idea of what needs to be covered, do not have a crystal clear image of exactly why the training is being scheduled, and precisely what it is aiming to achieve.
So just like a good speaker needs to have a clear grasp of exactly what the key message is, an effective trainer needs a firm grasp of not just what, but exactly 'why' they are training. Is there an actual end goal to the training? What are we expecting to witness as a result of this training?
It comes back to 'What' and 'why',5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots.
Knowing what you must cover in a training intervention is vitally important, but never lose sight of why it should be included. For instance if you are running an induction programme for new employees, it is essential in the planning stage to be clear exactly what is key message you are trying to put across.
It is not simply a matter of going through the motions of teaching orientation, core values and company structure. That may be all part of the 'what' that needs to be covered, but the real thrust of the programme will depend on understanding exactly 'why' you are covering these topics,is not complete forgiveness..
If the company aim is to make sure that everyone feels comfortable, happy to be part of a new team and reassured that they have made the right choice in joining that company, then that will have an influence on 'how' the induction material is going to be covered.
There must be structured pathway to relaxing, helping and supporting the new members of staff as they begin their job in this new company.
On the other hand if the real motivation behind the induction is to make sure new employees understand how they are expected to conduct themselves, what the company expects of them and that any abuse of privileges will be frowned upon,and for many more it is the love and nutrition you provide for your family each day., then the emphasis and tone delivering pretty much the same type of material will be completely different, with a greater stress on 'expecting', 'striving' and 'control'.
So, for a training programme to be successful, it is not just a matter of covering the right sort of material, it is vital to understand from the trainee's point of view, from the trainer's point of view and from the company's point of view,The book she was reading, exactly 'why' the training needs to take place in the first place. It is therefore useful for each training programme to have its own little mission statement, a few words or a line that encapsulates what the programme is aiming to achieve.
Copyright (c) 2010 The College Of Public Speaking
Be very clear about the purpose of your training programme. What will you be doing and why specifically are you doing it?
You could say this follows on from the maxim of:
'You cannot teach what you don't know and you cannot lead where you won't go.Clarity of purpose is the be all and end all.
Often training misses the mark because the company or maybe even the trainers themselves, although they may have a fair idea of what needs to be covered, do not have a crystal clear image of exactly why the training is being scheduled, and precisely what it is aiming to achieve.
So just like a good speaker needs to have a clear grasp of exactly what the key message is, an effective trainer needs a firm grasp of not just what, but exactly 'why' they are training. Is there an actual end goal to the training? What are we expecting to witness as a result of this training?
It comes back to 'What' and 'why',5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots.
Knowing what you must cover in a training intervention is vitally important, but never lose sight of why it should be included. For instance if you are running an induction programme for new employees, it is essential in the planning stage to be clear exactly what is key message you are trying to put across.
It is not simply a matter of going through the motions of teaching orientation, core values and company structure. That may be all part of the 'what' that needs to be covered, but the real thrust of the programme will depend on understanding exactly 'why' you are covering these topics,is not complete forgiveness..
If the company aim is to make sure that everyone feels comfortable, happy to be part of a new team and reassured that they have made the right choice in joining that company, then that will have an influence on 'how' the induction material is going to be covered.
There must be structured pathway to relaxing, helping and supporting the new members of staff as they begin their job in this new company.
On the other hand if the real motivation behind the induction is to make sure new employees understand how they are expected to conduct themselves, what the company expects of them and that any abuse of privileges will be frowned upon,and for many more it is the love and nutrition you provide for your family each day., then the emphasis and tone delivering pretty much the same type of material will be completely different, with a greater stress on 'expecting', 'striving' and 'control'.
So, for a training programme to be successful, it is not just a matter of covering the right sort of material, it is vital to understand from the trainee's point of view, from the trainer's point of view and from the company's point of view,The book she was reading, exactly 'why' the training needs to take place in the first place. It is therefore useful for each training programme to have its own little mission statement, a few words or a line that encapsulates what the programme is aiming to achieve.
Copyright (c) 2010 The College Of Public Speaking
Saturday, November 3, 2012
measurable steps try and change the world in a day and you are destined to fail
Soluble New Years Resolutions
As Big Ben chimes at midnight on 31st December we toast in the New Year and make all those decisions about what we want for the next year, and talk about all the great things we will achieve. Then what? By the end of January or possibly, if we are lucky, February our resolve has dissolved' and life carries on as normal until the next time Big Ben chimes out a new year.
Does this sound familiar? If so you are one of the millions of people who make (and subsequently break!) their New Years resolutions year after year.
So why do we do it? What makes January the first such a special time to make a change to our lives and why is it then so difficult to maintain that change,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots?
The answer to this may never be fully known and understood but in my experience there are a number of key reasons that apply to some, if not all, of the broken resolutions.
- We are not at our most sober or clear thinking' when we make the commitment,Finding Happiness by Amy Twain.
- Everyone breaks New Years Resolutions so why shouldn't we?
- January is wet, miserable and cold (or hot and sunny depending on where you live) and the weather affects our mood and desire to achieve.
- The friends we tell our resolutions to on NYE either can't remember or are too busy breaking their own to be motivational
So how can we make changes that are lasting in our lives? These are a few of the positive steps that we can all take to help us make lasting changes in our lives,their people.
- Chose a day and time in the very near future and make that your change my life plan' day don't wait for New Year.
- Tell as many people as you can about your plan and tell them you want to stick to it. It is much easier keeping a commitment you have made to others than just to yourself,I encourage you to reconsider but this time based on information.
- Set your goal or plan in achievable, measurable steps try and change the world in a day and you are destined to fail!
- Choose a looking forward plan where you focus on what you want to achieve, not what you want to avoid.
So as we head towards, or away from the New Year lets just enjoy the celebrations and make today the day to make lasting change.
As Big Ben chimes at midnight on 31st December we toast in the New Year and make all those decisions about what we want for the next year, and talk about all the great things we will achieve. Then what? By the end of January or possibly, if we are lucky, February our resolve has dissolved' and life carries on as normal until the next time Big Ben chimes out a new year.
Does this sound familiar? If so you are one of the millions of people who make (and subsequently break!) their New Years resolutions year after year.
So why do we do it? What makes January the first such a special time to make a change to our lives and why is it then so difficult to maintain that change,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots?
The answer to this may never be fully known and understood but in my experience there are a number of key reasons that apply to some, if not all, of the broken resolutions.
- We are not at our most sober or clear thinking' when we make the commitment,Finding Happiness by Amy Twain.
- Everyone breaks New Years Resolutions so why shouldn't we?
- January is wet, miserable and cold (or hot and sunny depending on where you live) and the weather affects our mood and desire to achieve.
- The friends we tell our resolutions to on NYE either can't remember or are too busy breaking their own to be motivational
So how can we make changes that are lasting in our lives? These are a few of the positive steps that we can all take to help us make lasting changes in our lives,their people.
- Chose a day and time in the very near future and make that your change my life plan' day don't wait for New Year.
- Tell as many people as you can about your plan and tell them you want to stick to it. It is much easier keeping a commitment you have made to others than just to yourself,I encourage you to reconsider but this time based on information.
- Set your goal or plan in achievable, measurable steps try and change the world in a day and you are destined to fail!
- Choose a looking forward plan where you focus on what you want to achieve, not what you want to avoid.
So as we head towards, or away from the New Year lets just enjoy the celebrations and make today the day to make lasting change.
Friday, November 2, 2012
achieving long-term remission and rehabilitation
Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions
Eating is controlled by many factors, including appetite, food availability, family, peer, and cultural practices, and attempts at voluntary control. Dieting to a body weight leaner than needed for health is highly promoted by current fashion trends, sales campaigns for special foods, and in some activities and professions. Eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress or extreme concern about body shape or weight. Researchers are investigating how and why initially voluntary behaviors, such as eating smaller or larger amounts of food than usual, at some point move beyond control in some people and develop into an eating disorder. Studies on the basic biology of appetite control and its alteration by prolonged overeating or starvation have uncovered enormous complexity, but in the long run have the potential to lead to new pharmacologic treatments for eating disorders.
Eating disorders are not due to a failure of will or behavior; rather, they are real, treatable medical illnesses in which certain maladaptive patterns of eating take on a life of their own. The main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A third type, binge-eating disorder, has been suggested but has not yet been approved as a formal psychiatric diagnosis. Eating disorders frequently develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but some reports indicate their onset can occur during childhood or later in adulthood.
Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. In addition, people who suffer from eating disorders can experience a wide range of physical health complications, including serious heart conditions and kidney failure which may lead to death. Recognition of eating disorders as real and treatable diseases, therefore, is critically important.
Females are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Only an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder are male.
Anorexia Nervosa
An estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of females suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
Resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight
Infrequent or absent menstrual periods (in females who have reached puberty)
People with this disorder see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin. The process of eating becomes an obsession. Unusual eating habits develop, such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating these in small quantities, or carefully weighing and portioning food. People with anorexia may repeatedly check their body weight, and many engage in other techniques to control their weight, such as intense and compulsive exercise,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots, or purging by means of vomiting and abuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics. Girls with anorexia often experience a delayed onset of their first menstrual period.
The course and outcome of anorexia nervosa vary across individuals: some fully recover after a single episode; some have a fluctuating pattern of weight gain and relapse; and others experience a chronically deteriorating course of illness over many years. The mortality rate among people with anorexia has been estimated at 0.56 percent per year, or approximately 5.6 percent per decade, which is about 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population. The most common causes of death are complications of the disorder, such as cardiac arrest or electrolyte imbalance, and suicide.
Bulimia Nervosa
An estimated 1.1 percent to 4.2 percent of females have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime. Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:
Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications (purging); fasting; or excessive exercise
The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months
Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight
Because purging or other compensatory behavior follows the binge-eating episodes, people with bulimia usually weigh within the normal range for their age and height. However, like individuals with anorexia, they may fear gaining weight, desire to lose weight,Just scroll down this article to find out how., and feel intensely dissatisfied with their bodies. People with bulimia often perform the behaviors in secrecy, feeling disgusted and ashamed when they binge, yet relieved once they purge.
Binge-Eating Disorder
Community surveys have estimated that between 2 percent and 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period. Symptoms of binge-eating disorder include:
Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
The binge-eating episodes are associated with at least 3 of the following: eating much more rapidly than normal; eating until feeling uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry; eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating; feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
Marked distress about the binge-eating behavior
The binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months
The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive exercise)
People with binge-eating disorder experience frequent episodes of out-of-control eating, with the same binge-eating symptoms as those with bulimia. The main difference is that individuals with binge-eating disorder do not purge their bodies of excess calories. Therefore, many with the disorder are overweight for their age and height. Feelings of self-disgust and shame associated with this illness can lead to bingeing again, creating a cycle of binge eating.
Treatment Strategies
Eating disorders can be treated and a healthy weight restored. The sooner these disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the outcomes are likely to be. Because of their complexity, eating disorders require a comprehensive treatment plan involving medical care and monitoring, psychosocial interventions, nutritional counseling and, when appropriate, medication management. At the time of diagnosis, the clinician must determine whether the person is in immediate danger and requires hospitalization.
Treatment of anorexia calls for a specific program that involves three main phases: (1) restoring weight lost to severe dieting and purging; (2) treating psychological disturbances such as distortion of body image, low self-esteem, and interpersonal conflicts; and (3) achieving long-term remission and rehabilitation, or full recovery. Early diagnosis and treatment increases the treatment success rate. Use of psychotropic medication in people with anorexia should be considered only after weight gain has been established. Certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs ) have been shown to be helpful for weight maintenance and for resolving mood and anxiety symptoms associated with anorexia.
The acute management of severe weight loss is usually provided in an inpatient hospital setting, where feeding plans address the person's medical and nutritional needs. In some cases, intravenous feeding is recommended. Once malnutrition has been corrected and weight gain has begun, psychotherapy (often cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy) can help people with anorexia overcome low self-esteem and address distorted thought and behavior patterns. Families are sometimes included in the therapeutic process.
The primary goal of treatment for bulimia is to reduce or eliminate binge eating and purging behavior. To this end, nutritional rehabilitation, psychosocial intervention, and medication management strategies are often employed. Establishment of a pattern of regular, non-binge meals, improvement of attitudes related to the eating disorder, encouragement of healthy but not excessive exercise, and resolution of co-occurring conditions such as mood or anxiety disorders are among the specific aims of these strategies. Individual psychotherapy (especially cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy), group psychotherapy that uses a cognitive-behavioral approach, and family or marital therapy have been reported to be effective. Psychotropic medications, primarily antidepressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs ), have been found helpful for people with bulimia,how he communicates and relates with others. While both of these endeavors are important, particularly those with significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, or those who have not responded adequately to psychosocial treatment alone. These medications also may help prevent relapse. The treatment goals and strategies for binge-eating disorder are similar to those for bulimia, and studies are currently evaluating the effectiveness of various interventions.
People with eating disorders often do not recognize or admit that they are ill. As a result, they may strongly resist getting and staying in treatment. Family members or other trusted individuals can be helpful in ensuring that the person with an eating disorder receives needed care and rehabilitation. For some people, treatment may be long term.
Research Findings and Directions
Research is contributing to advances in the understanding and treatment of eating disorders.
NIMH-funded scientists and others continue to investigate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions, medications, and the combination of these treatments with the goal of improving outcomes for people with eating disorders.
Research on interrupting the binge-eating cycle has shown that once a structured pattern of eating is established, the person experiences less hunger, less deprivation, and a reduction in negative feelings about food and eating. The two factors that increase the likelihood of bingeing—hunger and negative feelings—are reduced, which decreases the frequency of binges.
Several family and twin studies are suggestive of a high heritability of anorexia and bulimia, and researchers are searching for genes that confer susceptibility to these disorders. Scientists suspect that multiple genes may interact with environmental and other factors to increase the risk of developing these illnesses. Identification of susceptibility genes will permit the development of improved treatments for eating disorders.
Other studies are investigating the neurobiology of emotional and social behavior relevant to eating disorders and the neuroscience of feeding behavior.
Scientists have learned that both appetite and energy expenditure are regulated by a highly complex network of nerve cells and molecular messengers called neuropeptides . These and future discoveries will provide potential targets for the development of new pharmacologic treatments for eating disorders.
Further insight is likely to come from studying the role of gonadal steroids. Their relevance to eating disorders is suggested by the clear gender effect in the risk for these disorders, their emergence at puberty or soon after, and the increased risk for eating disorders among girls with early onset of menstruation
Anorexia Nervosa
-------------------------------------------
Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Anorexia Nervosa has four primary symptoms:
Resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height
Intense fear of weight gain or being "fat" even though underweight.
Disturbance in the experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight.
Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty.
Eating disorders experts have found that prompt intensive treatment significantly improves the chances of recovery. Therefore, it is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of anorexia nervosa.
Warning Signs of Anorexia Nervosa:
Dramatic weight loss.
Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc.).
Frequent comments about feeling "fat" or overweight despite weight loss.
Anxiety about gaining weight or being "fat."
Denial of hunger.
Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate).
Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food.
Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury--the need to "burn off" calories taken in.
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation. The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally, so it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. This "slowing down" can have serious medical consequences.
Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa:
Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
Muscle loss and weakness.
Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common.
Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.
Statistics About Anorexia Nervosa:
Approximately 90-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).
Between 0.5-1% of American women suffer from anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women (Hsu, 1996).
Between 5-20% of individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa will die. The probabilities of death increases within that range depending on the length of the condition ( Zerbe, 1995).
Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition.
Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to mid-adolescence.
Anorexia Nervosa in Males
-------------------------------------------
Anorexia nervosa is a severe, life-threatening disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight, is intensely afraid of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant distortion in the perception of the shape or size of his body, as well as dissatisfaction with his body shape and size.
Behavioral Characteristics:
Excessive dieting, fasting, restricted diet
Food rituals
Preoccupation with body building, weight lifting, or muscle toning
Compulsive exercise
Difficulty eating with others, lying about eating
Frequently weighing self
Preoccupation with food
Focus on certain body parts; e.g., buttocks, thighs, stomach
Disgust with body size or shape
Distortion of body size; i.e., feels fat even though others tell him he is already very thin
Emotional and Mental Characteristics:
Intense fear of becoming fat or gaining weight
Depression
Social isolation
Strong need to be in control
Rigid, inflexible thinking, "all or nothing"
Decreased interest in sex or fears around sex
Possible conflict over gender identity or sexual orientation
Low sense of self worth -- uses weight as a measure of worth
Difficulty expressing feelings
Perfectionistic -- strives to be the neatest, thinnest, smartest, etc.
Difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating
Irritability, denial -- believes others are overreacting to his low weight or caloric restriction
Insomnia
Physical Characteristics:
Low body weight (15% or more below what is expected for age, height, activity level)
Lack of energy, fatigue
Muscular weakness
Decreased balance, unsteady gait
Lowered body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate
Tingling in hands and feet
Thinning hair or hair loss
Lanugo (downy growth of body hair)
Heart arrhythmia
Lowered testosterone levels
Anorexia, Bulimia, & Binge Eating Disorder:
What is an Eating Disorder?
-------------------------------------------
Eating Disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.
They are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for females and males.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level
Intense fear of weight gain or being "fat"
Feeling "fat" or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods
Extreme concern with body weight and shape BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over-exercising,specifically mental health counseling like marriage counseling.
Symptoms include:
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body weight and shape BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating. Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
OTHER EATING DISORDERS can include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining. All eating disorders require professional help.
Eating is controlled by many factors, including appetite, food availability, family, peer, and cultural practices, and attempts at voluntary control. Dieting to a body weight leaner than needed for health is highly promoted by current fashion trends, sales campaigns for special foods, and in some activities and professions. Eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress or extreme concern about body shape or weight. Researchers are investigating how and why initially voluntary behaviors, such as eating smaller or larger amounts of food than usual, at some point move beyond control in some people and develop into an eating disorder. Studies on the basic biology of appetite control and its alteration by prolonged overeating or starvation have uncovered enormous complexity, but in the long run have the potential to lead to new pharmacologic treatments for eating disorders.
Eating disorders are not due to a failure of will or behavior; rather, they are real, treatable medical illnesses in which certain maladaptive patterns of eating take on a life of their own. The main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A third type, binge-eating disorder, has been suggested but has not yet been approved as a formal psychiatric diagnosis. Eating disorders frequently develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but some reports indicate their onset can occur during childhood or later in adulthood.
Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. In addition, people who suffer from eating disorders can experience a wide range of physical health complications, including serious heart conditions and kidney failure which may lead to death. Recognition of eating disorders as real and treatable diseases, therefore, is critically important.
Females are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Only an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder are male.
Anorexia Nervosa
An estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of females suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
Resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight
Infrequent or absent menstrual periods (in females who have reached puberty)
People with this disorder see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin. The process of eating becomes an obsession. Unusual eating habits develop, such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating these in small quantities, or carefully weighing and portioning food. People with anorexia may repeatedly check their body weight, and many engage in other techniques to control their weight, such as intense and compulsive exercise,5854 Ugg Classic Mini Chocolate Boots, or purging by means of vomiting and abuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics. Girls with anorexia often experience a delayed onset of their first menstrual period.
The course and outcome of anorexia nervosa vary across individuals: some fully recover after a single episode; some have a fluctuating pattern of weight gain and relapse; and others experience a chronically deteriorating course of illness over many years. The mortality rate among people with anorexia has been estimated at 0.56 percent per year, or approximately 5.6 percent per decade, which is about 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population. The most common causes of death are complications of the disorder, such as cardiac arrest or electrolyte imbalance, and suicide.
Bulimia Nervosa
An estimated 1.1 percent to 4.2 percent of females have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime. Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:
Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications (purging); fasting; or excessive exercise
The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months
Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight
Because purging or other compensatory behavior follows the binge-eating episodes, people with bulimia usually weigh within the normal range for their age and height. However, like individuals with anorexia, they may fear gaining weight, desire to lose weight,Just scroll down this article to find out how., and feel intensely dissatisfied with their bodies. People with bulimia often perform the behaviors in secrecy, feeling disgusted and ashamed when they binge, yet relieved once they purge.
Binge-Eating Disorder
Community surveys have estimated that between 2 percent and 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period. Symptoms of binge-eating disorder include:
Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
The binge-eating episodes are associated with at least 3 of the following: eating much more rapidly than normal; eating until feeling uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry; eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating; feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
Marked distress about the binge-eating behavior
The binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months
The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive exercise)
People with binge-eating disorder experience frequent episodes of out-of-control eating, with the same binge-eating symptoms as those with bulimia. The main difference is that individuals with binge-eating disorder do not purge their bodies of excess calories. Therefore, many with the disorder are overweight for their age and height. Feelings of self-disgust and shame associated with this illness can lead to bingeing again, creating a cycle of binge eating.
Treatment Strategies
Eating disorders can be treated and a healthy weight restored. The sooner these disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the outcomes are likely to be. Because of their complexity, eating disorders require a comprehensive treatment plan involving medical care and monitoring, psychosocial interventions, nutritional counseling and, when appropriate, medication management. At the time of diagnosis, the clinician must determine whether the person is in immediate danger and requires hospitalization.
Treatment of anorexia calls for a specific program that involves three main phases: (1) restoring weight lost to severe dieting and purging; (2) treating psychological disturbances such as distortion of body image, low self-esteem, and interpersonal conflicts; and (3) achieving long-term remission and rehabilitation, or full recovery. Early diagnosis and treatment increases the treatment success rate. Use of psychotropic medication in people with anorexia should be considered only after weight gain has been established. Certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs ) have been shown to be helpful for weight maintenance and for resolving mood and anxiety symptoms associated with anorexia.
The acute management of severe weight loss is usually provided in an inpatient hospital setting, where feeding plans address the person's medical and nutritional needs. In some cases, intravenous feeding is recommended. Once malnutrition has been corrected and weight gain has begun, psychotherapy (often cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy) can help people with anorexia overcome low self-esteem and address distorted thought and behavior patterns. Families are sometimes included in the therapeutic process.
The primary goal of treatment for bulimia is to reduce or eliminate binge eating and purging behavior. To this end, nutritional rehabilitation, psychosocial intervention, and medication management strategies are often employed. Establishment of a pattern of regular, non-binge meals, improvement of attitudes related to the eating disorder, encouragement of healthy but not excessive exercise, and resolution of co-occurring conditions such as mood or anxiety disorders are among the specific aims of these strategies. Individual psychotherapy (especially cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy), group psychotherapy that uses a cognitive-behavioral approach, and family or marital therapy have been reported to be effective. Psychotropic medications, primarily antidepressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs ), have been found helpful for people with bulimia,how he communicates and relates with others. While both of these endeavors are important, particularly those with significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, or those who have not responded adequately to psychosocial treatment alone. These medications also may help prevent relapse. The treatment goals and strategies for binge-eating disorder are similar to those for bulimia, and studies are currently evaluating the effectiveness of various interventions.
People with eating disorders often do not recognize or admit that they are ill. As a result, they may strongly resist getting and staying in treatment. Family members or other trusted individuals can be helpful in ensuring that the person with an eating disorder receives needed care and rehabilitation. For some people, treatment may be long term.
Research Findings and Directions
Research is contributing to advances in the understanding and treatment of eating disorders.
NIMH-funded scientists and others continue to investigate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions, medications, and the combination of these treatments with the goal of improving outcomes for people with eating disorders.
Research on interrupting the binge-eating cycle has shown that once a structured pattern of eating is established, the person experiences less hunger, less deprivation, and a reduction in negative feelings about food and eating. The two factors that increase the likelihood of bingeing—hunger and negative feelings—are reduced, which decreases the frequency of binges.
Several family and twin studies are suggestive of a high heritability of anorexia and bulimia, and researchers are searching for genes that confer susceptibility to these disorders. Scientists suspect that multiple genes may interact with environmental and other factors to increase the risk of developing these illnesses. Identification of susceptibility genes will permit the development of improved treatments for eating disorders.
Other studies are investigating the neurobiology of emotional and social behavior relevant to eating disorders and the neuroscience of feeding behavior.
Scientists have learned that both appetite and energy expenditure are regulated by a highly complex network of nerve cells and molecular messengers called neuropeptides . These and future discoveries will provide potential targets for the development of new pharmacologic treatments for eating disorders.
Further insight is likely to come from studying the role of gonadal steroids. Their relevance to eating disorders is suggested by the clear gender effect in the risk for these disorders, their emergence at puberty or soon after, and the increased risk for eating disorders among girls with early onset of menstruation
Anorexia Nervosa
-------------------------------------------
Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Anorexia Nervosa has four primary symptoms:
Resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height
Intense fear of weight gain or being "fat" even though underweight.
Disturbance in the experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight.
Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty.
Eating disorders experts have found that prompt intensive treatment significantly improves the chances of recovery. Therefore, it is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of anorexia nervosa.
Warning Signs of Anorexia Nervosa:
Dramatic weight loss.
Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc.).
Frequent comments about feeling "fat" or overweight despite weight loss.
Anxiety about gaining weight or being "fat."
Denial of hunger.
Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate).
Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food.
Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury--the need to "burn off" calories taken in.
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation. The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally, so it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. This "slowing down" can have serious medical consequences.
Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa:
Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
Muscle loss and weakness.
Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common.
Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.
Statistics About Anorexia Nervosa:
Approximately 90-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).
Between 0.5-1% of American women suffer from anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women (Hsu, 1996).
Between 5-20% of individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa will die. The probabilities of death increases within that range depending on the length of the condition ( Zerbe, 1995).
Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition.
Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to mid-adolescence.
Anorexia Nervosa in Males
-------------------------------------------
Anorexia nervosa is a severe, life-threatening disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight, is intensely afraid of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant distortion in the perception of the shape or size of his body, as well as dissatisfaction with his body shape and size.
Behavioral Characteristics:
Excessive dieting, fasting, restricted diet
Food rituals
Preoccupation with body building, weight lifting, or muscle toning
Compulsive exercise
Difficulty eating with others, lying about eating
Frequently weighing self
Preoccupation with food
Focus on certain body parts; e.g., buttocks, thighs, stomach
Disgust with body size or shape
Distortion of body size; i.e., feels fat even though others tell him he is already very thin
Emotional and Mental Characteristics:
Intense fear of becoming fat or gaining weight
Depression
Social isolation
Strong need to be in control
Rigid, inflexible thinking, "all or nothing"
Decreased interest in sex or fears around sex
Possible conflict over gender identity or sexual orientation
Low sense of self worth -- uses weight as a measure of worth
Difficulty expressing feelings
Perfectionistic -- strives to be the neatest, thinnest, smartest, etc.
Difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating
Irritability, denial -- believes others are overreacting to his low weight or caloric restriction
Insomnia
Physical Characteristics:
Low body weight (15% or more below what is expected for age, height, activity level)
Lack of energy, fatigue
Muscular weakness
Decreased balance, unsteady gait
Lowered body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate
Tingling in hands and feet
Thinning hair or hair loss
Lanugo (downy growth of body hair)
Heart arrhythmia
Lowered testosterone levels
Anorexia, Bulimia, & Binge Eating Disorder:
What is an Eating Disorder?
-------------------------------------------
Eating Disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.
They are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for females and males.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level
Intense fear of weight gain or being "fat"
Feeling "fat" or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods
Extreme concern with body weight and shape BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over-exercising,specifically mental health counseling like marriage counseling.
Symptoms include:
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body weight and shape BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating. Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
OTHER EATING DISORDERS can include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining. All eating disorders require professional help.
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