Process Addiction: Anorexia Nervosa

Myths & Facts

100

“Anorexia Nervosa is an illness that only affects young people”—True or False

False: while the main demographic that suffers from Anorexia Nervosa are adolescents, anorexia nervosa is an illness that can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, or culture.

200

“When treating someone with Anorexia Nervosa, the main focal point should be on the individual’s relationship with food”—True or False

False: Anorexia Nervosa is not really an illness about food or weight—those are the symptom of deeper issues such as depression, loneliness, insecurity, the pressure to be perfect, and/ or feeling out of control; people who suffer from anorexia Nervosa often feel powerless in some aspect of their life and use the limitation of food as a method to gain control and feel “successful”.

300

“People with Anorexia Nervosa only eat healthy foods, not junk food.”—True or False

False: while many people limit their food intake to healthy foods, many people eat junk food as well (ex. sugary sweets), as long as they maintain a low daily calorie count.

400

“As time goes on, people with Anorexia Nervosa feel less and less hunger”—True or False

False: Individuals afflicted with Anorexia Nervosa do not lose their appetites; in fact, people with Anorexia Nervosa experience intense hunger (the body releases hunger hormones called ghrelin into the bloodstream in a desperate attempt to get the individual to gain nourishment) that they suppress and/ or ignore.

Manifestations

100

What are three physical manifestations/ warning signs of Anorexia Nervosa?

•Rapid weight loss and/or extreme thinness •Fatigue/ lack of energy •Dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, inability to concentrate •Dry, yellowish skin and brittle nails •Thin and brittle hair; hair loss •Constipation and bloating •Tooth decay and gum damage •Decrease in reproductive hormones ex. estrogen (important for healthy hearts and bones) •Increase in stress hormones •Decrease in growth hormones—children and adolescents with anorexia may experience retarded growth •Long-term, irregular or absent menstruation (infertility, bone loss, etc) •Heart Disease

200

List and describe three cognitive/ psychological manifestations of Anorexia Nervosa.

•Depression •Anxiety •pressure to be perfect •Fixation with body image/ distorted body image •Harshly critique of appearance •Denial of being too thin •Viewing being “thin” as “perfection” and weight loss as a means to achieve happiness

300

List and describe three behavioral manifestations/ warning signs of Anorexia Nervosa.

•Increased risk for suicidal behaviors or attempts •Extreme/ unhealthy dieting •Claims of feeling fat when their weight is normal or low •Preoccupation with food •Pretending to eat and/or lying about eating •Social withdrawal •Unusual or secretive food rituals •Excessive exercise

400

List and describe three emotional manifestations/ risk factors of Anorexia Nervosa.

•Low self-worth •Insecurity •Loneliness •Feeling loss of control •Troubled family relationships •History of physical or sexual abuse •Family history of eating disorders •Stigma and shame

Causes & Risk Factors

100

What are some psychological risk factors that may lead to the development of Anorexia Nervosa?

•Low self esteem. (Women with AN especially reported this and higher rates of negative affectivity, perfectionism, family discord and high parental demands) •Body dissatisfaction •Ineffectiveness/lack of assertiveness

200

What are some social risk factors that may lead to the development of Anorexia Nervosa?

•Ideas of beauty •Media •Fashion •Cultural •Peer pressure and attitudes (teasing about weight and shape by family and friends)

300

What are some biological risk factors that may lead to the development of Anorexia Nervosa?

•Dieting (people diet due to body dissatisfaction and a need for control, an actual weight gain and the fear of weight gain) •Altered metabolic rate (due to puberty, yoyo dieting which impairs metabolic response) •History of being obese or overweight

400

What are some spiritual risk factors that may lead to the development of Anorexia Nervosa?

•Sense of well-being from emotional eating •Quality of life •Attitudes

Nursing Interventions, Teaching, & Resources

100

You have just received a 16 year old patient diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. You notice that she is extremely skinny and frail. What are some biological nursing interventions you, the nurse, should perform?

-Monitor Medical Status (Temp, HR, BP, electrolytes, daily weights, in & outs, IVs as per ordered, etc) -Begin nutritional rehabilitation (Monitor meals during and one hour after; start weight gain protocol; follow behavioral plan)

200

Now, you notice that your patient's (16 years old girl with anorexia nervosa) physical condition has stabilized. What are some appropriate psychological nursing interventions for your patient?

-Develop a therapeutic relationship -Explore effective coping skills -Roll with resistance -Provide Community resources/ therapies for patient

300

What are some ways that Nurses can challenge the stigma surrounding Anorexia Nervosa?

•Education of public and health care workers who will be working closely with that population. •Challenge myths and stereotypes with factual information •Break the silence and shame by sharing (profiled) personal stories of those who have suffered from the illness and have recovered

400

Name two local community resource for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa.

Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous Nanaimo - Wednesday 7:00-8:00pm Steps to Freedom 3151 Barons Road Closed Meeting Contact: Angelina-250-619-1975 NARSF – Nanaimo and Area Resource Services for Families Child and Youth Directed Program EDP (Eating Disorder program) 2nd floor, 190 Wallace St. Nanaimo, B.C. 754-2773 Ext. 213. Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday – 09:00-17:00 http://www.narsf.org/ Island Counselling Monday-Friday 102-75 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC Canada Phone: [phone] http://islandintegratedcounselling.com/