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Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms

Anorexia Nervosa: Symptoms


Top Symptoms

1. Compliant and overextending

Another symptom exhibited by anorexics is their compliant and eager to please attitude. They look for perfection in whatever they do and they extend themselves in other activities as well. They appear normal and perfect as physical appearances are very important for the anorexics. They may sometimes lack self perception as they are overtly compliant.

2. Disturbed sleeping pattern

Due to the physical, psychological and emotional stress that an anorexic patient is undergoing, the sleep pattern is also disturbed. Lack of sleep itself adds to the symptom of these patients, often making them fatigued, irritable and withdrawn. Their attention and concentration ability also decreases and this brings about a diminished interest in things they previously enjoyed doing.ย 

3. Binge eating and purging

Constant alteration between binge eating and purging is another symptom which may place greater obstacle to recovery. By satiating themselves on food cravings at one go, the anorexics feel that they can overcome guilt by purging out the food later.ย 

4. Changes in emotions and relationships

This symptom indicates a great change in emotional relationships with family members and friends. Initially, the anorexic may feel good about losing weight and may become more outgoing and happy. However, depression, anxiety, starvation and mood swings occur which can all impair the relationship with the family members. This symptom may also make an anorexic more dependent on a family member, followed by great anxiety that they may not be looked after if recovery takes place.

5. Hematological complications

This symptom refers to blood disorders which are the earliest signs of eating disorder and frequent monitoring is required. This symptom can lead to severe anemia, low platelet count, high cortisol level, iron deficiency syndrome and Vitamin B deficiency syndrome.

6. Gastrointestinal problems

This is related not only to anorexia as gastrointestinal problems can be found in any eating disorder. Because of binge eating or induced starvation, this problem can be fatal. Side effects such as, stomach rupture, inflamed pancreas, delayed gastric emptying, bloating and constipation, early satiety and Mallory Weiss syndrome can all be serious cause of death.

7. Dermatological issues

Physical symptoms of anorexia is visible and most of these can be treated at the earliest with proper medication.ย Some of these symptoms include dry nails and skin, thinning hair and scalp, delayed bone maturation, osteoporosis, brittle bones, low body temperature, calcium deficiency, bruising easily and lanugo.

8. Cardiovascular disorders

Since the heart is a muscle, muscle atrophy becomes a major danger in anorexics. This can include low blood pressure, low heart rate, disruption of normal heart rate, irregular heart beats, abnormal heart rhythms and heart muscle disease.

9. Co-occurring disorders

This goes hand in hand with depression and people with anorexic problems experience social anxiety and isolation and they even inflict physical cuts on themselves.ย Such anxieties can trigger panic attacks which may have a traumatic and emotional impact.ย 

10. Cognitive distortions

This occurs early in people with eating disorders and they are very subtle anorexic symptoms. The anorexia patient gets some weird, distorted image about themselves as far as their bodies are concerned. This irrational thinking can take on different forms though. There may be weird obsessive actions such as calorie counting, mirror checking and hoarding food or addiction to food.ย 

11. Extreme dieting

This is one of the most harmful symptoms in anorexia and causes a major health risk. This can take on extreme measures like over exercising, self starvation and excessive weight loss. The anorexics are so self conscious of their fat tummy that they will go to any extent to have it removed. Their exercise regime could become dangerous for their health as well. By starving themselves they gain some self esteem when they do manage to lose weight and this makes them emotionally fulfilled.

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