Anorexia why is it bad

Getting help and support as soon as possible gives you the best chance of recovering from anorexia. If you think you may have anorexia, even if you're not sure, see a GP as soon as you can. They will ask you questions about your eating habits and how you're feeling, and will check your overall health and weight. They may also refer you for some blood tests to make sure your weight loss is not caused by something else.

If they think you may have anorexia, or another eating disorder, they should refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists. It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and to ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment. You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling its adult helpline on or youth helpline on If you're concerned that a family member or friend may have anorexia, let them know you're worried about them and encourage them to see a GP.

One out of a hundred women has struggled with anorexia at some point in their life. Has anorexia associated with mental illness? We'll find out next on The Scope. Announcer: Medical news and research from University of Utah physicians and specialists you can use.

For a happier and healthier life. You're listening to The Scope. Interviewer: We're talking with Dr. Jason Hunziker Psychiatrist at the University of Utah. Hunziker, how is anorexia related to mental illness? Jason Hunziker: So anorexia is an eating disorder that often has fatal consequences. The disorder itself is a disorder of people who generally will restrict the intake of food to the point that it causes significant organ damage and eventually death.

The way it's related to mental illness, is that often people who struggle with anorexia, have other mental illnesses that come along with that. So as their bodies continue to decline in nutrients and muscle mass and their organs start to slow down and they're having trouble with their bowels, they start to get more and more depressed and they start to get more and more anxious. Often these patients struggle with severe anxiety around food.

Their focus on food is so great that they will even buy cookbooks and they'll cook these fabulous meals for their families and their friends and not once eat any of that food. Jason Hunziker: They'll exercise until they pass out on the treadmill, just to get thin. And that anxiety and that perfectionist behavior leads to more and more depression, more and more anxiety. Which then, ultimately sometimes, unfortunately, these patients get to the point that they want to kill themselves.

Interviewer: So bringing it back to the beginning, where does it all start? Like it's got to start from somewhere, right? In their teens It still is and it probably always will be. I like to be in control and this was not in control. This was disgusting, out of control. And also, I think it was hard, inside I was really sort of crumbling and quite distressed and quite like psychologically still having a lot of issues. She beat anorexia. And to kind of punish myself for that, for that freedom.

And that experience. Like why? Why would you? Like why should you? Eating disorders young people Overview What are eating disorders? What is anorexia nervosa? What is bulimia nervosa? Myths about eating disorders Early experiences Early experiences with food and eating The beginning of an eating disorder Realising something is wrong and seeking help Treatment and care Getting the diagnosis Talking therapies Staying in hospital Coping with an eating disorder and self-help Peer support Working towards recovery Eating disorders: what happens?

This section includes people describing their experiences of negative thoughts at the time when they were ill. Some people might find reading about these experiences distressing. All the material on this website is intended to support a better understanding of why these unhelpful thoughts in eating disorders happen, how to get help for them and to support genuine recovery from eating disorders.

It is important to remember that food and weight is not necessarily the problem, it is embedded in the underlying factors which can be low self-esteem and lack of self-worth. The psychological problems that people can experience include: negative thinking, low self-esteem, perfectionism and obsessions. Despite the difficulties eating disorders cause, it can be difficult for someone to want to get better.

People can feel that obsessive behaviour, for example, helps them to cope with anxiety. Here young people we spoke with describe their thought patterns and their state of mind when they were ill. Losing weight can start to feel like a sense of achievement or a way to feel a sense of worth perfectionism having another mental health conditions, particularly depression , self-harm and anxiety finding it hard to handle stress and cope with life obsessive or compulsive behaviours read our page on obsessive compulsive disorder.

Biological and genetic factors Research shows there may be genetic links to anorexia. What help is available? Talking therapies Talking therapies can help you identify the feelings and fears that triggered your anorexia and help you develop a healthier attitude towards food and your body.

You may be offered: Cognitive analytical therapy CAT. This looks at past experiences and events to help you understand why you think, feel and behave the way you do now. Your therapist will then help you develop new tools to cope in a healthier way Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT.

This focuses on identifying and changing the thoughts and beliefs that may trigger your anorexia. Related content Eating disorders.