The anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, which results in a biological solution to a conflicting maturation of puberty. This type of disorder has special characteristics and therefore needs special treatment, which involves an interdisciplinary approach that needs to be taken into account in order to achieve the desired goals.
Symptoms of anorexia
The adolescent anorexia is characterized by having:
- Obsessive compulsive features.
- Low self-esteem.
- Social isolation.
- Impulsiveness.
- Emotional instability.
- Family problems.
When these characteristics deepen can appear anorexia disorder, which is powered by:
- A social model, which reinforces a model of a very thin woman associated with competition and social success.
- Pressure from the family to achieve the teen gain weight that have lost so far.
Treatment of anorexia nervosa
Taking into account these characteristics and the social determinants that aggravate the process of anorexia nervosa, it is necessary to take into account the objectives of the treatments for anorexia.
In the treatment for anorexia certain objectives are pursued, such as:
- Develop realistic attitudes about body image.
- Reverse the uncontrolled intake and laxative abuse if it existed.
- Help to cope with anxiety.
- Help to improve self-esteem.
- Establish mechanisms of motivation to achieve success in treatment.
To achieve a good treatment of anorexia, it is necessary to carry out a good evaluation, which allows knowing possible points to correct, to achieve an optimal result and recovery of the person suffering from anorexia.
To achieve this, the most appropriate means of evaluation is the “self record of cognition-affect-behavior”, this means of evaluation must relate to other aspects of anorexia such as weight, control of intake, vomiting, used laxatives, etc.
For anorexia treatment to be successful, it is necessary to:
- Patient collaboration.
- Normalize weight and daily food intake.
- Work on phobias, crisis.
- Social interaction, self perception of body image.
- Interaction with the family.
- The support of the interdisciplinary team.
It is important to keep in mind that the treatment for anorexia must be carried out in its entirety and the family must accompany such treatment, so if you notice any changes in your child and you feel that something is not right, do not hesitate to contact to doctor as soon as possible. Both anorexia and bulimia, taken on time, have a high rate of recovery.
