The lecture discussed a single case study of sixteen-year-old girl who was dealing with anorexia. The speaker, Fisher, stated that he spoke to her parents only twice over the span of four and a half years that he worked with the girl. The initial meeting was to get some background information before the sessions started and the other was further into the sessions. During the only face to face meeting with the parents, he found that there were no outstanding issues in the family that could have caused the eating disorder, anorexia. In the first sixteen years of her life, she was a good daughter who seemed to be almost too good. She was obedient and kind and never got in trouble. She was an honor roll student who was in clubs that were considered …show more content…
I question as to how she was able to function at all being that underweight. I believe that it may have caused some other long-term health issues that were not mentioned in the lecture. Fisher mentioned that he did not want to give any medication to her as it would be intrusive, but there is currently no medication to treat anorexia as a specific medical condition. Though he did not give any medication, this disconnect caused me to question the validity of the treatment. I am also wondering as to how much her hospitalization could have impacted her condition later on. While at a young age babies are creating a perception of the world, it seems unlikely that the hospitalization could be the root and only cause of anorexia. Fisher mentioned that she was on a swimming team, which the act of being in a swimsuit during puberty could have had a stronger impact than what was seen on the outside. As talked about in class, her personality is in line with those who are likely to develop anorexia: perfectionistic, conformist, and a bizarre sense of pride. I wonder as to how much his sessions actually helped. He seemed to think that the sessions were the only thing that helped her improve. There are always external factors for everything and there is a strong likelihood that there were things which may have helped cause the recovery. In class we also mentioned the importance of family
Many doctors look for family problems when trying to find the cause of bulimia or anorexia. Marya had many problems with her relationship with her parents. They definitely cared about her, but her mom and dad had problems between them which often ended up affecting the relationship between her parents and her. Marya often acted as the “buffer” between her father and mother.
Anorexia Nervosa has been a problematic disease many women suffer from. The article “The Slender Trap” was composed by Trina Rys who is a stay at home mother with a husband and one daughter. Rys writes the main reasons a woman may develop anorexia from. She states that the psychological pressures, expectations of friends and family and influences of the media all are factors when a woman is inflicted with the disease. I strongly agree with Rys persuading argument that anorexia could be caused by an unknown identity and the overall main focus of the ideal image of a woman. Although, I believe Rys requires a stronger argument on whether food restrictions executed by parents are a major step to developing the harmful illness. She seems to put emphasize on mainly women but does not shine any light on men.
Referring back to the symptoms and warning signs of Anorexia Nervosa , these young women explained methods and ways they tried to self-harm. Some examples of signs of Anorexia Nervosa include, withdrawal from friends and activities, low self-esteem, feelings of guilt after eating, abuse of diuretics, and the intense anxiety of gaining weight. Each of these four women showed these signs and more throughout their treatment. I was surprised to learn that after they left the treatment facility, they relapsed and went back to being underweight. Another thing that also caught my attention was Alisa’s drawing of her body. She labeled everything that was wrong with her such as saddlebags, muffin top, and areas that she needed to tone up just to name a few. Each woman mentioned that their goal was to be thin. The thought of weighing more than a hundred pounds was the worst thing they could
The author’s intended audience is most likely to people who are experiencing the disorder or are interested in knowing more about eating disorders. When Lia was admitted to New Seasons, her rehabilitation facility, she relates her experience to someone who has gone through the struggles in that kind of facility. Lia was expected to be “a good girl [by not poking holes] or write depressing poetry and [eat and eat]” (Anderson 18). Her struggles in the facility allowed the audience who experienced this disorder to relate their experiences. In addition, people who choose to starve...
...d the gravity of her situation. Portia De Rossi met the three criteria for an anorexia nervosa disorder binge-eating type at the age of 25. Her restrictive food intake through her diets impeded her from having a healthy body weight. As a result she was 85% less than her normal body weight. She also had an immense fear of gaining weight and recurred to purging and excessive exercise. Portia viewed herself to be “fat” even though she was already underweight due to her distorted point of view on body image and weight; all that matter to her was to be thin. Despite having symptoms that could also diagnose her with bulimia nervosa, there was still no clear proof she fulfilled all the criteria for this disorder. However, what clearly differentiated her from being diagnosed with bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa was her low weight which was below 85% of normal weight.
Eating disorders can be viewed as multi-determined disorders because there are many different factors that can play into a person developing an eating disorder. Each case is different and to get a clear picture of the disorder it must be looked at from numerous angles because often times it is a combination of different issues that contribute to someone developing an eating disorder.
Eating Disorder Case Study Mother is concerned that daughter is not eating enough, restricting food intake for 8 months because she feels fat, feels she needs to lose ten pounds, feels that her thighs and stomach are to large, reporting 35 lb weight loss over last 8 months, denies any eating problems, began menarche at age 16 periods normally regular, stop three months ago, exercises daily 20 min. to 2 hours, experiences low energy, chronic constipation and lightheadedness, favorite TV show is “America’s Next Top Model” and reports “feeling down in the dumps” for about nine months, college student, good grades, finding it difficult to concentrate, admits to feeling worthless and having no friends, moved to new city middle of senior year, has difficulty falling asleep awakens in middle of night often, mother reports that she is often irritable and cries often. When did the depressed mood start in relation to the move, was it within three months of the move, Is she taking any medications, has she ever felt like this before and if so what made it better, dose she take naps, what time does she go to sleep and wake up, does she take meds to go to sleep, how much caffeine does she use, does she have nightmares, does your mind race when you try to go to sleep, have you ever binged or fasted, used laxatives or vomiting, how often do you weigh, 24 hour diet recall, are you afraid of gaining weight, how would you describe your energy level, what do you enjoy doing, are the activities you use to enjoy still enjoyable, have you been feeling sad, angry, irritable, or happy, describe your mood on a scale of 1-10 ten being best, have you ever ... ... middle of paper ... ... rting family by telling them that 25% of patients fully recover and another half are improved and function well.
Anorexia nervosa is a psychosociological disease which affects young women. Anorexia is mainly a female's disease which has been evident for centuries-however, in the past twenty years, the incidence of this disorder has risen to horrifying proportions. It is characterized by the refusal to maintain body wight over a minimal normal weight for age and height; intense fear of gaining weight; a distorted body image; and, amenorrhea. (http://www.pgi.edu/hagopian.htm) This disorder becomes a disease when the mind starts to cause problems with one's physical well-being. A connection has been found between sociocultural pressures to achieve, familial characteristics, and individual personality traits.
Beth by all accounts was raised in a normal home and is a typical teenager. She became to experience an obsession with gaining weight and becoming fat. Although, Beth weight is normal for her height and age she is dieting and losing weight. She has a poor self-image and as a result has become dangerously thin. Beth refuses to admit she has a problem and as a result is suffering side effects including the loss of her menstrual cycle. Beth’s parents are concerned for their daughter’s health but have no idea how to help her. It is clear that Beth suffers from anorexia. Beth has an abnormal fear of gaining weight. This fear has led her to an unhealthy view of what she should weigh. The media and culture surrounding Beth are used as her justification for her fear of weight. Beth’s ability to ignore both the set point and setting point theory could be linked to the positive-incentive she had developed. Beth sees losing weight as a positive or desired outcome. These views as lead her from seeing any positive-incentive from eating. The fact that Beth has been obsessed with her weight for a while and that she is dangerously slim, would suggest that she has been limiting her food intake for a while. The fact that Beth has limited her intake of food for so long means that eating would only make her feel nauseated. This feeling only justifies her view of not e...
Minuchin, Salvador, et al. Psychosomatic Families: Anorexia Nervosa in Context. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1978.
In 1978, Brunch called anorexia nervosa a 'new disease' and noted that the condition seemed to overtake ?the daughters of the well-to-do, educated and successful families.? Today it is acknowledged and accepted that anorexia affects more than just one gender or socio-economic class; however, much of the current research is focused on the female gender. ?Anorexia nervosa is characterized by extreme dieting, intense fear of gaining weight, and obsessive exercising. The weight loss eventually produces a variety of physical symptoms associated with starvation: sleep disturbance, cessation of menstruation, insensitivity to pain, loss of hair on the head, low blood pressure, a variety of cardiovascular problems and reduced body temperature. Between 10% and 15% of anorexics literally starve themselves to death; others die because of some type of cardiovascular dysfunction (Bee and Boyd, 2001).?
Purpose: The purpose of this speech is to inform my audience about the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.
Out of all mental illnesses found throughout the world, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. Anorexia nervosa is one of the more common eating disorders found in society, along with bulimia nervosa. Despite having many definitions, anorexia nervosa is simply defined as the refusal to maintain a normal body weight (Michel, 2003). Anorexia nervosa is derived from two Latin words meaning “nervous inability to eat” (Frey, 2002). Although anorexics, those suffering from anorexia, have this “nervous inability to eat,” it does not mean that they do not have an appetite—anorexics literally starve themselves. They feel that they cannot trust or believe their perceptions of hunger and satiation (Abraham, 2008). Anorexics lose at least 15 percent of normal weight for height (Michel, 2003). This amount of weight loss is significant enough to cause malnutrition with impairment of normal bodily functions and rational thinking (Lucas, 2004). Anorexics have an unrealistic view of their bodies—they believe that they are overweight, even if the mirror and friends or family say otherwise. They often weigh themselves because they possess an irrational fear of gaining weight or becoming obese (Abraham, 2008). Many anorexics derive their own self-esteem and self-worth from body weight, size, and shape (“Body Image and Disordered Eating,” 2000). Obsession with becoming increasingly thinner and limiting food intake compromises the health of individuals suffering from anorexia. No matter the amount of weight they lose or how much their health is in jeopardy, anorexics will never be satisfied with their body and will continue to lose more weight.
The claimant testified that he can mow the yard but his neighbor has to do any weed eating. He can drive but only short distances. Walking is also difficult and he can only do it for short distances. He uses a cane. He can sit in a soft chair for a little bit. He can lift/carry 20-30 pounds. He gets mental health treatment through the VA every six months. His current VA rating is 90%. At this point in the hearing, the claimant handed to the ALJ a copy of the VA rating who requested it be uploaded after the hearing. The claimant continued to testify that he last worked as a waiter but when a bunch of glasses and pans fell down; he had a flashback and told the customers to get down. One customer was injured. After the incident, it was a “mutual understanding it was best not to work there any longer”. He also has headaches that started after he was in Iraq. Bright sun brings them on and he will need to lay down in total darkness for an hour or two. He has them at least two times a week. He has seen a neurologist for his migraines. He has had multiple knee surgeries. His knee is not stable and gives out when he walks. He has trouble sleeping. On a good night if he has slept well, he wakes up around five a.m., takes a shower and has a cup of coffee. He takes the kids to school and may watch a little news. If
Most girls who have eating disorders have a tie to a belief learned at an early age to achieve physical perfection whether it be in a sport, talent, or attractiveness. In situations such as this, education often is placed on the back burner. “Just the other day, a popular dance show featured adults candidly admitting that they encourage activity over education. When confronted, devotees said, "My daughter loves it." Or, "Ask her if she likes doing it!