Anorexia nervosa

1. Anorexia Nervosa Riley Gardner

2. Disclaimer This a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher, Laura Astorian : [email protected]

3. Anorexia Nervosa What is Anorexia Nervosa? According to Mayo Clinic, Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight

4. Diagnostic criteria for anorexia Restricting food intake Eating less than needed to maintain body weight Fear of gaining weight Intense fear of gaining weight  persistent behaviors that interferes with weight gain Problems with body image Denial of having a severely low body weight and having a distorted view of one’s body

5. How it began… When I was ten, I was not concerned about my weight until I started to notice how skinny my friends were. These thoughts about being skinny like my friends soon became an obsession. I began to feel fat and overweight every time I ate and soon I just stopped eating.

6. Anorexia Nervosa

7. How I felt… At first, my intentions were good, I just wanted to look skinny and normal like everyone else around me; however, soon, becoming skinny became an obsession. Instead of dieting, I just stopped eating. No matter how many pounds I lost, I still looked fat. I was constantly worried about what others might think of me, and I also compared myself to the skinniest girl thinking that she must think I am huge.

8. How I felt… My parents were the first to notice my destructive habits. They asked me if I needed help and begged me to tell them what was going on. I told them that I was fine and that I was just on a “diet.” As I began to lose weight, I didn’t feel any better, instead I felt like all my energy had been sapped out of my body. I felt depressed, and I refused to hang out with my friends because I feared about them judging me.

9. The Signs It was not until my parents found me unconscious on the floor that they decided to take me to the hospital. Because I was malnourished and weak, I ended up fainting.

10. Noticing After noticing the symptoms, my mother had me go get treated

11. Symptoms Extreme weight loss Thin appearance Fatigue Insomnia Dehydration Low blood pressure Intolerance to cold Irregular heart rhythms Absence of menstruation Hair that thins, breaks or falls out Osteoporosis Dry of yellow skin Constipation

12. Symptoms

13. Tests and Diagnosis Tests and diagnosis must be conducted in order to rule out any other medical causes of the weight loss and other related illnesses or complications

14. Tests and Diagnosis Physical exam Measuring height, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and etc. Lab Tests Complete blood count, urinalysis and etc.

15. Tests and Diagnosis Psychological evaluation Completion o psychological self-assessment questionnaire and sessions with doctor Other studies X-rays, electrocardiograms, and etc.

16. Treatment Medical treatment Medical treatment was necessary after being diagnosed with heart problems that were caused by anorexia A ppointments with the doctor were scheduled frequently in order to check my weight and health Nutritional counseling I had a registered dietician help me gain weight in a healthy way without overwhelming my body I was taught healthy eating patterns and gained understanding about nutrition

17. Treatment Medical treatment Nutritional counseling

18. Treatment The main reason that caused me to become anorexic was they way I evaluated myself and compared myself with others Therapy Talking with a psychologist help me cope with the emotional reasons behind my illness Helped me change the way I thought about myself and encouraged me to change my life

19. Treatment

20. Bibliography http://fyinutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/7627630. jpg http://www.crystalinks.com/anorexia2. jpg http://www.psychguides.com/guides/using-amerihealth-for-anorexia-treatment / http://centralhealthclinic.com/anorexia-nervosa-treatment-with-therapy-phobic-desensitization-and-liquid-diet / http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty_areas/eating_disorders / http://www.understandinganorexia.com/anorexia-treatment / http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Anorexia- nervosa.html https://www.google.com/search?q=getting+help+for+anorexia+nervosa& es

21. Bibliography http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/basics/definition/con- 20033002 http://prixray.com/Portals/0/Chest%20X-Ray% 20Image.jpg http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1402083/images/o-BLOOD-TEST- facebook.jpg http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/basics/tests-diagnosis/con- 20033002