Anorexia Nervos A Severe Mental Illness - 1974 Words

Anorexia nervosa is a severe mental illness which carries mental, physical and psychological consequences. It is often characterised by low body weight and image distortion, along with obsessive concerns and fears about the gaining of weight.(1) This constant anxiety of weight gain manifests itself through the deprivation of food and excessive exercise. Anorexia Nervosa can broken down further into the restricting type where weight loss is achieved through the restriction of calories,(2) or the purging type where vomiting, laxatives and diuretics(2) are used to gain the similar outcomes. Both of these types have severe impacts on an individuals health and knowledge of the symptoms, care and impacts it has is imperative. Anorexia nervosa†¦show more content†¦These all influence on an individuals mental health and can all put a person at risk of anorexia nervosa. Anorexia has early signs and symptoms that become evident after the mental illness begins to take its toll. The beginning of anorexia nervosa is often recognised through warning signs which, if recognised early, can ultimately save an individual from developing deeply into this mental illness. Some danger signs that should be looked out for are rapid weight loss of greater than 10% of healthy weight, an increase in vomiting and exercise, dizziness, fainting, disorientation and also chest pain.(6) These early warning signs eventually worsen and that is when the symptoms of anorexia become even more evident. These symptoms can be broken down into physical, psychological and behavioural categories. A physical symptom impacts on the physiological, or normal functioning of an individual and these are mostly to do with malnutrition. Symptoms can include excessive weight loss without a logical reason, failure to begin a menstrual cycle and loss of libido, fatigue and in worse conditions hea rt problems and kidney failure.(7) The physical symptoms are often easily recognised and are important to look out for in an individual with suspected anorexia. The psychological effects that anorexia nervosa have on an individual are detrimental to their mental health and put their emotional state at risk.