Anorexia Nervosa
Characterized by self starvation
Early in a person's battle with Anorexia Nervosa.
- *Low self-esteem
- Misperception of hunger, fullness, and other bodily sensations
- *Feelings of lack of control in life
- Distorted body image
- *Overachiever
- Compliant
- Anxious
Symptoms often seen when an anorexic has been fighting this eating disorder for some time.
- *Menstrual cycle stops (also known as amenorrhea)
- increasing preoccupation with food and eating
- *perfectionistic behavior
- *compulsive exercise
- eats alone
- fights with family
- attempts to control family's eating
- *increased amounts of facial and body hair (referred to as lanugo)
- fatigue
- *decreased amount of scalp hair and thin, dry scalp
- disassociation
These symptoms appear when a person is in the crucial (later) stage of anorexia.
- *Emaciated appearance (at least 25% loss of total body weight)
- *feelings of control over body
- rigid
- depression and apathy
- malnutrition
- *mood swings
- *diminished capacity to think
- electrolyte imbalance (weakness)
- *denial of problem (sees self as fat)
- *joint pain (difficulty walking and sitting)
- sleep disturbance