Our minds are just as important as our bodies, they need to be looked after or we could become ill. Our mental well being describes our mental state, it's all about how we feel and how we cope with life. Everybody will experience periods of low mental well being, when we find it difficult to cope in stressful and difficult times. When mental well being is low over a long period of time, there is a higher risk of a mental health problem. Whether you have a mental health problem or not, there are several things that can help you to stay mentally well, even during difficult times.
Being able to talk about our feelings with friends and family can really help to keep a healthy mind. They may be able to offer advice and support when you're going through a difficult time. But, even if they can't specifically help with problems, often, talking about issues and problems can really help and make you feel much better.
Looking after yourself physically will help with your mental health too. Diet is a huge part of this, eating well will have a largely positive impact on both physical and mental health. Ensuring you get plenty of water and a good balanced diet with lots of vitamins and minerals will improve your overall health. Cutting out the things that are bad for you like tobacco and drugs and reducing alcohol intake will all benefit. Keeping active and fit is also important. It has been proven that regular exercise can alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms. It can boost confidence and improve your mood because of the release of endorphins. Along with diet and exercise, making sure you get enough sleep is really important. Having trouble sleeping can have a really negative impact on your mental well being so it's important that you have a regular sleeping pattern and ensure your mind gets enough rest.
Another important factor in keeping a healthy mind is learning to relax. It is important to be able to take time away and escape from the stresses of life so that they don't get you down. This can be as simple as taking a five minute fresh air break or more extravagant ideas like learning to meditate.
A hugely important step in having a healthy mind is being able to accept yourself for who you are. Learning to be happy with yourself will make it easier to cope through difficult times. Try and think more positively and acknowledge your qualities and things that you're good at. Don't try and compare yourself to other people and spend your time with positive, supportive people and not negative people that will bring you down.
Using all these steps, you will hopefully find yourself feeling good inside and out!
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
The Student Struggle
It has been said time an time again "your student years are the best years of your life." But for some, it is also a stressful, daunting and troublesome time. And many students face mental health issues at some point during their university experience.
In recent years, the issue of depression in students has become an increasing concern. For young people in general, depression and suicide is a huge issue. Suicide is the main cause of death in 18-24 year old men in the UK and every year around 1,400 young people under the age of 35 take their own lives.
Students face a lot of pressure in their lives, the pressure of potentially huge amounts of debt on their shoulders, pressure to perform well in assignments and exams pressure of living away from home and keeping up with rent and bills are just a few of the problems.
In 2011, The Royal College of Psychiatrists revealed that an increasing number of students in Britain were seeking help from mental health support services. This is all at a time of increasing amounts of student debt and more limited employment options after graduation. Many students in Britain are now paying £9000 a year in tuition fees and will leave university with an average debt of around £40,000. Along with that debt, there is the daunting task of trying to find good and suitable employment in an incredibly competitive environment. Taking this into consideration, it seems understandable that there is an increase of students facing mental health worries.
In addition to financial troubles, students also face having to move away from home and live with strangers, having to make friends from scratch when they don't know anyone at all. This can be daunting, what if you don't get on with your housemates, what if you find yourself struggling to make friends? This can add to feelings of depression and anxiety. As well as this there is the academic pressure to get good grades, coping with the stress of exams and assignments, dealing with poor results and failures.
It is worrying that these pressures and worries could be ruining the ambition of some of this country's brightest young people. More help need to be provided to ensure that students can get help to cope with the pressures of university and that when they graduate, they are not left feeling helpless and frightened by what could and should be a bright future.
Talking about your problems is a huge step in dealing with depression. Universities have counselling services for students, problems can be discussed confidentially with a impartial person. Keeping quiet and trying to deal with depression alone is not being strong, and opening up and talking does not make you weak.
Raising awareness of this issue is important, people need to know the kinds of pressure that young people face in order to be able to provide more help and support.
Here are some fantastic sites that provide information and support to anyone that is struggling or worried about someone:
http://www.thecalmzone.net/
http://www.studentsagainstdepression.org/
In recent years, the issue of depression in students has become an increasing concern. For young people in general, depression and suicide is a huge issue. Suicide is the main cause of death in 18-24 year old men in the UK and every year around 1,400 young people under the age of 35 take their own lives.
Students face a lot of pressure in their lives, the pressure of potentially huge amounts of debt on their shoulders, pressure to perform well in assignments and exams pressure of living away from home and keeping up with rent and bills are just a few of the problems.
In 2011, The Royal College of Psychiatrists revealed that an increasing number of students in Britain were seeking help from mental health support services. This is all at a time of increasing amounts of student debt and more limited employment options after graduation. Many students in Britain are now paying £9000 a year in tuition fees and will leave university with an average debt of around £40,000. Along with that debt, there is the daunting task of trying to find good and suitable employment in an incredibly competitive environment. Taking this into consideration, it seems understandable that there is an increase of students facing mental health worries.
In addition to financial troubles, students also face having to move away from home and live with strangers, having to make friends from scratch when they don't know anyone at all. This can be daunting, what if you don't get on with your housemates, what if you find yourself struggling to make friends? This can add to feelings of depression and anxiety. As well as this there is the academic pressure to get good grades, coping with the stress of exams and assignments, dealing with poor results and failures.
It is worrying that these pressures and worries could be ruining the ambition of some of this country's brightest young people. More help need to be provided to ensure that students can get help to cope with the pressures of university and that when they graduate, they are not left feeling helpless and frightened by what could and should be a bright future.
Talking about your problems is a huge step in dealing with depression. Universities have counselling services for students, problems can be discussed confidentially with a impartial person. Keeping quiet and trying to deal with depression alone is not being strong, and opening up and talking does not make you weak.
Raising awareness of this issue is important, people need to know the kinds of pressure that young people face in order to be able to provide more help and support.
Here are some fantastic sites that provide information and support to anyone that is struggling or worried about someone:
http://www.thecalmzone.net/
http://www.studentsagainstdepression.org/
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Common Depression Misconceptions
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, it is estimated that 1 in 5 people will become depressed at some point in their lives. The misconceptions that people have contribute towards the stigma associated with depression and this may discourage people from seeking help when they may really need it. Here are some of the common misconceptions related to depression:
"Depression is just feeling sad"
Depression is much more than this. Feeling sad is part of depression, these feelings are more persistent than a normal mood state and can be a lot more intense. There are other symptoms of depression too such as, change is appetite, feeling worthless, loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed or that form part of an everyday routine to name but a few. When people are depressed these symptoms often last for more than two weeks.
"Depression goes away on it's own"
Depression is a medical condition that needs treatment and it is often the case that symptoms will worsen if they are not treated. It is important to get help and get treatment.
"Depression is a sign of weakness"
Not at all. Depression is a serious medical condition that could affect anyone regardless of their character. No one should feel weak because they are suffering with depression.
"Depression is treated by drugs with serious side effects"
Medication is not the only treatment for depression. There are several psychological treatments available too, like counselling. Some anti depressants do have side effects, like many other drugs, but not everybody will be effected and they are not serious. Mostly, they will improve over time as your body gets used to the medication. The benefits of the treatments will outweigh any of the problems related to side effects.
"Talking about depression will just make it worse"
Being alone with your thoughts is much more harmful than sharing them. Having someone to listen that is supportive and non judgmental is a highly crucial step in the treatment of depression.
"If I tell people about how I feel, they'll judge me."
The whole world does not need to know about your depression, seeking the right help, from the right people is very important. No health professional will ever judge you, because they understand. Don't be frightened to speak to loved ones about how you feel, it may be the best thing you ever do.
"Depression is just feeling sad"
Depression is much more than this. Feeling sad is part of depression, these feelings are more persistent than a normal mood state and can be a lot more intense. There are other symptoms of depression too such as, change is appetite, feeling worthless, loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed or that form part of an everyday routine to name but a few. When people are depressed these symptoms often last for more than two weeks.
"Depression goes away on it's own"
Depression is a medical condition that needs treatment and it is often the case that symptoms will worsen if they are not treated. It is important to get help and get treatment.
"Depression is a sign of weakness"
Not at all. Depression is a serious medical condition that could affect anyone regardless of their character. No one should feel weak because they are suffering with depression.
"Depression is treated by drugs with serious side effects"
Medication is not the only treatment for depression. There are several psychological treatments available too, like counselling. Some anti depressants do have side effects, like many other drugs, but not everybody will be effected and they are not serious. Mostly, they will improve over time as your body gets used to the medication. The benefits of the treatments will outweigh any of the problems related to side effects.
"Talking about depression will just make it worse"
Being alone with your thoughts is much more harmful than sharing them. Having someone to listen that is supportive and non judgmental is a highly crucial step in the treatment of depression.
"If I tell people about how I feel, they'll judge me."
The whole world does not need to know about your depression, seeking the right help, from the right people is very important. No health professional will ever judge you, because they understand. Don't be frightened to speak to loved ones about how you feel, it may be the best thing you ever do.
Anti Anorexia Campaigns
There are a number of controversial anti anorexia campaigns that have been produced across the world. Their aim is to raise awareness of the issues or to shock people into realising the extent of the dangers associated with eating disorders, namely Anorexia.
One of the most shocking and controversial campaigns to date featured the French actress and model, Isabelle Caro who had suffered from Anorexia since she was thirteen years old. In 2007, she took part in a campaign for an Italian fashion house in which shocking naked pictures of her severely emaciated body were used on billboards and magazines. It was an attempt to raise awareness of the disorders within the fashion industry. Sadly, Isabelle passed away at the age of 28.
Her campaign was most certainly shocking, and the images most certainly caught people's attention, but were they more damaging than helpful?
It would seem that the campaign was successful in making people realise the extent to which the fashion industry promote being skinny, urging already thin girls to lose drastic weight if they want to work in modelling. It highlighted the changes that need to take place in the industry to protect vulnerable young women from being pushed into dangerous eating habits and weight loss. And Isabelle fought for these changes right up until her death.
However concern has been raised with these type of campaigns campaign when it emerged that images from them were being used on pro anorexia websites as so called "thinspiration". One particularly chilling message appeared on one site shortly after Isabelle's death, reading "die young, stay pretty."
It seems that these shock anti anorexia campaigns are great for raising awareness among non sufferers, and help in pushing corporations and agencies etc to change their ways. However, for the vulnerable people that actually suffer from such disorders, they seem to do more harm than good. It is thought that more effective campaigns, to be aimed at people that suffer, would not be shocking and would not use images like that of Isabelle Caro. Instead, campaigns encouraging people to reach out for help and promoting methods of getting help and treatment should be used.
Here is the link to a feature on Isabelle Caro and her anti anorexia campaign:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTIjRxT_Y9g
One of the most shocking and controversial campaigns to date featured the French actress and model, Isabelle Caro who had suffered from Anorexia since she was thirteen years old. In 2007, she took part in a campaign for an Italian fashion house in which shocking naked pictures of her severely emaciated body were used on billboards and magazines. It was an attempt to raise awareness of the disorders within the fashion industry. Sadly, Isabelle passed away at the age of 28.
 |
| One of the billboards of the Isabelle Caro Campaign |
Her campaign was most certainly shocking, and the images most certainly caught people's attention, but were they more damaging than helpful?
It would seem that the campaign was successful in making people realise the extent to which the fashion industry promote being skinny, urging already thin girls to lose drastic weight if they want to work in modelling. It highlighted the changes that need to take place in the industry to protect vulnerable young women from being pushed into dangerous eating habits and weight loss. And Isabelle fought for these changes right up until her death.
However concern has been raised with these type of campaigns campaign when it emerged that images from them were being used on pro anorexia websites as so called "thinspiration". One particularly chilling message appeared on one site shortly after Isabelle's death, reading "die young, stay pretty."
It seems that these shock anti anorexia campaigns are great for raising awareness among non sufferers, and help in pushing corporations and agencies etc to change their ways. However, for the vulnerable people that actually suffer from such disorders, they seem to do more harm than good. It is thought that more effective campaigns, to be aimed at people that suffer, would not be shocking and would not use images like that of Isabelle Caro. Instead, campaigns encouraging people to reach out for help and promoting methods of getting help and treatment should be used.
Here is the link to a feature on Isabelle Caro and her anti anorexia campaign:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTIjRxT_Y9g
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Pro Anorexia Websites: Dangers and How to Help
Currently, there are hundreds of "pro-ana" websites creating an online community where fellow sufferers encourage each other to starve themselves further as dissuade each other from getting help. These pages are largely dominated by disturbing images of underweight women some of whom are emaciated. The images show protruding bones with captions such as "I want to be her" and "please let me have this body, she is perfection." There are also images of obese people warning others what would happen if they didn't stick to their dangerous routines.
Many website providers oppose this pro anorexia material and have quickly acted to shut them down. This has caused some to go underground, many are protected with passwords so that only members can enter. However, despite a lot of websites banning this material, there is still a worrying amount of pro anorexia material on some of the biggest social networking sites on the web; some of the biggest being Twitter and Instagram. Some of the worrying content is found thorough hashtags such as #thinspo and #ana in which sufferers post images to each other and motivate and inspire each other to carry on losing weight. Neither Twitter nor Instagram have banned this content. Instagram have issued a graphic content warning that appears before the images load, this also contains a link to an eating disorder help site. They have made attempts to ban content that promotes self harm, however this has led to the creation of "code word" hashtags that contain pro anorexia material but are very difficult to track and shut down. On Twitter, the pro anorexia material is available for all to see and there are no warnings or attempts to shut it down. It seems that in terms of the social network policies on this issue, there is a long road ahead when it comes to eliminating this harmful content.
The most important thing to consider in relation to this issue, is how big a risk to these sites pose? And what can be done to help the people that use them and counteract their effects? Eating disorder experts are concerned with the effect that these websites have on vulnerable people, The director of the UK National Centre for Eating Disorders, Dr Davies, has expressed serious concern over the messages that these websites give out. "There are people out there who not only dissuade people from getting help but promote false and dangerous practices on how to lose weight."
Although the content on these sites is very worrying and disturbing to see, it is important that we understand why people that suffer with eating disorders, especially young women and girls, turn to them. For many sufferers of anorexia these sites provide an element of support that they feel they are unlikely to get any where else.
Research conducted by Dr Emma Bond looked extensively at the risks of the increasing number of pro anorexia sites. She reported that the risk posed by these sites vary according to the type of content and the frequency of visits. Young people that have low self esteem and low self confidence are most at risk and particularly vulnerable to the dangerous influence of pro anorexia websites. Dr Bond suggests that the reason girls fall into the trap of these sites is that often, when suffering with an eating disorder, the relationship between family and friends become difficult and people can feel isolated. These online "communities" can become a method of support and a place where they feel understood and accepted.
People that suffer with anorexia seek and strive for "perfection", based on an idea of thinness. This idea becomes normalised through these websites. Other members will reassure a sufferer that what they are doing is good and the right thing to do. This is extremely damaging and could have a serious impact on any attempt at recovery. It is the feeling of belonging and identification with a group that reinforces eating disorder behaviours. This sense of belonging can also prevent sufferers from seeking help and these sites also share tips on how to deceive parents and doctors into believing that they are eating when they're not, which is extremely worrying.
Dr Bond set out a number of recommendations for ways of dealing with the issues of pro eating disorder websites. These are as follows:
Education and awareness raising:
- It is important to make people aware of the content of these sites so they can realise what young vulnerable people are being exposed to.(e.g parents and teachers). However, it is also important not to inadvertently advertise these harmful websites to young people.
Understanding risk and harm in relation to young people:
- Mental health professionals and other relevant people need to be kept up to date on harmful online content.
Media responsibilty:
- The charity Beat has discussed that media coverage of eating disorders either glamourises or trivialises the illness. The media need to provide balanced and sensitive reporting of such issues.
Finding positive and helpful support:
-Helping young people to find positive help and support to aid recovery and still feel a sense of belonging that they often turn to pro ana sites for. An example of this support is the online help provided by Beat.
Warnings:
-Because pro eating disorder sites are mostly set up by people that suffer themselves, making them illegal would criminalise a young and vulnerable group of people. Using moderation and providing links to support services is a better way of dealing with the issue.
These sites are not used or run by bad people, they are people that are suffering with a serious illness and they do not need to be targeted and criminalised they need to be helped and supported.
Many website providers oppose this pro anorexia material and have quickly acted to shut them down. This has caused some to go underground, many are protected with passwords so that only members can enter. However, despite a lot of websites banning this material, there is still a worrying amount of pro anorexia material on some of the biggest social networking sites on the web; some of the biggest being Twitter and Instagram. Some of the worrying content is found thorough hashtags such as #thinspo and #ana in which sufferers post images to each other and motivate and inspire each other to carry on losing weight. Neither Twitter nor Instagram have banned this content. Instagram have issued a graphic content warning that appears before the images load, this also contains a link to an eating disorder help site. They have made attempts to ban content that promotes self harm, however this has led to the creation of "code word" hashtags that contain pro anorexia material but are very difficult to track and shut down. On Twitter, the pro anorexia material is available for all to see and there are no warnings or attempts to shut it down. It seems that in terms of the social network policies on this issue, there is a long road ahead when it comes to eliminating this harmful content.
The most important thing to consider in relation to this issue, is how big a risk to these sites pose? And what can be done to help the people that use them and counteract their effects? Eating disorder experts are concerned with the effect that these websites have on vulnerable people, The director of the UK National Centre for Eating Disorders, Dr Davies, has expressed serious concern over the messages that these websites give out. "There are people out there who not only dissuade people from getting help but promote false and dangerous practices on how to lose weight."
Although the content on these sites is very worrying and disturbing to see, it is important that we understand why people that suffer with eating disorders, especially young women and girls, turn to them. For many sufferers of anorexia these sites provide an element of support that they feel they are unlikely to get any where else.
Research conducted by Dr Emma Bond looked extensively at the risks of the increasing number of pro anorexia sites. She reported that the risk posed by these sites vary according to the type of content and the frequency of visits. Young people that have low self esteem and low self confidence are most at risk and particularly vulnerable to the dangerous influence of pro anorexia websites. Dr Bond suggests that the reason girls fall into the trap of these sites is that often, when suffering with an eating disorder, the relationship between family and friends become difficult and people can feel isolated. These online "communities" can become a method of support and a place where they feel understood and accepted.
People that suffer with anorexia seek and strive for "perfection", based on an idea of thinness. This idea becomes normalised through these websites. Other members will reassure a sufferer that what they are doing is good and the right thing to do. This is extremely damaging and could have a serious impact on any attempt at recovery. It is the feeling of belonging and identification with a group that reinforces eating disorder behaviours. This sense of belonging can also prevent sufferers from seeking help and these sites also share tips on how to deceive parents and doctors into believing that they are eating when they're not, which is extremely worrying.
Dr Bond set out a number of recommendations for ways of dealing with the issues of pro eating disorder websites. These are as follows:
Education and awareness raising:
- It is important to make people aware of the content of these sites so they can realise what young vulnerable people are being exposed to.(e.g parents and teachers). However, it is also important not to inadvertently advertise these harmful websites to young people.
Understanding risk and harm in relation to young people:
- Mental health professionals and other relevant people need to be kept up to date on harmful online content.
Media responsibilty:
- The charity Beat has discussed that media coverage of eating disorders either glamourises or trivialises the illness. The media need to provide balanced and sensitive reporting of such issues.
Finding positive and helpful support:
-Helping young people to find positive help and support to aid recovery and still feel a sense of belonging that they often turn to pro ana sites for. An example of this support is the online help provided by Beat.
Warnings:
-Because pro eating disorder sites are mostly set up by people that suffer themselves, making them illegal would criminalise a young and vulnerable group of people. Using moderation and providing links to support services is a better way of dealing with the issue.
These sites are not used or run by bad people, they are people that are suffering with a serious illness and they do not need to be targeted and criminalised they need to be helped and supported.
Monday, 10 June 2013
Demi Lovato's eating disorder story
Pop star and US X Factor judge Demi Lovato has openly talked about her battle with an eating disorder and has become a role model for young girls and women to be healthy and happy with their weight and body image. Here is a very personal interview she did on a US chat show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCTXV15mKQ4
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCTXV15mKQ4
Enjoy!
The influence of the media on eating disorders in women and girls
The media is often
criticised for promoting unhealthy body images and "glamourising"
eating disorders, this seems to be the case in particular in the media that is
aimed at women and girls.The eating disorder section of the Royal College of
Psychiatrists has expressed particular concern with the role that the media
plays in the development of eating disorder symptoms. They have called on the
media to take greater responsibility for the body image and weight related
material that they produce. One particular concern that has been voiced by the
RCP is the prevalence of unbalanced magazine articles, often giving dieting
advice without reporting information about the dangers of extreme dieting.
Along with glorifying a slim physique, there is a large amount of emphasis on
appearances in general. Researcher Naomi Wolf argues that our modern day
culture "disempowers women by holding them prisoner to an unattainable
beauty ideal".
What does the research say?
There is a plethora of scientific research that has been published exploring the role that the media has in influencing the development of eating disorders. The media has been accused of providing a social context for eating disorders. Some of the research into this has focused on the differences over time in what has been portrayed as a "body ideal"; for example, the decreasing weight in models and beauty pageant contestants between the 1950's and the 90's and 2000's. These people are often portrayed as beauty ideals by media publications. There are a number of studies that document a trend in increasing thinness in these types of people over the decades, clearly showing a shift in what is considered to be the ideal body image.
 |
| Beauty Pageant Contestant in the 1950's |
 |
| A Miss Universe Contestant from 2009 |
It is also interesting to note that during this period of time, there has been a significant increase, statistically, in the weight of western women, most notably in the UK and the USA. Therefore, the portrayed media ideal and the realistic weight and size of the women this media is aimed at is very different. This could add pressure on women and girls who may already be vulnerable to eating disorders due to other reasons, and push them to take drastic measures to lose weight.
In addition to this, research suggests that, in the period between the 70's and the 90's there was a huge increase in the amount of advertisements involving diet related products and foods. This also creates pressure for women to lose weight and it is thought that this could contribute to triggering an eating disorder.
There is clearly a large amount of media focus on weight and beauty, but how strong of an influence does this really have on females?
In 1996, Levine and Smolak reported that 83% of adolescent girls read fashion magazines for an average of 4.3 hours a week, meaning that a young girls exposure to body image related material and advertisements is huge. This is worrying because anyone who is at risk or vulnerable to an eating disorder or is already suffering, this kind of media output could be a hugely negative influence on them and may be detrimental to their recovery. In one survey, girls aged between 11 and 17 were asked to choose three wishes for anything that they wanted. The number one wish was to "lose weight and keep it off". In a separate survey, more than half of the middle aged women that were asked stated that the one thing they wanted to change about their lives was their weight.
It is clear to see that the media does have a lot of influence over people's lives and their attitudes. This can be a dangerous thing when already vulnerable people are exposed to it. A key to fighting this, it seems, is more balanced reporting when it comes to stories about dieting and weight loss to ensure that only completely healthy methods are promoted as well as reporting on the dangers of extreme dieting and weight loss. Another way to control this issue, is to promote a healthy body image within the media, particularly with models. Some progress does seem to be being made here, as there are more healthy female beauty idols being seen within the media such as Beyonce and Kelly Brook. However, some companies and advertisers are still not doing all they can to promote a healthy body image. An example of this is H&M's recent swimwear line being modelled by Beyonce. H&M were criticised when reports emerged that the images had been doctored to shrink Beyonce's hips and make her look thinner. They have recently released a statement to apologise and say that the images now being used are ones that both H&M and Beyonce are happy with.
Hopefully as time goes on we will see more and more positive media influence on female body image.
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
What causes an eating disorder?
There is no simple answer to this question, as the potential causes for an eating disorder are quite complex. Eating disorder are often blamed on modern day social pressure for people to look a certain way. Although our social and cultural environment is an important factor to be considered, the cause are usually more complex than this and there are several other factors and influences that need to be taken into account.
It has been found that most of the eating disorders run in families. For example, Anorexia is eight times more common in people who have relatives who have suffered or are suffering from the disorder. Twin studies have also suggested that twins have a tendency to share the same eating disorders. Some studies also imply that genes have an impact on the way serotonin works. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is involved with a person's appetite and general well being. Also, there have been reported links between regions on chromosome 10 and Bulimia.
It is considered that negative influences within a family can both start off and maintain an eating disorder. Poor parenting attitudes seem to be a big factor as poor parenting from both the mother and the father have been implicated in eating disorders. Abuse has also been associated with eating disorders. Bulimia seems to have a positive correlation with childhood sexual abuse. Also, a history of weight related bullying is considered to be an important trigger.
Emotional disorders and addictions within the family have an influence on children as well. It has been reported that children whose parents suffer with alcoholism and substance abuse are more prone to anorexia and bulimia when compared with the general population. Bulimia can also be linked to children whose parents suffer with a psychiatric disorder.
Media influences and pressure on being thin are likely to play a role in triggering eating disorders. For example, models advertising clothing are often very slim and this is the example that young people are set and may feel pressured to follow. Another example is the constant criticism in magazines over celebrity's body images and their weight.
There are several personality traits that have been linked to eating disorders. People with eating disorders often tend to be perfectionists and often have unrealistic expectations of themselves and others. Low self esteem and feelings of inadequacy as well as feeling a lack of control in life are all associated with eating disorders. Certain personality types are also more at risk of eating disorders, examples are obsessive -compulsive personalities and sensitive-avoidant personalities.
Obviously, there is an extensive amount of research that has and is being conducted into the causes of eating disorders. But hopefully this gives you a concise understanding of some of the factors involved. Usually, it is too simplistic to say that one thing can cause a person to have an eating disorder. Often, several factors interplay with each other to make someone at risk of a eating disorder.
Genetics:
It has been found that most of the eating disorders run in families. For example, Anorexia is eight times more common in people who have relatives who have suffered or are suffering from the disorder. Twin studies have also suggested that twins have a tendency to share the same eating disorders. Some studies also imply that genes have an impact on the way serotonin works. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is involved with a person's appetite and general well being. Also, there have been reported links between regions on chromosome 10 and Bulimia.
Family Influences:
It is considered that negative influences within a family can both start off and maintain an eating disorder. Poor parenting attitudes seem to be a big factor as poor parenting from both the mother and the father have been implicated in eating disorders. Abuse has also been associated with eating disorders. Bulimia seems to have a positive correlation with childhood sexual abuse. Also, a history of weight related bullying is considered to be an important trigger.
Emotional disorders and addictions within the family have an influence on children as well. It has been reported that children whose parents suffer with alcoholism and substance abuse are more prone to anorexia and bulimia when compared with the general population. Bulimia can also be linked to children whose parents suffer with a psychiatric disorder.
Cultural Factors:
Media influences and pressure on being thin are likely to play a role in triggering eating disorders. For example, models advertising clothing are often very slim and this is the example that young people are set and may feel pressured to follow. Another example is the constant criticism in magazines over celebrity's body images and their weight.
Psychological Factors:
There are several personality traits that have been linked to eating disorders. People with eating disorders often tend to be perfectionists and often have unrealistic expectations of themselves and others. Low self esteem and feelings of inadequacy as well as feeling a lack of control in life are all associated with eating disorders. Certain personality types are also more at risk of eating disorders, examples are obsessive -compulsive personalities and sensitive-avoidant personalities.
Obviously, there is an extensive amount of research that has and is being conducted into the causes of eating disorders. But hopefully this gives you a concise understanding of some of the factors involved. Usually, it is too simplistic to say that one thing can cause a person to have an eating disorder. Often, several factors interplay with each other to make someone at risk of a eating disorder.
Charity Shout Out!
B-eat is a fabulous charity that is dedicated to helping people with eating disorders as well as supporting carers, family and friends.
The charity offers helplines, online support and a network of self help groups to aid people in the UK to beat their eating disorder. Nobody should have to suffer in silence or alone. So, if you need help or you're worried about someone, then B-eat is somewhere you can turn.
The Helpline number is: 08456341414 - They'll talk to sufferers, carers, family, friends, anyone! You can contact them via e-mail too: help@b-eat.co.uk.
Also, on their website (www.b-eat.co.uk) they have self help and support groups for over 18's - so do get involved!
And of course, as they are a charity, they rely on the public's kindness in order to continue doing their great work. If you would like to make a donation or get involved in fundraising or volunteering then take a look at their website: www.b-eat.co.uk.
The charity offers helplines, online support and a network of self help groups to aid people in the UK to beat their eating disorder. Nobody should have to suffer in silence or alone. So, if you need help or you're worried about someone, then B-eat is somewhere you can turn.
The Helpline number is: 08456341414 - They'll talk to sufferers, carers, family, friends, anyone! You can contact them via e-mail too: help@b-eat.co.uk.
Also, on their website (www.b-eat.co.uk) they have self help and support groups for over 18's - so do get involved!
And of course, as they are a charity, they rely on the public's kindness in order to continue doing their great work. If you would like to make a donation or get involved in fundraising or volunteering then take a look at their website: www.b-eat.co.uk.
Saturday, 1 June 2013
Common misconceptions
When looking through some of the media on eating disorders and reading some people's thoughts and attitudes on the subject; I felt that it was necessary to try and dispel some of the myths surrounding eating disorders. There are also some important facts, that it seems a lot of people do not know and have not considered.
"Anorexia is the most common eating disorder"
No. 1.6 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder, 10% of theses people suffer from anorexia making it the rarest eating disorder.
"Only women suffer from eating disorders"
This is a common misconception that is not at all true. The condition can affect anyone, including men. Around 15-20% of cases involve boys and men. Figures suggest that out of the 1.6 million sufferers, 1.4 million are female and 180,000 are male. So, although females are at the highest risk, males suffer too.
"Eating disorders are just an extreme fad diet."
Not at all. An eating disorder is a serious mental illness that can take over and claim lives. They have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and 20% of sufferers die prematurely.
"It's obvious when you look at someone if they have an eating disorder"
A mental illness means that it is a persons thoughts and feelings that are involved. Not everybody suffering from an eating disorder will be obviously underweight or will look ill. Often they can go undetected, particularly bulimia.
"You can never recover from an eating disorder."
Eating disorders are treatable and you can make a full recovery. Early treatment is important, the sooner a person gets the help they need, the more likely they are to make a full recovery.
"Eating disorders are caused by the modern day pressure on body image."
There are several factors that interact that play a role in the onset of an eating disorder and although our social and cultural environment plays a part in this, it is not the only factor. Also, eating disorders are not a modern phenomena, they were first observed and recorded in the 15th century.
"An eating disorder is just attention seeking."
Someone with an eating disorder does not choose to be ill, they can find it very difficult to accept that they are ill and seeking help can be a huge challenge.
"Anorexia is the most common eating disorder"
No. 1.6 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder, 10% of theses people suffer from anorexia making it the rarest eating disorder.
"Only women suffer from eating disorders"
This is a common misconception that is not at all true. The condition can affect anyone, including men. Around 15-20% of cases involve boys and men. Figures suggest that out of the 1.6 million sufferers, 1.4 million are female and 180,000 are male. So, although females are at the highest risk, males suffer too.
"Eating disorders are just an extreme fad diet."
Not at all. An eating disorder is a serious mental illness that can take over and claim lives. They have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and 20% of sufferers die prematurely.
"It's obvious when you look at someone if they have an eating disorder"
A mental illness means that it is a persons thoughts and feelings that are involved. Not everybody suffering from an eating disorder will be obviously underweight or will look ill. Often they can go undetected, particularly bulimia.
"You can never recover from an eating disorder."
Eating disorders are treatable and you can make a full recovery. Early treatment is important, the sooner a person gets the help they need, the more likely they are to make a full recovery.
"Eating disorders are caused by the modern day pressure on body image."
There are several factors that interact that play a role in the onset of an eating disorder and although our social and cultural environment plays a part in this, it is not the only factor. Also, eating disorders are not a modern phenomena, they were first observed and recorded in the 15th century.
"An eating disorder is just attention seeking."
Someone with an eating disorder does not choose to be ill, they can find it very difficult to accept that they are ill and seeking help can be a huge challenge.
Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge eating.
This time, I'm going to go into a bit more detail about the signs and symptoms of the three main eating disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge eating disorder.
Anorexia
When a person has anorexia, they lower the amount of food that they eat as well as cutting down on the types of food that they eat. Some people also over exercise. It can often be the case that people believe if they lose weight, they will feel happier, people will like them more or it will lead to more success. A person with anorexia might punish themselves for eating "bad foods" or not losing enough weight.
Physical symptoms:
- Severe weight loss
- Stomach cramps
- Dizziness
- Feeling cold
- Constipation
- Mood swings and irritability
- The growth of a fine layer of hair all over the body (it's called lanugo)
- Being underweight but feeling fat
- Hair loss
- Being a perfectionist and setting high standards
- Shutting oneself off from the world and being reclusive
- In girls, periods may stop or not start
- Finding it difficult to concentrate
How a person thinks and feels is hugely affected when suffering from anorexia. People can often feel tired, depressed and worthless. Anorexia can take over a person's life and their emotions. The way a person behaves can also change and they may not even realise that they are behaving in such ways. Often, if they are aware of it, they may feel a lack of control.
Behavioural Symptoms:
- Exercising excessively
- Lying about eating
- Avoiding eating with others
- Being secretive
- Obsessive behaviors and rituals
- Wearing baggy clothes
Bulimia
Bulimia involves a person eating excessive amounts and then making themselves sick or starving themselves for a few days to make up for it.It is actually more common than anorexia but it is more of a hidden illness as it does not always involve any dramatic weight loss and sufferers are not always visibly thin or ill looking.
Physical symptoms:
- Dehydration
- Sore throat
- Poor or dry skin
- Mouth Infections
- Bad Breath
- Difficulty sleeping
- Puffy cheeks
- Fainting
- Irregular periods in women
- Bowel problems
- Kidney Problems
- Stomach pains
People that suffer with bulimia often feel out of control and can become obsessed with dieting. They can feel emotional and depressed and experience mood swings. Some examples of the behaviour of bulimics include taking laxatives and diet pills, eat large quantities of food, be sick after meals or binges and they can be secretive and lie.
Binge eating disorder
This disorder involves constant thought about food and picking at food all day. People can feel a lack of control towards their eating habits and can eat until they are uncomfortably full. This overeating can cause feelings of depression and inadequacy which can fuel further overeating. In this case, food and eating are often a way for people to cope with difficult feelings.
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