Eating Disorders. Discussions Facts_& workshops
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Contents
Contents Introduction from Kerry What is an Eating Disorder? Workshop #1 - Mindmaps! Types of eating disorders Signs & symptoms Workshop #2 - How do you feel? Men and eating disorders How to approach someone with an eating disorder Facts and helplines
Hi! Im_Kerry I am 23 years old and I am currently recovering from an eating disorder. Since 2010 I have had a personal struggle with mental illness and body image, which eventually developed into severe anorexia. In 2014 I visited a doctor, who sat me down and explained he believed I had an eating disorder and referred me to an eating disorder service in my local area. In September of 2014 my weight and health had reached a severe level and I was written off work in order for me to begin my recovery. I am now at a stage where I am healthier and managing to live my life to its fullest potential again and I believe I have managed to reach this stage due to early intervention within the most severe stages of my illness. I hope that by sharing some of the things I’ve learnt in this booklet, that young people will be encouraged to speak about topics that have previously been considered ‘taboo’. Hopefully this will help break down stigma and, in turn, reach out to those who feel they may be struggling to seek help sooner. As well as this I hope to give an insight into different aspects of eating disorders and the effect they have both on the individual suffering and those around them.
An eating disorder is not a term to describe the way someone who is a fussy eater responds to food. An eating disorder is a complex and often serious mental illness which affects the sufferer both physically and physiologically. An eating disorder can be characterised by the abnormal eating habits of an individual. This can consist of many different habits such as: Bingeing is when someone consumes a high number of calories and a large quantity of food within a short space of time. Bingeing within an eating disorder is not an ‘I’ve eaten a little bit too much chocolate tonight’ scenario; it is a frequent occurrence and is often carried out before engaging in purging. Purging is essentially when someone purposefully aims to rid their body of any calories or food they have consumed. Purging comes in all shapes and sizes (just like us humans) and can involve someone making they sick, using an excessive amount of laxatives or diuretics or misusing enemas. Starvation/fasting This one speaks for itself! Starvation and fasting come hand-in-hand and are the acts of a person skipping meals frequently which, as an eating disorder develops and becomes stronger, may lead to them being unable to eat at all. Over-exercising is similar to purging in the sense that the individual takes part in the activity as a way to control the amount of calories the body ‘absorbs’ by ‘burning it off’. Ritualistic eating habits can show themselves in a number of ways and are similar to someone with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in that the person believes something bad will happen if the ritual is broken. In the case of an eating disorder, the individual usually believes they will become fat if the ritual is broken. The person may have to eat at certain times, stick to certain portion sizes, eat only certain types of food or eat in a particular way. The most common ritual surrounding eating disorders is extreme awareness of calories and excessively counting them. Ritualistic eating habits usually lead on to other habits as listed above.
What_is_an_Eating_Disorder?
Eating Disorders
Welcome to workshop one. Using this mind map, discuss the question: ‘What is an eating disorder?’ What words, thoughts, stereotypes and social understandings are associated with ‘eating disorders’?
Mindmap
Bulimia
Nervosa Bulimia nervosa is when a person goes through periods of binge eating, followed by being deliberately sick or using laxatives to try and control their weight.
Binge Eating Binge eating is when a person feels compelled to eat large amounts of food in a short space of time.
Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is when a person tries to keep their weight as low as possible, typically through starving themselves or exercising excessively.
Eating disorders are often blamed on the social pressure to be thin, as young people in particular feel they should look a certain way. However, the causes are usually more complex. An eating disorder may be associated with biological, genetic or environmental factors combined with a particular event that triggers the disorder. There may also be other factors that maintain the illness. *Information has been sourced from : NHS.UK
Types_of_eating_disorders
Welcome to workshop two. Using this drawing of a person, note how you think eating disorders make people feel, both mentally and physically. Consider their thoughts, physical changes, male and female perspectives.
inside_out
“If I eat, I am weak”
Becoming increasingly agitated and irritable, especially around meal times. Lack of energy.
Rapid weight loss.
“I don’t deserve to eat”
Amenorrhea (Loss of monthlys in females) Sleep difficulties.
Stomach aches and cramps
Hair becoming dry and brittle, or beginning to fall out. Lips turning blue.
Becoming physically weaker.
“I don’t matter”
Wearing excessive layers of clothes, even when it’s warm outside. Looking pale.
Hands and feet turning blue.
Constipation and bloating.
Always feling cold.
Signs_and_symptoms
“I will never be perfect”
Obsession over body image.
Increasing need to be in control.
Awareness of Calories and nutritional food.
Becoming withdrawn and secretive especially around meal times.
Low self esteem.
Obsession to become thin.
“I’m just fat, fat, fat...”
“I just WANT to tear my skin off”
Body Dysmorphia
Lying about wieght loss.
Over excercising, or becoming addicted to exercise.
Fear of becoming fat or overwieght.
Becoming afraid of certain food groups, or cutting them out of your diet.
Buying wieght loss tablets, laxatives, diuretics. “When will these voices leave me alone”
Eating disorders cause both physical and psychological damage to those suffering. These two pages list the possible signs, symptoms, thoughts and feelings that a person may experience.
Eating disorders are typically perceived to be conditions that only affect women – but this is far from true. Approximately 11 percent of people experiencing eating disorders are male. But the majority of men who have eating disorders struggle to get access to appropriate support and treatment. Therefore it is difficult to know how many men are actually affected by the conditions. Men get eating disorders too, this is a fact. The issue is under-represented, ignored or not considered, so one of the goals of this booklet is to raise awareness of this issue and campaign for more people, particularly men, to talk about eating disorders. Eating disorders can be a coping mechanism or an expression of underlying emotional stress – this is applicable to males as much as females. Any unresolved distress can be a risk factor in developing eating problems. In addition, there are a number of other risk factors that can contribute to an eating disorder developing: Men being overweight and/or teased about their size. Bullying seems to be a common experience for adults as well as children. They are dieting – one of the most powerful eating disorder triggers in both males and females and, in as much as 70 per cent of young people, will be dieting. They participate in the sport that demands a particular body shape (thin or big). Runners and jockeys are at higher risk of developing anorexia and bulimia, while footballers and weight lifters will focus on getting bigger (which can be known as ‘bigorexia’). They have a job or profession that demands thinness. Male models, actors, and entertainers seem to be at higher risk than the general population. There is debate as to why the gay and bisexual male community is at particular risk but this may be partly because they are judged on attractiveness in the same way that women are in the heterosexual community. Fear of coming out and worry about rejection is also a possibility. *Information sourced from : mengetedstoo.co.uk
Men_&_Eating_disorders
Timing Like any deep and meaningful conversation timing can be key! Its never a good idea to try and talk to anyone about anything if they are already in a tense, angry, sad, anxious or negative mood because, lets face it, the response is going to be pretty horrendous. So trying to talk to someone about a very intense and personal subject most certainly would not be a wise idea if they are in this state (certainly not if you would like to keep your head firmly attached to your body!) Instead try to approach the person when they are feeling more content and are already having a conversation with you. Patience If you find you have approached someone to talk at what felt like the right time but the response has still been negative or not the one that you expected, be patient. You may have brought up a subject that has previously never been mentioned or you could have sparked a little trigger in their head that has made them begin to question their own actions and mental state. They may feel embarrassed. They may feel ashamed. They may simply be in shock. You may feel they are being untruthful or unreasonable but it may simply be a case of them not wanting to talk that day, or at all. Maybe another day they will be ready to talk. Manner No we’re not talking about minding your p’s and q’s here or saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’! This is about how you approach someone and the conversation. When trying to get someone to talk, consider making them feel as comfortable as possible in the hope they will open up. It may help to try to be loving and caring in your approach. Try not to come across as creating a confrontational situation. Be positive. Be calm. Respect their feelings. But what do I say?! As much as the old saying ‘it’s not what you say it’s how you say it’ is much relevant, a conversation still requires some content. If you find yourself having a conversation with someone expressing concerns of an eating disorder there are a couple of little things you could focus on. - Express your concern about their health not their eating disorder. - Try not to use phrases that use ‘you’. For example avoid ‘You just need to eat’ or ‘What you are doing is silly.’ - Do try to use phrases that use I. For example ‘I’m a little concerned that you keep throwing your lunch away.’ - Don’t make comments on the way they look. Even a nice comment can reinforce their feelings with body image. - Try to make the focus of the conversation on their feelings, not their weight or eating behaviour. - Try not to give them direct and simple solutions as advice. Telling someone with an eating disorder that all they need to ...do is ‘eat a cream cake’ or ‘just eat more’ is not helpful. Ever.
How_to_talk_to_someone
Facts / It’s estimated that more than 725,000 people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder. / Eating disorders can affect anyone of any age, this includes reported cases of people as young as six and as old as 70. / The average duration of anorexia is suggested to be around eight years. Bulimia is five years. / Research has found that 20% of anorexia sufferers will die prematurely from their illness. Bulimia is also associated with severe medical complications, and binge eating disorder sufferers often experience the medical complications associated with obesity. In every case, eating disorders severely affect the quality of life of the sufferer and those that care for them. / Research suggests that around 46% of anorexia patients fully recover, a 33% improving and 20% remaining chronically ill. Similar research into bulimia suggests that 45% make a full recovery, 27% improve considerably and 23% suffer chronically. / The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence estimates around 11% of those affected by an eating disorder are male. *Information sourced from : B-eat.co.uk
This booklet was created by Kerry, a Fixer from Nottingham who has suffered from eating disorders, and now wants to help those who are still suffering. This booklet has been produced with the help of Fixers, the campaign that gives young people a voice. These are the views / experiences / opinions of a young person and should not be relied on or substitute formal (medical or other) advice. --For more information, to seek help, or just talk to someone, please visit: b-eat.co.uk / 0345 634 1414 mind.org.uk / 0300 123 3393 eating-disorders.org.uk / 0845 838 2040 --For anyone suffering from a suspected eating disorder, your first port of call should always be your GP.