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Counselling Eating Disorders

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Submitted By bfro
Words 2045
Pages 9
Task 55
Describe in your own words what the following eating disorders are and what the needs of the individuals suffering these disorders are; anorexia, bulimia, binge eating
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia means ‘loss of appetite from nervous origins’ suffers say that they do not feel hungry, though recovered sufferers do admit that they were very hungry, but did not allow themselves to eat. When a person suffers with this condition they become fixated on their body weight and dieting. They live in fear of normal body weight so are continually pushing themselves towards becoming thinner. Sufferers of this condition can be fanatical with food but they will refuse themselves healthy meals and follow strict diets to make sure they lose as much weight as possible. Anorexia sufferers do not think that there is anything wrong with the amount of weight they have lost even when others see them as being extremely thin. People who have anorexia often have very low self confidence and feel the more weight they lose the better they look so the better they feel about themselves. Sufferers often exercise to the extreme and may force themselves to vomit or use laxatives. Women who suffer with anorexia often find that their menstrual cycle stops. This illness is better to be dealt with as soon as possible as the more the illness progresses the more difficult it can be to deal with. In serious cases a spell in hospital may be needed as anorexia suffers can take their dieting so far that it can result in death.
Treatment of anorexia involves three main phases: * To regain the weight the sufferer has lost through their dieting * To treat their psychological problems such as interpersonal conflicts, distorted body image and low self esteem * To achieve recovery, long term remission or rehabilitation
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia means ‘ox hunger’ or voracious appetite. This

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