EATING DISORDERS (ED)

         

          “Food is my companion”.

 “Am a coffee lover”.

“I love binge eating anything that is sweet”. (Personally to say, this was one of my own favorite sentence, sweets being my weak point).

Anita, a happy teenager loved spending most of her time in front of the mirror. Off late she started visiting washroom immediately after eating, something that her mother got concerned about.

Sameer had suddenly started avoiding going in family functions, meeting up friends. He had started eating food alone in his room and it perplexed his family with the sudden change in his behavior.

Often we have come across such situations some or the other time in our lives. Perhaps we have used these sentences for ourselves too!! Shall we say that we have felt proud too while saying it?? Little do we realize that it can be an indication by our body to us for some or other pending issue.  

However, when FOOD becomes our comfort or discomfort zone then it is time to stop and analyze. What? Why? When? Who? The W’s need to come in to play. So… let’s start!!

WHAT IS EATING DISORDER (ED)??

“Eating” can be defined as – HUNGER & SATIETY. Eating disorder is characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior, related thoughts and emotions associated with it. It is one of the psychological disorders.

Then comes the next W..

                  WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ED?? 

There is no specific cause that can be pinpointed for ED. It can be a combination of various factors such as family relationships, psychological problems, genetics, social factors to name a few.

                          WHO ALL ARE AT THE RISK OF ED??

Observed in teenagers and in young adulthood; it is more common in women. However, people can develop it later in life too. 

                             

                  HOW CAN AN ED BE DIAGNOSED?? 

Ø A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms. It is important to be honest about your eating and exercise behaviors so your provider can help you

Ø  A physical exam

Ø  Blood or Urine tests to rule out other possible causes

Ø Other tests to see whether you have any other health problems caused by the eating disorder. These can include kidney function tests and an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ED??

Amongst the many types, the main types of ED are:-

1.   Anorexia Nervosa  

2.   Bulimia Nervosa

3.   Binge Eating Disorder

ANOREXIA NERVOSA :- People will intentionally avoid food intake or eat very small quantities of only certain foods. They may see themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously underweight! Anorexia nervosa is the least common of the three eating disorders, but is often the most serious one. It has the highest death rate of any mental disorder.

        BULIMIA NERVOSA :- People will have periods of regular and uncontrolled episodes of binge-eating/over-eating. Afterwards, they purge, by making themselves throw up/vomit or use laxatives. They may also over-exercise or fast. People with bulimia nervosa may be slightly underweight, normal weight, or overweight.

       BINGE-EATING :- also known as "out-of-control eating". People tend to keep eating even when not hungry. It is usually followed by experiencing feelings of guilt, shame, and distress post eating. Eating too much too often can lead to weight gain and obesity. One may engage in sporadic and repetitive diets.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ED??

          The symptoms of ANOREXIA NERVOSA :-

         Ø  Eating very little, to the point of starving yourself

Ø  Intensive and excessive exercise

Ø  Extreme thinness

Ø  Intense fear of gaining weight

Ø Distorted body image - seeing yourself as overweight even when you are severely underweight

The symptoms of BINGE-EATING :-

        Ø  Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as as a 2-hour period

Ø  Eating even when you're full or not hungry

Ø  Eating fast during binge episodes

Ø  Eating until you're uncomfortably full

Ø  Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment

Ø  Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about your eating

Ø  Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss

         The symptoms of BULIMIA NERVOSA :- include the same symptoms as Binge-eating, plus trying to get rid of the food or weight after binging by -

         Ø  Purging, making yourself throw up or using laxatives or enemas to speed up the movement of food through your body

Ø  Doing intensive and excessive exercise

Ø  Fasting

WHAT HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR WITH ED??

Over time, anorexia nervosa can cause health problems such as :-

Ø  Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)

Ø  Mild anemia

Ø  Muscle wasting and weakness

Ø  Thin, brittle hair and nails

Ø  Dry, blotchy, or yellowish skin

Ø  Severe constipation

Ø  Low blood pressure

Ø  Slowed breathing and pulse

Ø  Feeling cold all the time because of a drop in internal body temperature

Ø  Feeling faint, dizzy, or weak

Ø  Infertility

Ø  Damage to the structure and function of the heart

Ø  Brain damage

Ø  Multiorgan failure

       Anorexia Nervosa can be fatal. Some people with this disorder die of complications from starvation, and others die of suicide.

Over time, BULIMIA NERVOSA can cause health problems such as

Ø  Chronically inflamed and sore throat

Ø  Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw area

Ø Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth. This is caused by the exposure to stomach acid every time you throw up.

Ø  GERD (acid reflux) and other gastrointestinal problems

Ø  Severe dehydration from purging

Ø  Electrolyte imbalance, which could be too low or too high levels of sodium, calcium, potassium and other minerals. This can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

        Some people with eating disorders may also have other mental disorders (such as depression or anxiety) or problems with substance use.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR ED?

Treatment plans for eating disorders are tailored to individual needs. The health care providers involved include psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, dieticians or nutritional advisers, social workers, occupational therapists and nurses.

The treatments may include :-

Ø  Individual, group, and/or family psychotherapy. Individual therapy focusing on cognitive behavioral approaches, which help you to identify and change negative and unhelpful thoughts. It also helps you build coping skills and change behavioral patterns.

Ø  Medical care and monitoring, including care for the complications that eating disorders can cause.

Ø  Nutrition counseling. Doctors, nurses, and counselors will help you eat healthy to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Ø  Medicines, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers, may help treat some eating disorders. The medicines can also help with the depression and anxiety symptoms that often go along with eating disorders.

Ø  Some people with serious eating disorders may need to be in a hospital or in a residential treatment program. Residential treatment programs combine housing and treatment services.

 So, what's on your mind?? 

Poonam R Khairnar

Relationship Counselor

http://udyojak.org/poonamkhairnar/

poonam.counselor@rediffmail.com

Ø  

MY JOURNEY..

RELATIONSHIP COUNSELOR

                  Starting my career as a Counselor was itself a challenge to me too. My professional career as a Pharmacist was in trouble, had just made a round to a Lawyer's office trying to search for an outcome for the turbulent marriage. It was a chaos with family and friends and well wishers almost everybody providing "free of cost" advice for the literally "life and death" situation of mine!!

                  I must say all the ideas, advices, pravachans bombarded on me did to some point provide solace, comfort, breathing space too. However, none of it seemed to be long term. It did seem to provide me instant gratification like the 5 minutes instant noodles!! Obviously, the fish market chaos would return in no time in my head.

               Oddly, I noticed that I was able to support, guide, comfort others with similar issues! I couldn't help myself, couldn't see clearly for myself but was able to show right paths for others!! So keeping my troubles on the backburner, I enrolled for a course in Basic Counseling CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) with Dr. Minu Bhonsale at Heart to Heart Institute.

                    The idea was to empower myself with the tools in a systematic manner to be effective and result oriented for others in need. And there the MAGIC happened! The tools, the assignments, the sharings of us all students, the experiences and the profound knowledge of Dr. Minu Man helped me see where I stood, what was it that stopped me, what I could still create from the rut of my life. It was amazing, the Healer getting healed first... to become ready and prepared for the job with empathy and not sympathy!!

               

                       Not every student who attended the course became a Counselor. Many like me, healed their wounds and returned happily to their lives. Many others utilized the learnings in their already existing professions. And the remaining few including me decided to walk the path, bring in the much required Sunshine in the invisible sorrow filled hearts of many.

                       I started by saying that my career as a Counselor was challenging. Yes, it sure was. I remember for nearly a year, I was conducting free workshops on various topics, creating awareness on the need of counseling. Created awareness that the matters, issues to be dealt with remain only between the Counselor and the Counselee. The privacy of the Counselee is well protected. had started writing blogs too. Had taken sessions of personal counseling on Rs. 1 fee structure. Just as Body Health (Physical Health) needs to be cared for, similarly Mind Health (Emotional Health) is also very important. Mind and body function closely together creating the much needed harmony of our overall well being.

                         One does not become a Counselor by just passing the exams conducted for the course but a Counselor grows by each and every case that he/she handles. While gaining my peace of mind, my confidence in myself; finally I risked my Pharmacy profession and started operating as a full time Counselor. Time and patience are the two important tools for any and everything and yes, I too cleared all the hurdles of my personal and professional life with flying colours!!

                        It was a long time lingering thought that I should now start writing blogs again, share my journey as a Counselor, share the stories that may resonate with many of you out there, pen down the varied cases I have handled, is handling.. for you to be guided by it in your ups and downs and also to let you know that am here, nearby, available to you all at all times you need/require support, guidance, listening ear, clarity..

                        Stay tuned. Soon will share Counseling cases and stories and my journey as a Counselor too.

              Feel free to reach out to me.

POONAM R. KHAIRNAR

Relationship Counselor

Magical Relationship Counselors

https://udyojak.org/poonamkhairnar/

9004874093

poonam.counselor@rediffmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/PoonamKhairnarCounselor/

https://www.facebook.com/marriagecounselor.poonamkhairnar/

WHEN TO APPROACH FOR COUNSELLING - SIGNS N SYMPTOMS

WHEN TO APPROACH FOR COUNSELLING

SIGNS N SYMPTOMS

       In the last blog, I discussed about Myths & the need for Counselling. This blog is a furtherment towards narrowing the need for Counselling, supporting you all in recognizing the Signs N Symptoms. It is a sad fact that even after so much of advancement in practically all the fields, Counselling still is considered a “taboo”.

          An immediate retaliation is notice.. “Crazy people go for counselling!!” “Are you suffering from a nervous breakdown?” There is bemusement. Not to mention the fact, many still operate from the zone, “Thank God, I have been saved from falling in the hands of a Counsellor/Therapist”. It is easy to pretend, “I AM OKAY!” One is saved of the embarrassment, ridicule, questioning, labeling, and categorization.

          One cannot deny that keeping up with a fast-paced environment is physically & mentally strenuous. However, equally vital is the fact that pretending is surely not going to help for long!! In an attempt to lead a healthy, meaningful and spiritual life, many traverse through yoga, meditation, self-help books, relaxing vacations, long drives, development training programs, etc.

          A thought arises in the midst of all, “Why not look at Counselling process as just one of the many mediums available to us?” Let it be bringing clarity of thoughts, identifying issues, managing life, defining problem, discovering an unconscious block… a Counsellor/Therapist is going to support you, work… one on one with you. There is a possibility that psychiatric medicines may be required to be involved, however, visiting a Counsellor/Therapist does NOT mandatorily include medicine too!

          Before we try to recognize the Signs N Symptoms to avail services of a Counsellor/Therapist, it is vital to understand that you do not need to be a Depression patient or a Schizophrenic. A simple action like drowning self in endless work or with sexuality or with substances (food/alcohol/drugs) to avoid anything that causes trouble or upset or pain or loneliness, needs to be addressed through Psychological Counselling. The attempt to avoid an untoward circumstance only sinks you further in gloomy darkness of despair.

Ø  Anxiety

Ø  Depression & Mania

Ø  Family Issues

Ø Health: Addiction/Disorders/Illness & Somatoform Disorders/Pain Management/Smoking Cessation/Stress Management/Wellness

Ø  Performance Enhancement

Ø  Phobias

Ø  Spiritual Issues

Ø  Trauma/PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)

ANXIETY –

          Anxiety can be considered as the next stage/aggravated stage of FEAR. Fear is a feeling/state observed when you actually face an untoward situation. For eg:- While walking down a road, a stray dog suddenly jumps on you trying to bite. It is very natural response to feel fearful/scared and attempt to save self from getting bitten.

          However, every time getting worried seeing a dog in public, even it is a pet dog, tied with a leash, fearing that the dog will still jump and will bite… that’s ANXIETY. Anxiety relates to a threat that is imaginary, not necessary that it will happen.

          The psychological basis for Anxiety can usually be located in childhood experiences that lack clear explanations and guidance from parents who tend to be disinterested, critical, or abusive. Hence, the children grow to dread circumstances that have unknown or unpredictable aspects.

          Many live with a constant, general sense of worry and anxiety. Typical symptoms are tension, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance and difficulty concentrating. One can also experience panic attack, where heart beats faster and faster.

DEPRESSION & MANIA –

          There are periods in almost everybody’s life, which can be referred to as feeling “blue” or “down”.

          Hormonal changes in teenagers can sometimes make them moody, disturbed, upset, cranky. Bereavement, death of someone close can involve feelings, which are similar to depression.

          Major Depression/Major Depressive Disorder/Clinical Depression/Unipolar Depression involves low mood and/or loss of interest in regular activities.

          Sometimes you may loose touch with reality, experience psychosis, like hallucinations or delusions. At this point, interaction with the help of medication may be required. Counsellor/Therapist may advise you medications or refer you to a Psychiatrist as an adjunct to Counselling/Therapy.

MANIA/MANIC DEPRESSION/BIPOLAR DISORDER –

          Mania is like the opposite of Depression – symptoms include feeling great, having lots of energy, having racing thoughts and little need for sleep, talking quickly, having difficulty focusing on tasks and feeling frustrated and irritable. There could be hallucinations. It can be a family history too.

FAMILY ISSUES –

          Family – a tree of various relationships, involving different age groups, different ideologies, thought processes, expectations, demands, personal space, intimacy, communication, societal stress, etc. innumerable factors lead to many complications.

          Family therapy is best suited for addressing family conflicts. One needs to accept the fact that many a times the family’s own attempts to solve a problem has actually caused new problems!!

          Intervention by a Third Party Unbiased Person – Counsellor/Therapist is the best course of action.

HEALTH ISSUES –

          From hereditary diseases/disorders to a mere heachache can govern one’s day-to-day life adding to anxiety, fear, anticipation, frustration.

          Counselling can be uses as a therapeutic adjunct in several fields:

·         Addictions

·         Substance Abuse/Substance Dependence

·         Withdrawal/Alcoholism as a Disease

·         Eating Disorders/Obesity

·         Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

·         Smoking Cessation

·         Puberty (Male & Female)

·         Premenstrual Syndrome

·         Menopause

In cancer patients, for the process of pain management or help cope with chronic (on-going) pain, Counsellor/Therapist often serve as Pain Teams in hospitals.

SPIRITUAL ISSUES –

          The thought process governing our very own existence in birth, trying to find or search the personal meaning in life, a general well-being of life satisfaction, directions usually tend to confuse one more. Again, issues as coming to terms with mortality, future creation, ancestral problems, ghosts… questioning their existence… leads to a varied complexity in our day-to-day life.

          Least to say many a times, we find it difficult to talk about our problems even with friends or family because they are directly involved in the issues.

          There is also a chance/possibility that before you recognize that you need support, a colleague or friend or a family member or your partner may suggest it to you. Do not go into retaliation immediately. Seeking support of a Counsellor/Therapist could be the next best option that your loved ones/well-wishers is wishing you to explore. Counselling can help you improve your relationships with Self and others and also your ability to communicate.

 Feel free to connect with me through:

piyaangel.k@gmail.com

Counselor Poonam Khairnar on Facebook

counselorpoonamkhairnar.blogspot.com

Poonam Khairnar

Counselor

09004874093

http://udyojak.org/poonamkhairnar/

www.ebrochures.co.in/rvsa/