EATING DISORDERS
 

Definitions:

Anorexia Nervosa-a disorder defined as abnormally low body weight, intense fear of being or becoming fat.

Bulimia Nervosa-an eating disorder that always involves binge eating.  Please understand that some bulimics do not induce vomiting after they have eaten meals.

EARLY SIGNS:

1. Weight loss: extreme thinness or loss of 15 or more lbs. in 2-3 months.
2. Intense fear of being overweight.
3. Preoccupation with dieting and food.
4. Eating little: skips meals, eats very little, is finicky with food.
5. Unusual eating habits: eats one thing at a time.
6. Bathroom breaks: disappears into the bathroom during or after meals.
7. Taking up smoking: to suppress the appetite, especially for someone who would not be expected to smoke.
8. Caffeine use: excessive drinking of diet caffeinated beverages or large amounts of coffee daily.
9. Evidence of binge-eating.
10. Empty laxative packages-herbal or otherwise.
11. Onset of hyperactivity.
12. Loss of menstrual period.
13. Intolerance of cold: constantly cold due to loss of body fat, shivering, blue skin or fingers.
14. Baggy or full covering clothes.
15. Skin and hair problems.
16. Swollen salivary glands.
17. Broken blood vessels in the eyes.
18. Change in moods.
19. Socially withdrawn.
20. Preoccupation and low self-esteem.

SELF-ESTEEM

1. Give yourself credit for being you.
2. Take care of personal hygiene. When you look better you feel better.

Work through feelings:  

A. Identify them.

B. Decide how to express them.

C. Let them go.

1. Keep in contact with humor.
2. Appear confident.
3. Self-Talk. Weed out negative thoughts and irrational thoughts.
4. Learn to accept compliments.
5. Take time for yourself.
6. Do not depend on others for self-worth.
7. Take risk.
8. Be yourself.
9. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
10. Accept your limitations.
11. Make time for yourself.
12. Always work toward some kind of goal.
13. 16.Get involved, meet new people.
14. 17.Try to look on the brighter side.
15. Worrying and dwelling on the negative does not do anything for one’s self-esteem.

ANGER

Anger is the tip of the clinical iceberg with symptoms that may show themselves as anger responses in the forms of depression, anxiety, trauma, systemic stressors, physical illness, ADD, LD, substance abuse. In addition, affective, personality, and cognitive disorders may underlie anger symptoms. Take the time to check the list below:

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS:

___Fear of anger responses: __self __others

___Insecure

___Stress

___Tension

___Excessive worry

___Depression

___Irritability

___Hurt/rejected

___Excessive or inappropriate guilt

___Shamefulness

___Humiliation

___Conviction

___Anxiety/Panic/Phobic feelings

___Excessive disappointment

___Self hatred/loathing

___Hostility/aggression

___Grief/loss

___Powerlessness over circumstances

___Intense agitation

___Bitterness/resentfulness

___Vengefulness

___Threatened

___Jealousy/envy

BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS:

___Defensiveness

___Resistive

___Needlessly argumentative or uncooperative

___Posturing

___Rigid, self-righteous stance

___Legalistic comments

___Lack of openness or willingness to examine self

___Over focused on personal wrongdoing by others

___Tendency to argue or haggle over fees, time of appointment, Christian views, being charged for a service, challenging
the counselor if late or for some minor failure

___Overly agreeable, humble, and passive

___Easily offended, infers or mind reads thoughts of therapist or others quickly

___Cynical, inappropriate language, judgmental communication and observations

___Tendency to set self up for failure or replicates hurt by current relationships

___Tendency to keep their anger going, and has a seeming joy of remaining upset or mistreated

___Inability to listen, quick to defend self

___Low frustration tolerance to minor incidents or irritant behaviors of others

___Throwing objects, pounding with fists, kicking objects, slamming things, storming away, stomping, and driving off fast

___Frequent outbursts, overprotective or punitive manner

___Taking anger out on others personal possessions of special meaning or importance

___Displacing anger on animals or inanimate objects

___Poor stress management; easily overwhelmed by stressful events

___Reckless driving; road rage

PANIC ATTACKS

Panic is a clinical condition typified by experiencing a high level of fear of dying, harm, or embarrassment due to physiological and psychological reactions to something in the environment or by a medical illness that causes panic attacks.  The person experiences many panic attacks physically, as if one were having a heart attack.  The heart rate becomes rapid, breathing increases, perhaps
resulting in hyperventilation, profuse sweating, dizziness, and other highly discomforting physical symptoms.  Other times panic symptoms may be a dizzy sensation, difficulty swallowing, being nauseous, or possibly tingling or sharp pains in the body. Psychologically, the person believes he or she is dying or going to be harmed.  One fears losing control of their situation or circumstances to some threat.  The person might possibly know what triggers the attack.  Usually attacks will occur in a similar location, but not at any particular time or frequency.  The attacks seem out of the blue, sudden, and uncontrollable, which are the hallmarks of a person developing an over laden fear.  However, occasionally, the attacks can last for several hours, coming in waves.   

Take the time to check the list below:

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS:

___Anxiousness

___Fearfulness about dying or having a serious medical condition

___Increasing worries about health conditions or complaints

___Proneness to anxious feelings

___Wooziness

___Prone to feelings of shame or embarrassment especially their problem

___Confusion/disorientation

___Jittery/nervousness

___De-realization/ feeling of unreality or being far from ones body

___Depersonalization: feeling of ones body being odd or dreamlike

___Irritability

___Helpless due to doubts over controlling responses to panic

___Extreme tension waiting for next attack

___Extreme tension waiting for next attack

ADHD

Please visit our Resources page for materials on adults with ADHD.