Psychosomatics of anorexia
Anorexia is a serious eating disorder, not a whim and not a diet. According to the NHS it most often starts in young women, and the earlier treatment begins, the better the chances of recovery. You are not to blame. Book a GP visit even if you are not sure. The Ladder method helps you notice the feelings that sit next to food, and it does not replace treatment.
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When to see a doctor
A GP: they will assess weight, pulse and blood pressure, order tests and refer you to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, and if needed to a team that works with eating disorders (NHS). Come even if you are not sure it is anorexia: the earlier, the better. You can come with someone close.
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method anorexia is not explained by the words you want to be thin and is not counted as blame. It is an illness, and a team of doctors should treat it. The questions to yourself go alongside treatment, not instead of it.
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In the method, food fits the image of control: when everything else feels out of reach, weight and portions remain the only thing you can manage. This is an image, not a cause of the illness, and it does not replace treatment.
On the ladder this shows up as the steps I must be perfect and I am afraid to lose control. You can work through them at your own pace once a doctor and support are already beside you.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
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How it shows up
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- Skipping meals, very small portions
- Constant thoughts about food, calories and weight
- Fear of gaining weight at a low weight
- Periods have stopped or do not come
- Dizziness, weakness, feeling cold
- Hair loss, dry skin, heavy exercise after eating
What medicine knows
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder. A person tries to keep their weight as low as possible: eats very little, exercises a lot, uses laxatives or makes themselves vomit. Body image is distorted too: you feel large even when your weight is already low. It most often starts in girls and young women, but it can affect people of any age and sex (NHS, MedlinePlus).
The exact causes are unknown. The NHS and MedlinePlus name risk factors: eating disorders, depression or addiction in the family, criticism about eating and body shape, pressure to be slim, anxiety, low self-esteem, perfectionism, past abuse. No single factor explains the illness, and blame has no place here.
Signs: skipping meals or eating very little, constant thoughts about food, fear of gaining weight, periods stopping, dizziness, hair loss, dry skin. Long-lasting anorexia can lead to problems with bones, heart, blood pressure, fertility and immunity. The NHS stresses that it is one of the leading causes of death from mental health conditions, so it should not wait.
Treatment is chosen individually. Adults are usually offered talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and teenagers family therapy. The NHS writes that you can recover from anorexia, although it takes time and differs for each person. A doctor will ask about eating and wellbeing, measure weight, pulse and blood pressure and order tests.
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Frequently asked questions
Is anorexia just a strict diet?
No. The NHS calls it a serious eating disorder and a mental health condition. The fear of gaining weight and the distorted body image stay even when weight is already low, and without a doctor this is dangerous.
Can you recover?
According to the NHS, yes, although it takes time and differs for each person. The earlier treatment starts, the better the chances. Adults are usually offered talking therapy and teenagers family therapy.
What if I suspect anorexia in someone close?
The NHS advises saying that you are worried and offering to see a GP together. Do not blame and do not control every bite. In the Ladder method this is a reason to notice your own feelings, and it does not replace a doctor's help.
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Answers to common questions
Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.