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Eating Disorder

Treatment for Eating Disorder

Disease, Information,

Eating disorders are serious, complex mental health issues that affect both one’s emotional and physical health. People who suffer from eating disorders develop a negative relationship with food, their weight, or their appearance. These are all types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Treatment for eating disorders is available. Untreated people can develop potentially life-threatening conditions.

Symptoms of Eating Disorder

Symptoms of eating disorders vary by type. It may be difficult to spot an eating disorder as it often mimics dieting. If you or a loved one has an eating disorder, you may notice these changes:

hair loss
  • Unusual sweating or hot flashes
  • Unexplained weight changes or drastic weight loss
  • Frequent bathroom breaks after eating 
  • Thinning hair or hair loss
  • Fainting, fatigue, or dizziness
  • Mood swings 

Other changes may also include:

  • Hiding food or throwing it away
  • Withdrawing from friends or social activities 
  • Solo dining or not wanting to eat with other people 
  • Food rituals 
  • Fixation on foods, exercise, calories, or weight loss 

Eating Disorder Causes 

A mix of environment, genetics, and social factors play a role in the development of the eating disorder. Some people with this disorder may use extreme measures to control food when they feel like other aspects of their lives are out of control. An obsession with food becomes an unhealthy way of coping with painful feelings or emotions. Thus, eating disorders are more about finding a healthy way to manage your emotions than about food.

Risk Factors for Eating Disorder

An eating disorder can develop at any age. Certain factors may make you more prone to developing an eating disorder such as:

  • History of dieting
  • A history of trauma (physical, emotional, or sexual)
  • Personal history of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Family history of eating disorders, addiction, or other mental health issues, such as depression 

Other factors may include:

  • Major life changes such as starting a new school or job, a divorce, or a move
  • Involvement in activities that focus on a slender appearance such as gymnastics, modeling, wrestling, swimming, and running
  • Perfectionistic tendencies
  • Diabetes (up to one-fourth of women with Type 1 diabetes develop an eating disorder)

Eating Disorder Diagnosis

An eating disorder is diagnosed based on symptoms and eating habits. Your doctor will likely perform an exam and request tests to help pinpoint a diagnosis. You may see both your primary care provider and a mental health professional for a diagnosis.

Tests generally may include:

  • Psychological evaluation – A doctor or mental health professional will likely ask about your thoughts, feelings, and eating habits. 
  • Physical exam – Your doctor will likely examine you to rule out other medical causes for your eating issues. 

Eating Disorder Treatment 

therapy - psychotherapy

Treatment for eating disorders varies depending on your needs. Even if you don’t have a diagnosed eating disorder, an expert can help you address and manage food-related issues. Treatment may include:

  • Psychotherapy – a mental health expert can detect the best psychotherapy for you. This therapy helps you understand and change distorted thinking patterns that drive behaviors and emotions. 
  • Medications – some people with an eating disorder have depression or anxiety. Taking antidepressants can improve the condition. 
  • Maudsley approach – this is a family therapy that helps those with anorexia. 
  • Nutrition counseling – this helps improve eating habits and develop nutritious meal plans. 
Hypersexuality

What Causes Hypersexuality?

Disease, health and medicine,

Hypersexuality is a disorder proposed diagnosis for people who engaged in sex or think about sex through fantasies. These people may engage in activities such as masturbation, porn, multiple partners, and sex for pay. They may feel distressed in areas of life relationships, school, or work. 

Other experts believe that the real causes of this type of behavior may include emotional states, such as depression, anxiety, or relationship conflict. For some individuals, shame and morality may also be involved. Whether the condition exists or not psychotherapy may be useful for individuals seeking to regulate their emotions and gain insight into their sexuality. 

Risk Factors for Hypersexuality

Alcohol or drug abuse

Hypersexuality may befall both in men and women, though it might be more common in men. It can affect as well anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. 

Factors that may increase the risk of Hypersexuality:

  • Alcohol or drug abuse problems.
  • Another mental health condition, such as a mood disorder
  • Privacy of Hypersexuality tends to allow these problems to worsen over time.
  • Social factors include sexual abuse, physical abuse, life stress, and impaired family relationships.
  • Ease of access to sexual content allow access to increasingly intensive sexual imagery and information. 

Symptoms of Hypersexuality

Hypersexuality becomes problematic when it causes significant distress to a person or puts them at risk of harming themselves or someone else. 

The following criteria may be a way of identifying Hypersexuality:

  • Behaviors occur in response to dysphoric mood states or stressful life events
  • Engage in sexual behaviors while disregarding the potential for physical or emotional harm to self or others
  • Have recurrent, intense sexual fantasies, urges, and or behaviors that consistently interfere with other activities 
  • Engage in consistent but unsuccessful efforts to control or reduce sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors
  • The intensity of sexual urges cause significant distress or impairment
woman having doctor checkup

Diagnosis for Hypersexuality

Your doctor and another mental health professional can do a psychological assessment which may involve answering questions about your:

  • Problems caused by your sexual behavior
  • Social, relationships, and family situation 
  • Use of recreational drugs and alcohol
  • Sexual thoughts, behaviors, and compulsions that are hard to control
  • Mental and physical health as well as your overall emotional well-being 

Treatment and Medications for Hypersexuality

Treatment for Hypersexuality often involves medications and psychotherapy. The main goal of the treatment is to help you manage urges and lessen excessive behaviors while maintaining a healthy sexual activity. 

If you or a family member have Hypersexuality, you may also need treatment for another mental health condition. People with this condition often have alcohol or drug abuse problems or other mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, which need treatment. 

In addition to psychotherapy, certain medications may help because they act on brain chemicals linked to obsessive thoughts and behaviors or reduce sexual urges. Your doctor may recommend anti-androgens, mood stabilizers, naltrexone, and some antidepressants.

effective weight loss

Weight Loss

Weight Loss, , , ,

Obesity is a chronic disease defined by an excess amount of body fat. A certain amount of body fat is needed for storing energy, shock absorption, heat insulation, and other functions. A person that has excess weight or body fat may affect their health. A doctor will usually suggest that a person has obesity if they have a high body mass index (BMI). BMI is a tool that doctors use to assess whether or not a person is carrying excess weight.

obese tape measure

Most Common Cause Of Obesity

  • Physical inactivity

Inactive individuals burn fewer calories than active people. It’s been shown that a strong correlation between physical inactivity and weight gain in both sexes.

  • Overeating

Overeating leads to weight gain, especially if the diet is high in fat. Foods high in fat or sugar have high energy density. Epidemiologic studies have shown that diets high in fat contribute to weight gain.

  • Genetics

An individual is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese. Genetics also affect hormones involved in fat regulation. For instance, one genetic cause of obesity is Leptin deficiency wherein Leptin is a hormone made in fat cells and the placenta. It controls weight by signaling the brain to eat less when body fat stores are too high. In addition, if the body cannot produce enough Leptin or cannot signal the brain to eat less, this control is lost and obesity occurs. The role of Leptin replacement as a treatment for obesity is under exploration.

  • A diet high in simple carbohydrates

Carbohydrates increase blood glucose levels which in turn stimulate insulin release by the pancreas. In turn, insulin promotes the growth of fat tissue and causes weight gain. Experts believe that simple carbohydrates contribute to weight gain because they are more rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream than complex carbohydrates. The higher the insulin, the more it contributes to weight gain.

  • Frequency of eating

The relationship between the frequency of eating and weight is somewhat controversial. There are several reports that overweight people eat less often than people with normal weight.

  • Diseases

Diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s syndrome are contributors to obesity.

  • Social issues

Lack of money to purchase healthy foods or lack of safe places to exercise can increase the risk of obesity.

  • Psychological factors

For several people, emotions influence eating habits.  Many people eat excessively in response to emotions including anger, stress, sadness, and boredom. While the most overweight individual has no more psychological disturbances than normal-weight people, there are about 30% of the people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating.

  • Medications

Medications linked with weight gain include:

weight loss tablets

Common Prescriptions For Weight Loss

  • Setmelanotide
  • Semaglutide
  • Liraglutide
  • Naltrexone-Bupropion
  • Phentermine-Topiramate
  • Orlistat
  • Benzphetamine
  • Diethylpropion
  • Phendimetrazine

Prescription medications used for the treatment of overweight and obesity work in different ways. For instance, some medicines may help you feel less hungry or full sooner. Other medicines may make it harder for your body to absorb fat from the foods you eat.

Anxiety

Anxiety

Disease, ,

Anxiety is a type of psychological health condition that mostly affects women. If you have this condition, you may respond to certain things and situations with fear. You also experience physical signs of anxiety such as sweating and a pounding heart. It is normal to have some anxiety and may feel anxious if you have to tackle certain problems or make an important decision. Conversely, anxiety can also be beneficial as it helps individuals notice dangerous situations and focuses attention on staying safe.

This psychological health condition goes beyond the usual nervousness and slight fear you may feel from time to time. Anxiety occurs when:

  • You can’t control your responses to situations
  • You often overreact when something triggers your emotions
  • It interferes with your ability to function

What Causes Anxiety?

Life experiences such as traumatic happenings appear to trigger anxiety in people who are already at risk for anxiety. Inherited behaviors also can be a reason. For several people, this condition may be linked to an underlying health issue. In various cases, the signs and symptoms of anxiety are the first indicators of a medical disorder. Some of the medical complications that can be linked to anxiety include:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • COPD
  • Asthma
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Drug misuse or withdrawal
  • Rare tumors that produce certain fight-or-flight hormones
  • Chronic pain or irritable bowel syndrome

Your anxiety may be due to an underlying medical condition if:

  • You didn’t have an anxiety disorder as a child or didn’t have a previous history of anxiety
  • You don’t avoid certain things or situations because of anxiety
  • You don’t have any blood relatives with an anxiety disorder
  • You have a sudden incidence of anxiety that seems unrelated to life events

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Trembling
  • Sweating
  • Breathing rapidly
  • Having an increased heart rate
  • Having a sense of coming danger or panic
  • Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
  • Having difficulty controlling worry
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry

Risk Factors of Having Anxiety

Below are some factors that may increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder:

  • Stress build-up: A build-up of stressful life circumstances may trigger anxiety such as work stress, death in the family, or ongoing worry about finances.
  • Trauma: Children who suffered abuse or witnessed traumatic happenings are at higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Adults who experience a traumatic event also can develop anxiety disorders.
  • Stress because of an illness: Having a health condition or serious disease can cause significant concern about issues such as your treatment and your future.
  • Alcohol or drugs: Alcohol or drug use or misuse as well as withdrawal can cause or worsen anxiety.
  • Having blood relatives with an anxiety disorder: Anxiety disorders can also run in families.
  • Other mental health disorders: People with other mental health conditions such as depression have a high risk of having an anxiety disorder.

Safety Precautions

There are no ways to predict for a certain cause to develop an anxiety disorder. However, you can take steps to lessen the impact of symptoms if you are anxious:

  • Stay active: Participate in activities that you enjoy and make you feel good about yourself. Enjoy social interaction and caring relationships that help you lessen your worries.
  • Get help early: This type of disorder is harder to treat if you wait.
  • Avoid drug or alcohol use: The use of alcohol and drugs can cause or may worsen your anxiety. You can see a doctor or find a support group to help you stop.

Treating Anxiety

Several individuals with anxiety disorders need medications or psychotherapy to get anxiety under control. A lifestyle change also can make a difference.

  • Be physically active:Develop a routine. Exercise is a powerful stress reducer. It may improve your mood and help you stay healthy. Start slowly and gradually increase the amount and intensity of your activities.
  • Prioritize sleep: Do what you can to make sure you’re getting enough sleep to feel rested.
  • Healthy eating: Focus on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish.
  • Psychotherapy: This involves working with a therapist to lessen your anxiety symptoms. It can be an effective treatment for anxiety.

Medications for Anxiety