Atypical anorexia is a condition that is often overlooked. It can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are not always easy to spot. In this blog post, we will discuss atypical anorexia in detail. We will cover the signs and symptoms of the condition, as well as how it is treated. If you think that you or someone you know may be suffering from atypical anorexia, it is important to seek help right away.
Contents
What Is Atypical Anorexia?
Atypical Anorexia is a subtype of anorexia nervosa characterized by less severe weight loss and a distortion of body image.
Individuals with atypical anorexia may be within the normal range for their age and height, or they may be overweight or obese. Despite this, they still see themselves as overweight and are intensely afraid of gaining weight. Atypical anorexia is a less well-known but equally serious form of anorexia nervosa.
What Are The Symptoms?
Symptoms of atypical anorexia nervosa include:
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
- Refusal to eat more than a very limited number of foods, often only those that are low in calories
- Extremely picky eating habits
- Intense fear of eating in public or with other people
- A need for complete control over their food and eating environment
- Obsessive thoughts about food, weight, and calorie intake
- Excessive exercise despite weather, fatigue, or injury
- A preoccupation with food and cooking
- Constant dieting or “clean eating” habits
- Refusal to admit that they have a problem with food or their weight
- Wearing baggy clothes to hide their body shape
- Making excuses not to eat with others, such as saying they’ve already eaten or are not hungry
- Going to the bathroom immediately after eating to vomit or use laxatives.
- purging behaviors may also include excessive exercise, fasting, or restricting certain food groups.
If you or someone you know is displaying these symptoms, it’s important to seek professional help. Atypical anorexia nervosa is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that requires treatment from a qualified mental health professional. There is no shame in seeking treatment for an eating disorder. Treatment can save lives.
What Are the Causes of Atypical anorexia?
Atypical anorexia can be caused by a variety of things. It includes:
Genetic predisposition: If you have a family member with anorexia, you may be more likely to develop the disorder yourself. For example, identical twins are more likely to both have anorexia than fraternal twins.
Biochemical factors: An imbalance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain has been linked to eating disorders. For example, people with anorexia often have low levels of serotonin. They may also have abnormalities in certain brain regions or chemical imbalances that play a role in appetite and weight regulation.
Psychological factors: People with anorexia may have a higher-than-average need for control. They may also have difficulty handling emotions, perfectionist tendencies, and a fear of gaining weight. Various psychological factors are thought to contribute to the development of anorexia.
Environmental factors: People with anorexia may be exposed to cultural messages that promote thinness as the ideal body type. There is some evidence that media images can contribute to the development of anorexia. For example, research has found that exposure to images of thin models in magazines is associated with a greater likelihood of dieting and body dissatisfaction.
How Can You Manage Atypical anorexia?
If you are struggling with atypical anorexia, there are a few things that you can do in order to manage your condition.
Seek professional help: A therapist or counselor can provide you with the support and guidance that you need to work through your disorder. In addition, there are several treatment options available for atypical anorexia.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps people to change their negative thinking patterns and behaviors. It has been shown to be an effective treatment for atypical anorexia. For example, one study found that CBT helped people with atypical anorexia to reduce their body dissatisfaction, negative self-image, and eating disorder symptoms.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy focuses on your relationships with other people. This type of therapy can help you to improve your communication and social skills. For example, you may learn how to express your feelings in a more effective way, or how to deal with conflict in a healthier way.
This therapy can also help you to understand the role that your relationships play in your eating disorder. For example, you may learn how to deal with difficult family dynamics, or how to cope with romantic relationships in a healthy way.
Family-Based Therapy
Family-based therapy is a type of therapy that involves your family in your treatment. This type of therapy can help to improve communication and problem-solving skills within your family. For example, if you are having difficulty communicating your needs to your family, family-based therapy can help you to find ways to express yourself more effectively and can also help to improve relationships within your family. If you are struggling with atypical anorexia, family-based therapy may be a good option for you.
Nutritional Counseling
A registered dietitian can provide you with information about healthy eating and help you to develop a plan that meets your nutritional needs. For example, they can:
- teach you about the importance of balanced meals and snacks
- help you to identify foods that trigger your eating disorder
- create a meal plan that is tailored to your unique needs
- provide support and guidance as you work to make changes in your eating habits
Medication
There are no specific medications that are approved for the treatment of atypical anorexia. However, medication may be prescribed to treat other conditions that are associated with atypical anorexia.
Hospitalization
In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary in order to provide you with the care and treatment that you need. For instance, if you are severely underweight or if your health is at risk, you may need to be hospitalized in order to receive proper care.
Support Groups
Support groups can provide you with information and support from other people who are struggling with atypical anorexia. There are also online support groups available.
Self Help Tips
If you are struggling with atypical anorexia, know that you are not alone. Here are some self-help tips that may be helpful:
Talk to someone who understands: This could be a friend, family member, therapist, or support group. It can be helpful to talk to someone who gets what you’re going through.
Challenge your thinking: If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about your body or food, try to challenge those thoughts. For example, “I’m not good enough” can be changed to “I am doing the best I can.”
Focus on self-care: Make sure to take care of yourself emotionally and physically. This could include things like getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising.
- Exercise: Exercise is a great way to boost your mood and reduce stress. It can also help you sleep better, which is important for recovery.
- Eating healthy food: Eating nutritious foods will help your body heal and give you the energy you need to exercise.
- Enough sleep: Getting enough sleep is crucial for recovery. It will help your body heal and give you the energy you need to exercise and eat well.
Avoid comparisons: It can be easy to compare yourself to others, but this is not helpful. Everyone is different and has their own unique journey.
Find a creative outlet: Doing things like painting, writing, or playing music can be therapeutic and help you express yourself in a positive way.
These are just a few self-help tips that may be helpful if you are struggling with atypical anorexia. If you are feeling overwhelmed or like you are not making progress, please reach out to a professional for help.
Conclusion
It may be concluded that atypical anorexia is a serious and potentially life-threatening eating disorder that should not be taken lightly. If you think you or someone you know may be suffering from atypical anorexia, please seek professional help as soon as possible.
For further information and suggestions, please contact Therapy Mantra. We have a team of expert therapists and psychiatrists that can help you overcome this problem. Get in touch with us right away to learn more about our services. You may also make an online therapy session or download our free Android or iOS app.
