When a person refuses to consume the amount of food and drink necessary to maintain a healthy weight, that person suffers from anorexia. Fortunately, most people with anorexia can beat the condition with the right combination of physical, psychological, and social therapy.
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Method 1 of 4: Part One: Physical Treatment
Step 1. Seek emergency care if necessary
Anorexia can cause severe and life-threatening health problems. If you need emergency treatment, the first thing you should do is go to the emergency room.
- Seek emergency care if you have a heart rhythm disorder, dehydration, or an electrolyte imbalance.
- If you feel suicidal or hurt yourself, you should also seek emergency care.
- Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may order you to undergo inpatient treatment in a hospital. In less severe cases, you will be allowed to go home and undergo outpatient treatment.
Step 2. See a dietitian or nutritionist
This individual will play an important role in your healing. A professional dietitian can tell you what you need to know about how much weight you need to gain and the best foods that can provide the calories and nutrients you need.
- A nutritionist and dietitian will usually work with you to create a specific meal plan that plans the menu for each meal of the day for each week. These foods will include the calories you need while also providing balanced nutrition.
- A nutritionist can also recommend some appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements. Supplements should never be a substitute for food, but they can be used to quickly supply your body with the nutrients it needs.
Step 3. Return to a healthy body weight
It doesn't matter whether you have complications or not, you need to return to a normal and healthy weight based on your height, gender, and stature. Your doctor will work with you, but you must also remain committed to achieving this goal.
- In severe cases, you may initially need to be fed through a nasogastric tube inserted through your nose into your stomach.
- Once your emergency nutritional needs are met, your long-term weight needs will be addressed.
- Typically, weight gain of between 0.45 and 1.35 kg per week is considered a safe and healthy target.
Step 4. Schedule regular checkups
Your primary doctor will need to see you regularly to check your weight and overall health. It is best to schedule these checks in advance.
During these routine checks, vital signs, hydration, and electrolytes will be monitored. If any related conditions arise, that will also be monitored
Step 5. Find a treatment that can help
There are currently no medications formulated to treat anorexia directly, but there may be other conditions that aggravate anorexia that can be treated with medications prescribed by a doctor.
- Depression is also associated with anorexia, so you may eventually need to take antidepressants to treat this aspect of your condition.
- You may also be given estrogen to help regulate your menstrual cycle and prevent fractures.
Method 2 of 4: Part Two: Psychological Treatment
Step 1. Admit that you have a problem
There are many resources that can help you, but for any resource to be of help, you must first admit to yourself that you have anorexia and that the condition poses a serious threat to your health and safety.
- By now, you've been poisoned by the idea that you'd feel better if you lost more weight. When you stress an unhealthy mindset for a long time, it becomes an instinctual reaction, and doesn't go away overnight.
- You need to admit to yourself that your relentless pursuit of that goal has reached a problematic level. You also need to acknowledge that you are physically and emotionally damaged by the pursuit.
Step 2. Get cognitive behavioral therapy
See a psychologist or counselor for an individual session. This mental health professional should be able to work with you to find the underlying psychological cause behind your eating disorder.
- With cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the therapist will help you understand negative thoughts, self-talk, and self-image that directly affect your negative eating habits.
- This means identifying faulty mindsets and beliefs, and then working on solutions to fix them.
- Often, specific behavioral interventions will also be recommended. You may be asked to set goals and reward yourself when you meet them.
- CBT has a limited time, so you will receive treatment for a period of time. This treatment can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
Step 3. Consider family therapy
Social pressure and stress are often one of the causes of someone experiencing anorexia. If these issues may also be in your predicament, consider talking to a family counselor, marriage counselor, or other group counselor.
- Family therapy is the most common type of social therapy. This therapy is usually carried out with the patient and the entire family present, but in certain cases, the family may talk to the counselor in the absence of the patient.
- Dysfunction in the family is often identified through these therapy sessions. Once identified, the therapist can work with the family unit to implement changes that will correct the problem.
Step 4. Stick to your treatment plan
There will likely be times when you may be tempted to stop seeking help or skip a few sessions, but it's important to stick with your treatment plan, no matter how much gloomy or uncomfortable feelings you may feel.
Method 3 of 4: Part Three: Emotional and Social Support
Step 1. Talk about the problem
Find a few trusted loved ones and try to discuss any difficulties you have with your self-image and diet.
- Know that it's natural to feel afraid, embarrassed, or complacent about talking to someone. No matter what the feeling is, talking will still help.
- Make sure that the person you are talking to will help, not hurt. Someone who will support your unhealthy eating habits or someone who will look down on you would not be a good place to cry.
Step 2. Find a support group
Ask your doctor, dietitian, or counselor to recommend an eating disorder support group in your area. Many of the people in the group face similar issues, so you should be able to find both understanding and support.
- Join a formal support group mentored by a mental health professional for the best results.
- Some informal groups can inadvertently turn pro-anorexic and can support people in competing to be the thinnest.
Step 3. Find positive examples
Find at least one person in your life who can stand strong as a role model for both physical and mental health. When you are in doubt about something related to your anorexia, turn to this person for direction.
- Your role model can be someone you know personally or it can be a well-known figure.
- Just make sure that your example is really a good picture of health. For example, don't choose a super skinny supermodel or a famous weight loss expert. A better choice would be someone who is known to have a positive self-image despite having an imperfect body.
Step 4. Stay away from triggers
Social, emotional, and psychological events that trigger feelings of poor self-image, low self-esteem, or similar problems should be avoided, especially when you are actively on the road to healing.
- Avoid viewing fashion and fitness magazines.
- Do not visit any pro-anorexia website.
- Stay away from friends who are always dieting or discussing weight loss.
- Resist the urge to weigh yourself.
Step 5. Take good care of your body
Look for ways to pamper your body from time to time. By caring for your body with extra care, you can gradually learn to love it, which will reduce your desire to hurt it by not eating.
- Wear comfortable clothes. Wear a style that expresses your individuality rather than one meant to impress others.
- Pamper your body frequently with massages, manicures, bubble baths, new perfumes, or scented lotions.
Step 6. Look for ways to stay active
You need to be active both socially and physically. Doing so can help maintain your mental and physical health.
- Intense cardiovascular exercise can make it harder for you to gain weight, so you should cut back on such activities. On the other hand, moderate exercise such as yoga can maintain healthy blood circulation and increase feelings of physical well-being.
- The temptation to isolate yourself during this time can be intense, but it's important to resist it. Spend more time with friends and family. If that's not an option, look for ways to get involved in your community.
Step 7. Give yourself a reminder
Regularly remind yourself of what you will lose if you give up and of what you will gain if you continue on the path to healing. Social support is important, but self-support is also important.
One simple way to constantly remind yourself is to write yourself a message. Write down your weight gain goal and post it on the fridge door. Write down encouraging words, such as, “You are beautiful,” and stick them on a mirror or closet
Method 4 of 4: Part Four: Helping Others
Step 1. Be a positive influence
Let loved ones see you as an example of mental and physical health. Maintain a balanced diet and treat your body with love and respect.
- Eat right and exercise.
- Don't put fashion and fitness magazines around the house, especially where loved ones can see them.
- Don't make negative comments about your weight or other people's.
Step 2. Share food
A great way to gradually get your loved one back into healthy eating habits is to spend more time sharing food with them. Make the whole experience enjoyable to emphasize that eating is a positive activity.
Step 3. Support without being pushy
You need to be with your loved one, but forcing him to do so can actually cause him to withdraw from you.
- Avoid acting like a food cop. Make a mental note of the food and calories consumed by your loved one, but don't stand behind them at mealtimes.
- Avoid all negative communication. This means not using threats, scare tactics, outbursts of anger, and ridicule.
Step 4. Stay patient and calm
In some cases, you need to see yourself as an objective observer. This is the struggle of loved ones, not you. Making this distinction can help prevent you from judging the whole thing as a personal insult.
- Seeing yourself as an observer or an outsider can make you feel a little helpless at first, but forcing yourself to admit that the resolution is beyond your control can help you act more rationally and objectively.
- Take care of your own mental health. If a loved one's anorexia is triggering your own emotional or psychological problems, seek help from a professional counselor.
