Coping with Appetite Disturbances

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

Coping with Appetite Disturbances

 

Appetite Disturbances, either experiencing loss of appetite, or

having difficulty controlling it, can be helped with several

alternative therapies. If you experience a notable change in

appetite, you should first consult a physician, to rule out any

illness or nutritional deficiencies. Whether you want to stimulate

your appetite or control it, changing the way you eat may help.

 

Appetite loss is the body's defense against ingesting anything that

could slow the healing process. Almost any infection can cause a loss

of appetite. A passing cold or flu virus could be responsible. Even

the weather. So could more serious things like tuberculosis, low

thyroid function, diseases of the heart or lungs or liver problems.

 

Bulimia is an illness characterized by uncontrolled episodes of

overeating usually followed by self-induced vomiting. Eating binges

may occur as often as several times a day. Induced vomiting known as

purging allows the eating to continue until interrupted by sleep,

abdominal pain, or the presence of another person. The person is

usually aware that their eating pattern is abnormal and may

experience fear or guilt associated with the binge-purge episodes.

The behavior is usually secretive, although clues to this disorder

include overactivity, peculiar eating habits, eating rituals, and

frequent weighing. Body weight is usually normal or low, although the

person may perceive themselves as overweight.

 

The exact cause of bulimia is unknown, but factors thought to

contribute to its development are family problems, maladaptive

behavior, self-identity conflict, and cultural overemphasis on

physical appearance. Bulimia may be associated with depression. The

disorder is usually not associated with any underlying physical

problem although the behavior may be associated with neurological or

endocrine diseases. The disorder occurs most often in females of

adolescent or young adult age. The incidence is 2 in 10,000 people.

 

Bulimia is a bit different from anorexia because the person with

bulimia doesn't avoid eating. Instead, he or she eats a large amount

of food then gets rid of it quickly by vomiting or taking laxatives.

This is commonly known as " binge and purge " behavior.

 

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder associated with a distorted

body image that may be caused by a mental disorder. Inadequate

calorie intake results in severe weight loss. The exact cause of this

disorder is not known, but social attitudes towards body appearance

and family factors play a role in its development. The condition

affects females more frequently, usually in adolescence or young

adulthood.

 

Unique features of anorexia are not only the strong desire to be very

thin, but also the altered body perception that goes with it. People

with anorexia have an intense fear of being fat. When a person has

anorexia, he or she hardly eats at all — and the small amount of food

that is eaten becomes an obsession. A person with anorexia may weigh

food before eating it or compulsively count the calories of

everything. It is not unusual for a person with anorexia to also

exercise excessively in an attempt to lose weight.

 

Statistics show the risk factors are seen most often in Caucasians,

having an upper or middle economic background, being female, and

having a goal-oriented family or personality. The incidence is 4 out

of 100,000 people.

 

Other culprits of appetite loss include anti-histamines, over the

counter drugs, pain killers and perscriptions.

 

Aging itself can take its toll on the appetite. In older people the

metabolism slows down, muscle mass decreases and physical ailments

impede activity. On top of all this, taste sensations diminish and

stomach secretions don't flow like they used to. All of these things

contribute to appetite loss.

 

Controlling your appetite, is another matter. We often eat out of

habit, not hunger. People who do try to stop an addictive behavior,

such as smoking, often find themselves overeating. One reason is

habit: They're used to doing something with their hands and mouth, so

they eat. Or they could be battling the misery of nicotine withdrawal

with the nurturing pleasure of food. Regardless of the excuse, this

lack of control often leads to many health problems. See related

topics: weight loss , aging , depression , stress , sleep

difficulties , pms , anxiety , thyroid problems , diabetes and

smoking .

 

According to the American Institute of Gastroenterology, the best

strategy to promoting good overall health is to eat a balanced,

predominantly plant-based and nutritionally dense diet. Most of your

daily calories should come from vegetables, fruits, whole grains and

beans.

 

 

Best Balancing Tips

 

1. Recognize the problem: People with an appetite disturbance often

do not recognize or admit that they have a problem. A trusted family

members or other individual you believe in can be helpful in making

sure that needed care or rehabilitation are received.

 

2. Determining your needs: Appetite disturbances, eating disorders,

depression and anxiety all require a comprehensive diagnosis, in

which, the clinician will determine whether the person is in

immediate danger and/or requires hospitalization. Nutritional

counseling, psychosocial interventions, monitoring, as well as

medical care maybe appropriate.

 

3. Talk Therapies: Individual psychotherapy (especially cognitive-

behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy), group psychotherapy that

uses a cognitive-behavioral approach and family or marital therapy

can be very effective. Overcome low self-esteem and addressing

distorted thought patterns and behaviors are crucial. Families are

sometimes included in the therapeutic process.

 

4. Severe weight loss: requires an inpatient hospital stay, where

proper nourishment is given and the person's medical needs are met.

In some cases, intravenous feeding is appropriate.

 

5. Moderate exercise is crucial: for both successful weight loss or

for those suffering from anorexia and bulimia. Not only does it help

burn excess calories, but by increasing your physical activity you

can modify the way your brain regulates hunger, making you less

susceptible to food cravings and can increase hormones in order to

stabilize mood or anxiety disorders . If exercise is done

excessively, in the case of anorexia and bulimia, encouragement of

healthy but not excessive exercise is the specific goal in this

strategy.

 

6. The primary goal of treatment for bulimia: is to reduce or

eliminate binge eating and purging behavior.

 

7. The primary goal of treatment for anorexia: is restoring weight

lost due to severe dieting and purging.

 

8. Vitamin Therapy: is a good way to help your body regulate what you

may not be getting through your diet or what you are losing through

purging and abuse. A good daily multivitamin is the best start.

 

9. Drink Plenty of Water: Not only will you loss water as you

exercise, drinking water makes you feel full, therefore, not as much

room for food.

 

10. Control blood sugar levels: this is a good way to balance your

system by eating 5 small high protein meals a day.

 

11. Limit Animal-based Foods: such as meat and dairy products, which

are loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol. Use olive oil or

canola oil instead of butter or margarine to reduce your intake of

saturated fat and hydrogenated fat (trans fat). Moderate your

consumption of fried, salted and smoked foods.

 

12. Portion Control: Eat portions to satisfy hunger, not to clean the

plate. By dinner, if you have complex carbs (potatoes, yams, brown

rice…) with your meal; it should be no more than a cup full. Half of

your plate should be vegetable. The meat, fish, chicken portion

should be the size of your fist. Portion control is the secret to a

healthy weight! Avoid coffee, sugar, alcohol.

 

13. Believe: Your belief system has everything to do with the mental

and spiritual aspects of any eating disorder. Fight anxiety with

relaxation exercises rather than food. Utilize meditation, yoga,

stretching. By creating healthy eating habits and regular exercise,

you are sure to lose weight without depriving yourself of nourishing

food. And if you continue those good habits after you reach your

goal, you will have an excellent chance of maintaining your desired

weight and see it more as maintaining a lifestyle as opposed to a

diet.

 

11. Sleep Well: Good quality sleep is important, especially when you

are trying to loss weight or recover from anorexia or bulimia. It is

most important to go to sleep with a " Quiet Mind " . Sleep rejuvenates,

detoxes and regulates the body.

 

12. Overcome Fear: Fear can be an underlining problem in many cases.

There are many ways to quiet the mind. Doing 15 to 30 minutes of

meditation or yoga can be very helpful. You must allow yourself to be

distracted or get into your meditation or yoga and " let go " of the

days thoughts...see Meditation. Address your fears or phobias by

journaling.

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit

[Guest guest]

I thought I would share an experience using EFT (emotional freedom

technique) for Loss of Appetite.

 

My mother after having surgery, had a total loss of appetite. She

also suffers memory loss. It became a great concern when she

wouldn't eat, and had to be forced to eat the smallest amounts. This

went on for a couple of months. As she was losing alot of weight and

the Loss of Appetite didn't seem to be changing I thought I would try

EFT with her.

 

I went through the technique using: Even though I have lost my

appetite since having an operation.................

Her initial intensity for this before starting the technique was 7.

 

For some reason, I am not sure whether it was the memory thing or

what but after we finished I asked her what the intensity was for her

not wanting to eat now, (expecting it to go down) she replied that it

was 10 and that she REALLY didn't want to eat anything now!

 

After explaining that in all my time using and teaching EFT I have

never come across anyone who has increased the intensity using EFT,

we did another round of Even though I still have no appetite...etc

 

Again, she replied after completing this...I really don't want to eat

anything now and I think the intensity has gone up to 13!!!!

 

I gave up..I said to her, it is obviously not the right day to do

this and we will try again another day.

 

But...that evening I placed some biscuits next to my father with his

cup of tea and what should happen but my mother started eating them!

 

The next day her appetite was back to normal. And 3 weeks later she

is still eating as per normal and gaining weight and recovering so

much better now from her operation.

 

So what a great surprise that was after such an interesting EFT

session.

 

I am so sure that it would help sufferers of Anorexia.

 

All the best

Diana Moore

http://www.bowentherapy.homestead.com

http://www.emotionalfreedom.homestead.com