Controversial Aspects of Pro Anorexia
Controversial Aspects of Pro Anorexia
Pro anorexia (pro ana) web sites claim that their aim is not to encourage and support anorexia, but to prevent and eliminate its undesirable effects. However, despite these affirmations, pro anorexia web sites primarily focus on helping people with anorexia to better deal with their condition, instead of revealing the dangerous aspects of having such an eating disorder.
Through the means of pro anorexia web sites, persons with anorexia are integrated into an online community; they mainly receive tips on how to take care of themselves and they are not encouraged to ask fo r professional help. Pro anorexia web sites challenge people with anorexia to accept their condition, regarding to anorexics as rebels fighting against conventional, old-fashioned ideals and values.
Pro anorexia web sites usually implement the idea of superiority among the community of people with anorexia, referring to anorexics as people with a strong will that take action in order to achieve their goals. Their behavior is appreciated and considered to be an act of courage.
The ideals promoted by pro anorexia web sites are drastically contradicted and admonished by medical professionals. In their opinion, people who suffer from eating disorders like anorexia actually engage in acts of self-destruction. The truth is that anorexia is a very serious mental illness that may actually lead to death by starvation. Physicians and psychiatrists strongly recommend persons with anorexia to acce pt and follow an appropriate treatment. Medical professionals are disturbed by the slogans promoted by pro anorexia web sites and try to inform people with such eating disorders about the risks they expose themselves to.
It is very important to understand that anorexia is an illness, not a lifestyle! A real act of courage is to ask for help, not to try to deal with anorexia on your own. It is also vital to quickly take action in overcoming such eating disorders, in order to prevent further damage and health problems. Anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders can be treated; however, a lot of ambition is involved in the process of overcoming the illness. People with anorexia usually deny having a problem and they isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Pro anorexia web sites try to make these people feel appeased and to integrate them within a community where they are understood and appreciated. Despite all that, these web sites never encourage anorexics to take steps in curing their condition. They concentrate on providing them with re cipes and diets instead, therefore contributing to their destruction.
People with anorexia should accept professional help and try to perceive their condition from an objective point of view. They should understand there are better things in life than continuously counting calories and worrying about gaining weight.
Anorexia Treatment
Many parents, frantic with worry when their child is diagnosed with anorexia, do not know where to turn to for help, but there are many good anorexia treatment programs available and they need to examine all options carefully. Treatment may be offered at a residential clinic or at a day center and the earlier it starts the greater the chances of recovery.
A good anorexia treatment program will be tailor-made for each individual patient and may include a variety of approaches. Group therapy offers support and encouragement to discuss thoughts and feelings, developing a sense of worth and self-assertiveness so often lacking in patients suffering from anorexia. Gaining self-confidence will help patients to return home with the ability to control the disorder.
Family therapy is also encouraged. Research has shown that parental involvement in the patient's treatment produces significant results. Parents often feel they are responsible for the patient's condition and involving them in treatment can be beneficial for all concerned.
Some anorexia programs also offer specialized adolescent programs, as this is often the age for the onset of anorexia and a time of emotional turbulence. As many anorexia patients are depressed, antidepressants, combined with therapy, may be prescribed as part of the treatment. Patients will also require expert advice for a qualified nutritionist.
One of the main difficulties with anorexia treatment is that patients are often an unwilling participants. They do not accept there is a problem but believe that they are overweight and unattractive. In the worse cases dealing with nutritional needs may be the first priority in treatment and involve hospitalization. This is a short term measure to offset severe medical complications.
The ultimate goal of treatment is to restore long term health. Anorexia patients often suffer from low self esteem, building confidence and a recognition of self worth is of primary importance.
When choosing a treatment center you should consider the following:
The qualifications of the staff and how long they have been practising.
The type of program on offer and what it involves.
Residential or day treatment.
Number of individual therapy sessions per week, as patients need frequent support.
Number of sessions with a qualified dietitian.
If your child, or a member of your family is suffering from anorexia, or you suspect any eating disorder, please talk to your doctor. Anorexia is life threatening, the sooner treatment is started the greater the chances of recovery. Anorexia sufferers are devious, do not believe them if they say they are eating. If they are young and you can control access to a computer, do not allow viewing of pro-ana websites.
Pro anorexia (pro ana) web sites claim that their aim is not to encourage and support anorexia, but to prevent and eliminate its undesirable effects. However, despite these affirmations, pro anorexia web sites primarily focus on helping people with anorexia to better deal with their condition, instead of revealing the dangerous aspects of having such an eating disorder.
Through the means of pro anorexia web sites, persons with anorexia are integrated into an online community; they mainly receive tips on how to take care of themselves and they are not encouraged to ask fo r professional help. Pro anorexia web sites challenge people with anorexia to accept their condition, regarding to anorexics as rebels fighting against conventional, old-fashioned ideals and values.
Pro anorexia web sites usually implement the idea of superiority among the community of people with anorexia, referring to anorexics as people with a strong will that take action in order to achieve their goals. Their behavior is appreciated and considered to be an act of courage.
The ideals promoted by pro anorexia web sites are drastically contradicted and admonished by medical professionals. In their opinion, people who suffer from eating disorders like anorexia actually engage in acts of self-destruction. The truth is that anorexia is a very serious mental illness that may actually lead to death by starvation. Physicians and psychiatrists strongly recommend persons with anorexia to acce pt and follow an appropriate treatment. Medical professionals are disturbed by the slogans promoted by pro anorexia web sites and try to inform people with such eating disorders about the risks they expose themselves to.
It is very important to understand that anorexia is an illness, not a lifestyle! A real act of courage is to ask for help, not to try to deal with anorexia on your own. It is also vital to quickly take action in overcoming such eating disorders, in order to prevent further damage and health problems. Anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders can be treated; however, a lot of ambition is involved in the process of overcoming the illness. People with anorexia usually deny having a problem and they isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Pro anorexia web sites try to make these people feel appeased and to integrate them within a community where they are understood and appreciated. Despite all that, these web sites never encourage anorexics to take steps in curing their condition. They concentrate on providing them with re cipes and diets instead, therefore contributing to their destruction.
People with anorexia should accept professional help and try to perceive their condition from an objective point of view. They should understand there are better things in life than continuously counting calories and worrying about gaining weight.
Anorexia Treatment
Many parents, frantic with worry when their child is diagnosed with anorexia, do not know where to turn to for help, but there are many good anorexia treatment programs available and they need to examine all options carefully. Treatment may be offered at a residential clinic or at a day center and the earlier it starts the greater the chances of recovery.
A good anorexia treatment program will be tailor-made for each individual patient and may include a variety of approaches. Group therapy offers support and encouragement to discuss thoughts and feelings, developing a sense of worth and self-assertiveness so often lacking in patients suffering from anorexia. Gaining self-confidence will help patients to return home with the ability to control the disorder.
Family therapy is also encouraged. Research has shown that parental involvement in the patient's treatment produces significant results. Parents often feel they are responsible for the patient's condition and involving them in treatment can be beneficial for all concerned.
Some anorexia programs also offer specialized adolescent programs, as this is often the age for the onset of anorexia and a time of emotional turbulence. As many anorexia patients are depressed, antidepressants, combined with therapy, may be prescribed as part of the treatment. Patients will also require expert advice for a qualified nutritionist.
One of the main difficulties with anorexia treatment is that patients are often an unwilling participants. They do not accept there is a problem but believe that they are overweight and unattractive. In the worse cases dealing with nutritional needs may be the first priority in treatment and involve hospitalization. This is a short term measure to offset severe medical complications.
The ultimate goal of treatment is to restore long term health. Anorexia patients often suffer from low self esteem, building confidence and a recognition of self worth is of primary importance.
When choosing a treatment center you should consider the following:
The qualifications of the staff and how long they have been practising.
The type of program on offer and what it involves.
Residential or day treatment.
Number of individual therapy sessions per week, as patients need frequent support.
Number of sessions with a qualified dietitian.
If your child, or a member of your family is suffering from anorexia, or you suspect any eating disorder, please talk to your doctor. Anorexia is life threatening, the sooner treatment is started the greater the chances of recovery. Anorexia sufferers are devious, do not believe them if they say they are eating. If they are young and you can control access to a computer, do not allow viewing of pro-ana websites.
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