Eating disorders
It seemed that many of my fellow listeners weren't able to quite clearly understand what eating disorders are and how to diagnose. So here's my view of it. Have a read my friends. Eating disorders are mental health conditions marked by an obsession with food or body shape. They can affect anyone but are most prevalent among young women. The causes include: One of these is genetics. Twin and adoption studies involving twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different families provide some evidence that eating disorders may be hereditary. Personality traits are another cause. In particular, neuroticism, perfectionism, and impulsivity are three personality traits often linked to a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. Other potential causes include perceived pressures to be thin, cultural preferences for thinness, and exposure to media promoting such ideals. More recently, experts have proposed that differences in brain structure and biology may also play a role in the development of eating disorders. The different disorders include: 1. Anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa is likely the most well-known eating disorder.People with anorexia nervosa may limit their food intake or compensate for it through various purging behaviors. They have an intense fear of gaining weight, even when severely underweight. 2. Bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder.Like anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood and appears to be less common among men than women. People with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food in short periods of time, then purge. They fear gaining weight despite being at a normal weight. 3. Binge eating disorder Binge eating disorder is believed to be one of the most common eating disorders, especially in the United States.People with binge eating disorder regularly and uncontrollably consume large amounts of food in short periods of time. Unlike people with other eating disorders, they do not purge. 4. Pica Pica is another eating disorder that involves eating things that are not considered food.Individuals with pica tend to crave and eat non-food substances. This disorder may particularly affect children, pregnant women, and individuals with mental disabilities. 5. Rumination disorder Rumination disorder is another newly recognized eating disorder.It describes a condition in which a person regurgitates food they have previously chewed and swallowed, re-chews it, and then either re-swallows it or spits it out.Rumination disorder can affect people at all stages of life. People with the condition generally regurgitate the food they’ve recently swallowed. Then, they chew it again and either swallow it or spit it out. 6. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a new name for an old disorder.ARFID is an eating disorder that causes people to undereat. This is either due to a lack of interest in food or an intense distaste for how certain foods look, smell, or taste. If you have an eating disorder or know someone that might have one, seek help from a healthcare practitioner that specializes in eating disorders or connect to the listener specified in that area. Understand your problem and know what's in you. Don't jump into conclusions! Eat healthy stay fit! 💕
@theadarshnair Personally, I feel listeners are here so that members can feel heard, valued and understood. That is what our training tells us.
When you write, "listeners weren't able to quite clearly understand what eating disorders are and how to diagnose" I feel this is missing the point. Listeners do not have to understand the details of hundreds of disorders. As listeners we only have to understand what members tell us. And listeners definitely do not diagnose. Only the most highly trained medical professionals can diagnose.
When you write, "seek help from a healthcare practitioner that specializes in eating disorders or connect to the listener specified in that area" I feel that is also misleading. No listener is an alternative to a healthcare practitioner. Listeners provide emotional support. Healthcare practitioners provide diagnosis and treatment. They are not the same.
I think listeners must not pretend to be healthcare professionals. Listeners must not diagnose. Listeners must not try to provide treatment. Listeners must not pretend to be an alternative to professional healthcare.
Charlie
Hey charlie! You have read it right but interpreted in a wrong way. Many newbie listeners came upto me saying that they weren't able to distinguish between different eating disorders. So i thought to brief them about what i knew from my studies. Our members may or may not have accurately diagnosed their problem scientifically. So as a listener concerned about eating disorders it is our duty to let them know that apart from the Symptoms they show there are proper ways to correctly diagnose an issue. What i did was just letting them know these are some of ways to atleast identify their issue by themself so that they could seek the help of a medical practitioner and could know more about their issue which they are facing and go on with further diagnosis. A newbie listener may not be aware of what exactly differentiates between different eating disorders. So this was a thread to let them know there are disorders like this too. And i haven't substituted any listener for a medical practitioner. They both have their own places which we all are aware of!. By connecting a listener ,they could guide our member in the proper way and make them aware of it so that they could contact a medical practitioner at the earliest without any hesitation. No listener is gonna read my thread and start a clinic btw! .It's just a very very brief summary of eating disorders which i wished my fellow listeners to be aware of. Cheers buddy 🥂
@theadarshnair That is correct. Listeners are not able to distinguish between different eating disorders. It is not a listener's role.
Also, it is not a listener's role to guide members in any way. Listeners are here to listen, not to guide.
Oh, they are not going to start a clinic? That's good to know
Seriously though, it's important not to encourage listeners to diagnose.
Charlie