the condition of anosognosia and anorexia. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

the condition of anosognosia and anorexia.

| mental health 🗣️ | break the stigma 👊🏼💥 |

207
the condition of anosognosia and anorexia.

perhaps one of the most disturbing symptoms of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, especially for family members and treatment professionals, is the patient's belief that they are not sick. the common consequence of not believing that they are sick is that they do not want to be okay.

in fact, a patient’s lack of concern for the problem has long been a defining characteristic of anorexia nervosa.

since 1873, Ernest-Charles Lasègue, a french doctor who was one of the first people to describe anorexia nervosa, wrote, “i do not suffer and i must be okay,” is the monotonous formula. clinical studies, as reported by Dr. Vandereycken, have reported that “denial of the disease” is present in up to 80% of anorexia nervosa patients surveyed. in some populations of anorexia nervosa patients, this percentage may be lower. in a study by Konstantakopoulos and colleagues, a subgroup of anorexia nervosa patients (24%) had severe impairment of intuition. they also found that patients with restrictive anorexia nervosa had poorer overall vision than patients with anorexia nervosa, subtype of compulsive purging.

the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa include an “alteration in the way body weight or shape is experienced.” patients may be extremely emaciated, but believe they are overweight. the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), states, “people with anorexia nervosa often lack information or deny the problem.”

in earlier writings about anorexia nervosa, this lack of knowledge of the problem was often called denial, since it was first described when psychodynamic theories predominated. more recently, however, the condition has been renamed anosognosia. this term was originally used by neurologists to describe a neurological syndrome in which people with brain damage have a profound lack of awareness of a particular deficit. anosognosia, or lack of consciousness, has an anatomical basis and is caused by damage to the brain.

more recently, the term has also begun to be applied to psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. brain imaging studies seem to indicate a brain connection between anosognosia and these conditions. the national alliance on mental illness (NAMI) reports that anosognosia affects 50% of people with schizophrenia and 40% of people with bipolar disorder, and is believed to be the main reason why patients with these disorders often don't take their medication.

applying the term anosognosia to anorexia nervosa makes sense because we know that the brain is affected by malnutrition. in a 2006 paper, Dr. Vanderycken wrote, “in many cases of anorexia nervosa, the striking indifference to wasting resembles the anosognosia described in neurological disorders.”

in 1997, Dr. Casper wrote: “the lack of concern about the potentially dangerous consequences of malnutrition suggests that alarming information may not be processed or may not be aware of it. someone with a malnourished or damaged brain may not be thinking clearly enough to use denial as an emotional defense mechanism.”

transcendence. seeing anorexia nervosa through the lens of anosognosia has significant ramifications. if an individual suffering from a serious mental illness with life-threatening complications does not believe that they are sick, it is unlikely that they will be receptive to treatment. this increases the potential risks of medical problems as well as a long course of illness. these individuals may be incapable of perception-oriented treatment, which was, until recently, a common treatment for anorexia nervosa. this is one reason why more intensive treatment, such as residential care, is often needed. it is also the reason that family-based treatment (FBT) may be more successful: in FBT, parents do behavioral weight lifting to restore a patient’s nutritional health.

anosognosia can be confusing for family members. if you are a loved one of someone with an eating disorder who doesn't seem to believe that they are sick or interested in recovery, recognize that you are not being defiant or resilient. they are more likely to be unable to understand. fortunately, motivation for recovery is not required if your loved one is a minor or if they are a young adult who is financially dependent. you can be assertive and insist on treatment for them.

Dr. Vandereycken writes that “communicating with someone who has an eating disorder, but denies that it is not easy.” — he suggests three strategies for loved ones:

• show support and concern (otherwise they will seem indifferent)

• express empathy and understanding

• tell the truth.

in short, anosognosia is a brain condition; it is not the same as denial. fortunately, the brain recovers with recovery and a return to a healthy weight. motivation and perception usually return in time for the individual to address the rest of their own recovery.

i wrote about this amazing subject inspired by and thanks to the amazing Tabitha Farrar. (in ig: @tabs_edrecoverycoach)

thank you for taking your time to read about this important subject.

if you need orientation, you can follow me and Tabitha; my ig account is on my bio. don’t give up.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4173
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450464
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22217
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

45131
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments