Two major eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia
Nervosa. The root cause of these eating disorders is unhealthy beliefs or
cognitive view leading to a strong desire to control food intake and body
weight.
Anorexia
Nervosa
Anorexia patient often view themselves as fat even though is
seriously underweight. They have intense fear of gaining weight and ignore
potential health risk such as renal failure, cardiovascular issues and hair
loss. Starvation and excessive exercise are common method engaged to control
their shape or body weight. The patient usually has depressive mood and
obsessive towards certain behaviour. Their perfectionist beliefs created sense
of insecurity lose control in life and negative self-evaluation. Certain
patient may experience trauma in their early life.
The Common Unhealthy Beliefs For Anorexia Patient Are:
· * I must be thin, if I am not then I am a failure
· * I must be in control of my weight, if I am not
then I am worthless
· * I must control my weight, if I am not , people
will not accept me
Treatment for anorexia nervosa with Cognitive Behavior
Therapy mainly focus on helping the client to see the short term and long term
consequences of their behavior. Motivate the client to change with the Cost
Benefit analysis. Establish a mutual agreeable weight gain target which is
gradual and realistic. All related unhealthy beliefs would need to identified,
challenged and disputed. Nurture health beliefs as a base for changes. Patient
will impart with appropriate problem solving skills and rebuilt their
self-esteem to face the future challenges in life.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia patient would eat large amount of food and engage
inappropriate compensatory behavior such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives
or excessive exercise in order to prevent gaining weight. Binge and purge cycle often accompanied with senses of helpless, shame and guilt. The action is
usually carried out in secret and fear of being found out. The patient is
obsessed about their shape and body weight and use the binge and purge to
gain sense of satisfaction.
The Common Unhealthy Beliefs For Bulimia Patient Are:
· * I must be control of my weight, If I am not then
I am not controlling my live
· * I must not purge or vomit, I am worthless for
not managing it
· * I must not feel uncomfortable or have negative
emotion, eating could eliminate these negative feelings
Treatment for bulimia nervosa with Cognitive Behavior
Therapy could help the patient to see the consequences and effect of beinge eating and purging. Set mutual agreeable eating plan and stop dieting is
necessary as part of the treatment. The therapist will help the patient to identify root cause of emotion dissatisfaction and issue of self-worth with the
unhealthy beliefs behind it. All the unhealthy beliefs will be disputed and a
set of helpful beliefs will be installed. Technique such as mindfulness eating
and emotion tracking could break the behavior pattern and lead to change of
attitude, behavior and lifestyle.
Reference : Treatment For Anoroxia Nervosa in Malaysia
Treatment For Bulimia Nervosa in Malaysia
Website : www.clinicalhypnosis.com.my
Tel : +60136882577 Roger Tang
