Watch for Signs of Relapse in Anorexia Patients
Anorexia is similar to other serious diseases in its resilience in a majority of patients. Victims of anorexia have to maintain mental and physical strength at all times to keep the disease at bay. You need to know the signs of relapse in anorexia patients to help monitor the progress of friends and family facing the disorder.
Instructions
1. Look for increasingly addictive behavior by anorexia patients who are looking to fill a psychological void. Patients who are beginning to relapse often move toward another addiction, including drugs, alcohol or gambling.
2. Pay attention to decreases in appetite and food consumption by anorexia patients in your life. The type of appetite decrease that you should look for should go beyond a light meal, and should consist of multiple incidents of skipped or insignificant meals.
3. Remember the old eating habits of anorexia patients when you watch for signs of relapse. Some patients will resort to their old ways, including binging and purging or unconventional dieting, during difficult times.
4. Track the level of sleep that the anorexia patient gets on a daily basis. The mental and physical strain on an anorexic can cause sleeplessness. You can gather this information through small talk or simple observations about exhaustion throughout the day.
5. Express concern to your friends about anorexia patients who have an excessive obsession with their appearances. The line between anorexic behavior and simple vanity can be difficult to draw, but multiple comments or uses of a mirror throughout your time with a patient are good indicators of relapse.
6. Follow the amount of exercise that anorexia patients engage in when you watch for signs of relapse. Anorexia patients who are beginning to relapse will take advantage of doctor-mandated exercise to exert themselves excessively in order to lose more calories.
7. Approach anorexia patients who are beginning to relapse with sensitivity. You need to watch your language when speaking with relapsing friends or colleagues because they are in a fragile mental space. Avoid accusatory language and tell them your observations to provide an objective view of the situation.
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