OH! Magazine - Australian Version December 2018 | Page 38

( HEALTH )
5 SIGNS OF
DISORDERED EATING
Sarah Rav explains how to recognise signs of an eating disorder.
ating disorders manifest in many
ways, and in some cases, they can
be potentially life-threatening. If an
eating disorder progresses for too long,
the sufferer may be so devoid of nutrients
that their brain physiologically cannot
recover from the disordered way of
thinking that has been hardwired into its
electrical circuits. This is why early
intervention is important and vital in
promoting recovery.
E
Unfortunately, as with many mental
illnesses, disordered eating often presents
itself without physical symptoms in the
early stages. Hence why I’m sharing five
non-physical signs that may indicate a
loved one may benefit from you reaching
out to them. If so, approach them in a
gentle and caring manner. Instead of
being accusatory, let them know that you
are coming from a place of concern. Offer
your support and encourage them to seek
professional help.
1. Secretive behaviour surrounding food
Your loved one may start to avoid
questions or discussion surrounding food,
such as ‘What did you have for lunch?’
They may become defensive if you make
comments about their meals being ‘not
enough’ or ‘extremely healthy’. Ultimately,
this may result in them refusing to eat
meals with friends or family at all and
instead, they may begin to eat meals by
themselves (if they eat at all).
2. Obsessive routines
Your loved one may begin to get extremely
fixated on their daily routine. They may
refuse to eat any earlier or later than the
set times they have planned. They may do
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OH! MAGAZINE ( DECEMBER 2018 )
everything in their power to ensure that
they workout at the time that they set.
Any disruption to their routine may send
them into a completely anxious state.
They may also develop obsessive rituals,
such as eating with only a specific set of
cutlery or on a specific plate.
3. Social isolation and withdrawal
This commonly occurs because your loved
one fears lack of control over food. When
I was suffering from my disease, I would
refuse all invitations to go out because I
was terrified by the fact I couldn’t control
exactly what went into my meal, nor how
many calories it contained. I would also
refuse any parties or late-night events
because I was scared that I would be too
tired to exercise the next morning, which
would result in me feeling immensely
guilty and like a failure. At the time, I
pretended that I was too busy with work
and study to go out, so that my friends
wouldn’t suspect anything. So, this can
be a tricky one to spot, but do take note if
your loved one begins to withdraw from
activities that used to fill them with
delight.
4. Reduced energy and diminished mental
state
Over time, due to a lack of calories, your
loved one may move or speak more slowly,
they may require longer times to answer
questions or solve problems and they will
begin to tire more easily. They may also
become extremely weak. When I was
severly deprived, I couldn’t even open my
waterbottle or pick up an empty handbag.
I was always exhausted and even after a
full nine hours of sleep, I would wake up
feeling even more tired than the day
before. Even the thought of everyday
activities, such as getting dressed or
brushing my teeth filled me with dread.
5. Lack of emotion
If your loved one appears depressed,
apathetic or withdrawn, this may also
indicate that they are truly deprived of
nutrients, or are so trapped in their
mental prison that they cannot allow
themselves to feel any joy. When I was
suffering, I can distinctly remember
thinking that there was ‘nothing to be
happy about’, ‘nothing worth laughing
over’ and even ‘nothing to live for’. Each
day was such a battle that I couldn’t
focus on the positives.
If you notice any of these signs within
your loved one, reach out to them in a
gentle and caring manner. They are in an
extremely terrifying headspace and the
most important thing you can do for them
is provide support, listen to them and
encourage them to seek help.
About Sarah Rav
Sarah is a 20-year-old medical student
and the face behind influential Instagram
page @sarahrav, who has a personal and
important story to share. After suffering
from anorexia nervosa and the many
challenges that she faced both physically
and mentally, Sarah created her Instagram
page in 2012. With an incredible
following of over 1.7 million on Instagram,
Sarah now uses the platform to be real
and raw about her own struggles and
inspire others to make changes in their
own lives. Sarah is currently studying
Undergraduate Medicine at Monash
University in Melbourne, and also runs a
12-Week Body Transformation Program
available at www.fitandfiestyapp.com