Functionalist and Conflict Approach to Anorexia Nervosa - Essay Example

Functionalist and Conflict Approach to Anorexia Nervosa Reflecting on her teen years, Jean vividly recalls being a target of teasing and ridicule. The reason? She was the tallest and largest girl in her class at school. But that was not all. “Even worse than being big, I was shy and socially awkward,” says Jean. “I was often lonely, wanting to fit in somewhere, but most of the time I felt like an outsider.” Jean was convinced that her size was the cause of all her problems and that a lean, trim figure would fix everything. Not that Jean was obese. On the contrary, at six feet [183 cm] tall and 145 pounds [66 kg], she wasn’t overweight. Nevertheless, Jean felt fat, and at age 23 she decided to lose weight. ‘When I’m thin,’ she reasoned, ‘other people will want me around. At last, I will feel accepted and special.’ “That kind of foolish logic led to a twelve-year trap named anorexia nervosa…,” Jean explains. “I got thin all right, so thin I almost died, but instead of building a happy life, I ruined my health and created more than a decade of depression and misery.” (Awake! 1999) The above experience is just a picture of what have been experienced by people inflicted with a deadly eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa (Greek: “nervous loss of appetite” (Reddy, 2008)). Awake! (1999) stated that ‘according to one estimate, up to 1 out of 100 American females develops anorexia nervosa as a teenager or young adult’. This eating disorder is not new. Anorexia nervosa was officially ‘diagnosed in 1873, and the indications have allegedly been observed as far back as the sixteenth century’ (Awake! 1999). Furthermore the number of anorexics escalated radically since the World War II. People with anorexia are gripped with being thin and are frightened of gaining weight. They often starve themselves so much that they lose a lot of weight. Anorexics have a distorted view of their body image, believing they are fat though they are extremely thin. The American Academy of Family Physicians (2009) outlines some physical alarming signs of anorexia which include the following: deliberate self-starvation with weight loss, fear of gaining weight, refusal to eat, denial of hunger, constant exercising, greater amounts of hair on the body or the face, sensitivity to cold temperatures, absent or irregular menstrual periods (for women), loss of scalp hair and a self-perception of being fat when a person is really too thin. Psychologically and emotionally speaking, anorexics often have mood swings, frequent depression, and low self-esteem. Most are socially withdrawn and anti – social. Even though it is not clear why people become anorexic, it is usually common that sufferers ‘attempt to use food and weight to deal with emotional problems’ (American Academy of Family Physicians 2009). Over the years, researchers tried to present several contributory factors in the development of anorexia nervosa. Let us consider some of these factors. Striving to Be Perfect Woman’s vulnerability may come from how she perceives her role in the society. Though men do develop anorexia, those affected are predominantly women. Those who became anorexics have often grown up believing that they should be undemanding of others. To be considered good, she has to be quiet, unseen woman who learns not to show what is bothering her. However, such an upbringing causes some to feel that they have no control of their lives. For some women, trying always to please others while at the same time suppressing their own desire to take charge of their lives creates an inner conflict that can lead to an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa. Usually, most of those with anorexia tend to be high achievers and perfectionists who excel in school or at work. They have a fear of being ordinary, or average, or common; they think that they are valuable only if they achieve something exceptionally special, something so grand and stunning that other people will be overwhelmed and admire them for being fantastic and extraordinary. People who are anorexics tend to equate being thin with power and accomplishment, the thinner they are the more powerful they feel. (Bruch 1978) Low Self-esteem The fashion industry has been advertising ‘stick-thin models before young and vulnerable onlookers’ providing the impression that a ‘girl is only as attractive as she is thin’. In order to fit in a society with such distorted view of beauty, many women struggle to achieve a skinnier body. Notwithstanding the fact that it is unrealistic and unhealthful, some women resort to extremes to obtain what they believe is the perfect body. The Awake! Magazine (1999) attests the truthfulness to these facts: In a 1997 survey of 3,452 women, 24 percent said that they would be willing to give up three years of their life to attain their weight goal. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed said that fashion magazine models influenced their body image when they were young. Similar to some participants of the said survey, a few people considered thinness the key to have a life that is worth living. Clearly, it is undeniable that images of models fabricated by the media have a devastating effect on the way women perceive themselves. Without a doubt, a person who has low-self esteem is more likely to succumb to the media’s phony advocacy. Insecurity and self-doubt are common to many with anorexia. In spite of being talented and gifted, most have a basic lack of self-worth. What causes this spirit of worthlessness? A diversity of reasons can cause inner pain – bitter disappointments and rejection, for instance. But low self-esteem may also develop because of the attitudes of others, on how they give so much attention on someone’s body weight. Furthermore, today’s social climate, which greatly extols slenderness, contributes to the self-hatred of some who have weight problems. Handling Painful Emotions An eating disorder such as anorexia is a warning sign that something is wrong, that stresses and frustrations may not be well addressed. Family troubles may be one cause of such emotional turmoil. Some may find it difficult to cope with this situation alone, thus they turn their attention to food, and they either starve themselves or eat too much. Since food pacifies and calms, it may be misused to cope with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, boredom, anger, depression, rejection or betrayal. Normally many of us eat a little more if we are upset or lonely, but a person at risk of developing an eating disorder does not make use the usual means of dealing with inner conflicts. Instead of voicing out resentments, they would rather eat or starve. At times, the eating disorder becomes an escape from the pressures of life. However, seeds of anorexia do not only propagate in a tempestuous soil but may actually develop in what seems to be a tranquil environment. A girl who lives in a family wherein her own free will is ignored, her own decisions are taken for granted and her negative feelings are suppressed is more likely to suffer anorexia than a girl who lives in otherwise compassionate family. On the outside she seems to act in accordance with what her family wants but deep inside she is ‘in turmoil and feels that she has no control over her life’. Finding a way to free herself, ironically, ‘she focuses on the part of her life that she can control – her body’ (Awake! 1999). The Role of Dieting and Other Factors Anorexia and other eating disorders may not only be caused by emotional chaos. Some develop anorexia merely because ‘weight is a dominant issue in the family’ (Awake! 1999). Maybe a family member has weight problems or adopting a rigid diet; others may have a ridiculous attitude toward food or even fearful of it. Unfortunately, people, especially teens, try to follow a strict and dangerous diet to attain the unachievable ideal weight imposed by media or the society where they belong. In some cases anorexia is a flight from the duties of adulthood. Some do not want to grow up and face family responsibilities; thus they opt to self-induced starvation. Some studies suggest that genetic factors add to about 50 percent to the likelihood of developing an eating disorder and anorexia may be linked with clinical depression (Klump, Kaye, & Strober 2001; Wade, Bulik, Neale, & Kendler 2000). Not all anorexics fit these descriptions. However, it seems that all of them gain a feeling of strength by making out of themselves someone whom they can admire. Thinness becomes their pride and joy. An eating disorder will not go away on its own. While having knowledge of the probable causes of anorexia is not the full answer to overcoming it, such information can help one to break free. But what if it is not enough? Are there available solutions for treating Anorexia Nervosa? According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, ‘treating anorexia sufferers is difficult, because they believe there is nothing wrong with them’. Patients in the early stages of anorexia (less than 6 months or with just a small amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to be admitted to the hospital. But for successful treatment, patients must want to change and must have family and friends to help them. (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2009) A major step to recovery is to talk about the problem. Anorexics may find it helpful to confide in someone they trust such as a parent or another mature adult friend. It may also be necessary to ask for professional help, from someone who is experienced in treating anorexia. Those people with more serious anorexia need care in the hospital. Hospitalization, however, is not a guaranteed cure. It only develops into necessity when the person becomes malnourished from severe anorexia. After gaining some recovery, the next action involves changing the person's eating habits and counseling, focusing primarily on correcting or altering the feelings that are causing their eating problems. The American Academy of Family Physicians added: Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that makes them feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used along with counseling. (2009) Antidepressants are prescribed to care for the associated anxiety and depression. It is not easy to isolate a single treatment for anorexia sufferers. Some experts advocate medication while others recommend psychotherapy. Others say that medication combined with psychotherapy is most efficient. In view of the fact that anorexia ‘thrive in a climate of low self-worth’; specialists focus on evaluating the person’s emotional or psychological condition before recommending additional treatments. The most important phase of the recovery is that the anorexic should learn how survive without an eating disorder. This can be easier said than done. The anorexic should learn how to ‘recognize and express her feelings with words rather than through actions or food behaviors’; be innovative to find ‘new ways to face and resolve conflicts’. Undoubtedly, treatment and recovery from Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorder is challenging, but eventually ‘worth the effort’. (Awake! 1999) References American Academy of Family Physicians. (2009). What is anorexia nervosa? Retrieved March 22, 2009, from http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/eating/063.html. Bruch, Hilde. (1978). The golden cage: The enigma of anorexia nervosa. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Klump KL, Kaye WH, Strober M (2001) The evolving genetic foundations of eating disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am, 24 (2), 215-25. Reddy, Vinay N. (2008). Anorexia nervosa. Retrieved March 22, 2009, from http://www.drreddy.com/eatingdisorders/anorexia.html. Wade TD, Bulik CM, Neale M, Kendler KS. (2000) Anorexia nervosa and major depression: shared genetic and environmental risk factors. Am J Psychiatry, 157 (3), 469-71. Retrieved March 22, 2009, from http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Anorexia_Nervosa_and_Major_Depression__Shared_Genetic.pdf. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. (1999). What causes eating disorders? Awake! January 22, 1999 Issue, 6 – 9. Retrieved March 22, 2009, from http://www.watchtower.org/e/19990122/article_03.htm. Read More