Eating disorders affect millions of people worldwide and are increasing at an alarming rate, especially among young people. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 9 million people are diagnosed with eating disorders each year.. One of the most deadly of these diseases is Anorexia Nervosa.
Beste Hasırcı, Clinical Psychologist at Moodist Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital, emphasizes that anorexia is not just a nutritional problem, but a much deeper spiritual conflict in which the individual expresses their psychological pain through their body. Social media pressure, especially targeting young people in their developmental years, plays an important role in the spread of the disease.
Moodist Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital Clinical Psychologist Beste Hasırcı emphasizes that “Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological disorder in which a person refuses to eat due to fear of gaining weight, experiences serious weight loss and distortions in body perception. Hasırcı says, “In order to understand anorexia, it is necessary to look not only at eating behaviors but also at the underlying "It is also necessary to focus on emotions such as control, worthlessness, shame, stress, and the desire to be visible."
Eating Disorder is Not a Disease; It is a Symptom!
Clinical Psychologist Beste Hasırcı: “Eating disorder is not a disease but a is a symptomJust as fever is a sign of an underlying infection, anorexia is a signal through which an individual expresses their mental pain, he emphasizes.
The Desire to “Be a Filtered Body” is Becoming More Common!
Hasırcı: “The perception of the “perfect body” that is prominent especially on social media channels and other digital platforms where photos and videos are shared, creates a pressure on young people that deeply affects their self-perception. Constantly encountering filtered images causes individuals to evaluate themselves according to unrealistic standards. Social media triggers not only aesthetic concerns but also the individual’s need for self-control and acceptance. This can become oppressive on eating behaviors.”
Psychological Roots of Eating Disorders: Family, Trauma, and Internal Conflicts
Clinical Psychologist Beste Hasırcı; “Eating disorders are not only caused by social media; emotional neglect, controlling parental attitudes, critical family structure or experienced in childhood traumatic events "It is also related to deep psychological factors such as eating disorders, eating disorders, etc. Eating becomes an emotional coping tool for the individual, while the body becomes a battlefield in a sense." According to Hasırcı, one of the most important ways to understand eating disorders is to understand the signals given by the body,a language” is read as: “Sometimes not eating is not just about not eating. It can be a form of expression in which the individual expresses the chaos they experience in their emotional world.”
TREATMENT IS POSSIBLE: MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IS A MUST
Treatment for anorexia is not just about gaining weight or forcing the person to eat. emotional repair, reconstruction of self-perception and the individual develop healthy coping strategies targets.
Treatment protocol:
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist / Psychotherapy
- Dietitian / Nutritionist
- Internal Medicine Specialist / Endrocrinologist
- Family and Social Support
- Hospitalization when necessary
Beste Hasırcı said that the process requires patience, but With the right approach, recovery is definitely possible. emphasizes that.
