Anorexia in Teens: Care Instructions

Anorexia is a type of eating disorder. People who have anorexia usually have a very low body weight because of an intense fear of gaining weight. They may not eat enough food because of this fear. Some people make themselves vomit to avoid weight gain. Sometimes they exercise too much. They may have a false belief about how they look (distorted body image). And they may not realize how serious their low body weight is.

When you have anorexia, your body can't get the nutrition it needs. If it isn't treated, this condition can lead to serious health problems, starvation, and even death. Treatment includes counseling. A counselor can help you change how you think about food and the way you see your body. Treatment also includes working with a doctor and a dietitian. Some people need treatment in a hospital. It may take months or years, but you can recover from anorexia.

Here are some things you can do to take care of yourself during recovery from an eating disorder.

• Try to stick to your treatment plan. Go to any counseling sessions you have. If you can't go, or if you don't think the sessions are helping, talk to your counselor about it. And take any medicines you've been prescribed exactly as directed.
• Work on healthy eating habits. Listen to what your counselor and dietitian say about healthy eating. You can work with them to make a plan to eat a variety of healthy foods.
• Learn healthy ways to deal with stress. Managing stress is important in recovery. Find what works for you. You could try things like journaling, volunteering, reading, or meditating.
• Wear clothes that fit your body now, just as it is. When you look in the mirror, try to find things you like about yourself instead of focusing on what you don't like.
• Get support from others. This might be from caring family members or friends or an eating disorders support group.
• Take it easy on yourself. Focus on your good qualities. Don't blame yourself for your disorder. And remember that recovery takes time and that you can make progress one goal at a time.