Anorexia nervosa is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric condition in young women. It is estimated that 1%-2% of women suffer from anorexia, and between 5%-20% of those sufferers will die!
The longer the condition continues, the more the probability of death will increases within that range. As such anorexia has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition and affects three times as many people as AIDS or schizophrenia.
The mainstream approach is based around clinics where the therapeutic interventions are mainly behavioral – focusing on changing eating routines, food choices, portion size, or the feelings surrounding food, rather than their feelings about themselves.
A low self-esteem is a big contributor to anorexia nervosa as only people with a low self-esteem would embark on such a self destructive journey. Consequently, within Cognitive Hypnotherapy, this is where the client and I will start our work. Food, diet, eating behaviours etc are all addressed later because, until the client starts to feel better about themselves, very little will change.
And it can be so nice to find out at last that you are your best friend.