www.womanthismonth.com May 2017 LIFESTYLE | wellbeing 45 ANXIETY DISORDERS We’ve all been through it – a pounding heart, rapid breathing, and the anticipation of doom. Some degree of anxiety is normal, but such feelings can become out of hand. If constant feelings of dread interfere with regular life, a mental health specialist should be consulted. The term ‘anxiety disorder’ encompasses generalised anxiety disorder (excessive worrying about everything for a period of more than six months), panic disorder and panic attacks, agoraphobia (fear of closed spaces), social phobia and others. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses worldwide, with women twice as likely to be diagnosed as men. The condition is characterised by feelings of fear, panic and uneasiness, as well as a sense of apprehension and irritability. “These are associated with physical signs and symptoms including muscle aches, fatigue, palpitations or a sensation of a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath and a dry mouth,” says Dr Gardenia. “The physical symptoms of anxiety often make patients believe they have a physical condition, making them less likely to seek psychiatric help and delay treatment.” Severe anxiety issues, which can be accompanied by depression and substance abuse, should be addressed with medication and/or psychotherapy. If ignored, the problem usually worsens, leading to other anxiety disorders. EATING DISORDERS Bulimia, anorexia and binge eating are mental illnesses stemming from eating too much or too little, causing grave mental and physical problems. Middle-aged women can fall prey to eating disorders, too, and often suffer without help. Victims of anorexia nervosa suffer from a distorted body image and an obsessive fear of being overweight, when in reality they are grossly underweight. Complications brought on by extreme dieting and the resulting malnutrition include physical and psychological malfunctions. In bulimia, patients resort to binge eating and then purge the food out through vomiting or overdoing laxatives and enemas or fasting. Frequent cycles of binge eating and purging stresses the body, which results in serious repercussions, including death. Binge eating is compulsive eating without the purging that is typical of bulimia. Consuming thousands of calories in one sitting makes the sufferer feel pangs of deep guilt, low self-esteem and disgust, which leads to the vicious cycle of more binges and unhealthy emotions. “Eating disorders are treatable conditions that most often start during adolescence. The sooner an eating disorder is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chances of recovery. It is important to bear in mind that eating disorders very often change over time so a patient who primarily presented with anorexia and restricted their food intake can transition to become a binge eater,” notes our expert. Eating disorders, if left untreated, can be deadly. Dr Gardenia says: “It is important to prevent these disorders by spreading awareness. Society needs to reduce pressures, especially on women, to be thin. Young girls must be taught to accept different body sizes and place more emphasis on personality than on appearance.” There is no single cause of eating disorders. They could be due to intense stress, grieving, childhood experiences, genetics and self-esteem issues. The road to recovery starts by recognising the problem and choosing to seek help to overcome it.
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