Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by excessive fear of gaining weight.  The fear drives the sufferer to do whatever they can, no matter how extreme, to keep the weight off.  The catch here is that their distorted view of their body prevents them from ever losing enough weight.

Doctors don’t know what causes anorexia nervosa.  Lately the increase in the prevalence of the condition has been blamed on society’s image of beauty.  When young girls (and boys), see the beautiful bodies of models gracing the covers of magazines and the movie screen, their own inadequacies about their body surface.
Family dynamics have also been seen as a cause.  In families where communication is poor and affection withheld, kids may seek to find control, the control is the food that they eat.  Having high expectations that put undue pressure on the child can also lead to eating disorders.

Anorexics may begin with a diet but it doesn’t end there.  The obsession with their weight spurs them on to eat fewer and fewer meals.  They stop their hunger by drinking water or exercising more.  Even when the numbers on the scale drop, their lack of self-esteem won’t let them stop.

Because of their perceived problem, they may shy away from social gatherings, especially those that involve food.  In school, they may separate from their friends as the condition takes over their lives.  Any excuse is used to keep them out of family functions.

Over time the person with anorexia nervosa changes in appearance.  They may wear big clothes to hide the weight loss but if you maintain physical contact with your child you will sense the changes.  Their bodies are frail and emaciated.  The natural puberty cycle is often stunted in their bodies.  For girls, menstrual periods stop or donít start at all.

Anorexics are headed for trouble.  With the lack of nutrition being given to their bodies, the cells get what they need wherever they can.  Bones become weak because cells are robbing calcium from the bones.  Lack of energy is a common symptom because there is no fat for fuel.  The organs will eventually begin to shut down.

All the while, the person suffering from anorexia nervosa is in denial.  They do not believe that they are doing anything wrong and are reluctant to talk about what is happening to them.  Depression sets in because no one understands them.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition.  The first step in curing it is to get help at the first sign that something is wrong.  In order to do that, communication between you and your child or other family member must be open and healthy.

Hello all!

We really hope you are enjoying our blog. We at Goddess strive to bring you the most full information about healthy living. Lately we have noticed trends and eating habits that are not healthy for anyone. It is a misconception to think only woman suffer from eating disorders. In today’s society the fight to stay on top comes from both the male and female counterparts. Bulimia, anorexia, depression these diseases do not pick the sexes they want to attack. Woman and men have different ways to deal with each situation, but please keep in mind we can all be affected!

For the next few articles we are going to talk about, Bulimia and Anorexia0 Nervosa and how they affect both female and males.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binging and purging of food.  Bulimics have a poor self-image and the disorder is an extension of that.  Women as well as men suffer from this type of eating disorder.

Bulimia nervosa can sometimes begin as a way to finally get off the roller coaster of dieting.  Many bulimics have dieted before but without sustained success.  They begin again, only this time, they take extreme measures to try to achieve their desired body image.

While bulimia affects mostly women in the United States, a fair percentage of men have also been identified as bulimic.  Bulimics are prone to compulsions.  When they eat, they do it in secret and are out of control.  They eat until they have stuffed as much food in themselves as they can.  The binging can be due to emotional stress within their peer group or at home.

After eating as much as they can, they will immediately vomit.  Vomiting may remove the evidence in their mind that they were ever out of control in the first place.  Even after normal meals they will excuse themselves and go to the bathroom where they force themselves to throw up.

You may notice that your son, daughter or friend is bulimic.  They may have been previously addicted to something else like drugs or alcohol.  Their weight will fluctuate but it doesn’t usually reach the low level of a person suffering from anorexia nervosa.

Hello guys!

Summer is around the corner, and for the next week Healthful Goddes is going to dedicate a segment “For The Body” with information about: Tai-Chi, Judo, Akido and Kickboxing!

The first article of “For the Body” is about Tai-Chi, the martial art considered to be a form of meditation. People practicing Tai Chi, also known as “players” learn to emphasize not only slow, deep breathing but rhythmic movements as well. This assists development of a focused and calm mind.

Tai Chi is an enjoyable activity for those of all ages and fitness levels. Each individual can practice the postures and movements in a manner relative to their own level of fitness, energy and state of mind. Each individual starts where they are, and learns at their own pace. It can be beneficial to the fittest athlete, the teenager and everyone in between. You may even find those in wheelchairs as part of a group practicing Tai Chi in the park near your home. You could take part even if you don’t think you could be coordinated or agile enough. These are all aspects you can learn at your own pace.

Traditional Chinese Medicine states that disease results from weak and impaired flow of qi (pronounced chee) through the meridians. There are fourteen main energy meridians which link internal organs and the entire physical body with the mind and emotional systems. These meridians arenít visible; however, you can detect them by the energy which moves through them. With the gentle movements of Tai Chi these energy channels are opened, thereby allowing the rhythm of the movements of the muscles, spine and joint to release energy through the body. This flushes out any stagnant qi, replacing it with fresh qi that is newly oxygenated.

The slow pace of Tai Chi provides the effect of performing a body scan to clear any place where there may be tension building up or stored. By releasing the grip of debris in both mind and body, we allow more space for positive aspects such as love and light to enter our lives. Aside from the meridians Tai Chi uses to work the internal organs, it also clears the joints of any potential debris in those areas, such as calcium deposits. This benefit is a result of the different movements requiring the body to rotate to about 95% of its ability. Tai Chiís health benefits are being quickly discovered in western medicine.
Health and life are simple reflections of our mind state. Body and breath move along with the mind. This encourages cleaning out any roadblocks which normally would keep us from moving forward. These roadblocks keep us locked in emotional and psychological patterns that arenít always healthy. The empowerment of “meditation in motion” can keep us in the train of thought that change itself is a constant in our lives, and new beginnings always follow closures.

Whenever stress and tension start taking their toll on health and well-being, it would be wise to look to those who have attained that level of harmony within the body.  Whether one is seeking to find that silence, relaxation and focus of thought, or if what is wanted is a gentle fitness program to increase flexibility and overall general health, Tai Chi would be an excellent place to start.

“A change is as good as a rest” can be true when it comes to anxiety disorders

Anxiety is a complex disorder.  It can take on many different forms, and the treatment that works for one person or one anxiety disorder may prove useless for another.

There are many different drugs, herbs, counseling programs, and alternative treatments that may be used to treat anxiety disorder, and sometimes it takes trial and error to find the best options.

But in many cases, changes in lifestyle can bring a great deal of relief from anxiety disorders, for a more balanced, stress free life.

Sources of Anxiety

Some elements of our lifestyles can be sources of anxiety in and of themselves.  Here are some tips to help turn them around:

* Avoid procrastinating.
This can be difficult for anxiety sufferers, because they often procrastinate to avoid situations that cause them anxiety. For example, they don’t complete a project because they think it isn’t going to be good enough, and actually end up in more trouble than if they had handed in even just an average project.
Naturally, procrastinating at work or school only adds more stress because it causes us to be rushed or face tight deadlines. Being rushed will ensure that the project is less than perfect, thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that it will all not be ‘good enough.’

Doing the things you dread most first will get them out of the way and eliminate a source of anxiety. Then they will become less dreadful, the more you feel like you are in control.

* Stay away from unnecessary stressors.
These may include a bad relationship, a job you dread going in to every day, or friends that take more than they give emotionally.  Take the steps necessary to fix these things, and know when enough is enough.  There are other jobs and potential friends and partners in the world.

Alternately, you might prefer to tackle them head on rather than simply leave. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. We all need a job to pay the bills, and you should not throw away a good relationship just because it is not perfect.

It might seem stressful to talk to your boss or partner about an issue you feel needs to be dealt with, but often your anxiety might be making it seem completely out of proportion to the reality of the situation.  If you think you are right and are being fair, and might have a solution to what you see as the problem, by all means get it off your chest in a calm way.

This may seem scary, but even small changes can lead to big differences in your life.

* Get away from it all.
Sometimes we just need a change of scenery.  Take a vacation if you can.  If not, go on a day trip, or just do something you enjoy that you haven’t done in a while.  A break from the norm can work wonders for our stress levels.

Contributors to Anxiety

Everyday activities, and some of the things we eat and drink, can affect anxiety for better or worse.  Here are some small changes that can make a big difference in your levels of anxiety, for a new and more peaceful you:

* Avoid caffeine as much as possible.
Caffeine is a stimulant, and it can exacerbate anxiety and panic attacks.

* Cut back on the sugar.
A sugar rush might make you feel good temporarily, but it can also contribute to anxiety.

* Eat healthily.
A nutritious diet helps our bodies and our brains function better.  This helps us handle stress more effectively. Choose lean, good quality protein like fish to help you feel full, avoid bingeing, and help you perform at your peak mentally and physically.

* Exercise regularly.
Working out keeps us fit, and it also gives us an outlet for stress and frustration.

* Get plenty of rest.
When we don’t get enough sleep, it’s easy to become agitated and stressed out.  A good night’s sleep of at least 8 hours of rest gives us the opportunity to recharge our batteries and leaves us better equipped to handle anxiety.

Excessive anxiety can affect every aspect of our lives.  But there are also certain things in our lives that can cause or worsen anxiety.  By making some changes, we can greatly reduce the amount of anxiety that we experience, and diminish or even defeat anxiety disorders.

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How therapeutic massage can help relieve stress and serve as an effective treatment for anxiety disorders.

Massage has been used for many centuries as part of medical treatment for a variety of health problems.  We all know how a good massage can help ease our tension after a long day at work.  So it makes sense that massage is now being used as a tool to treat anxiety, as we learn more about the connection between body and mind.

Massage therapy is best known for its physical benefits.  Regular massages are often prescribed for athletes who have been injured, patients with certain types of chronic pain, and those with repetitive stress injuries.

Massage is also a popular treatment choice for fibromyalgia patients.  Now more and more doctors are prescribing massage for anxiety and related problems due to the sense of well-being massage induces.

In most cases, massage is used in conjunction with other types of therapy rather than as a replacement for it.  It can complement anxiety drugs without any danger of interaction.

Massage is also a good choice for those who are unwilling to use drugs that could be addictive.  A combination of herbs, therapy and massage can be used to treat anxiety without potentially dangerous chemicals.

How Does Massage Reduce Anxiety?
One characteristic of anxiety is that it causes the muscles to tighten.  Tight muscles can cause pain or even injury.  If this occurs, it will contribute more anxiety to that which we are already experiencing.

Pain a vicious cycle, but one that can be broken.  Massage can loosen up those tight muscles, and that alone can help relieve anxiety in the short term.

Massage has also been found to reduce levels of stress hormones.  These hormones, over a long period of time, can have a negative effect on the body and mind, and are major contributors to anxiety in and of themselves.

It isn’t completely clear how massage lowers these hormone levels, but the important thing is that combined with the physical benefits comes a more positive frame of mind.

Regular massage can help keep stress hormone levels low, providing long-term anxiety relief without the need for harsh chemicals in the body.

Where to Get a Massage
Physicians usually recommend that their patients visit a licensed massage therapist.  A licensed therapist can determine which type of massage is best for you, and he will be experienced in providing beneficial massages.

But sometimes this just isn’t practical.  Your insurance may not cover it, you may get only limited coverage, or you simply might not have time to get regular massages.

There are some options for those who can’t visit a massage therapist.  One is to have someone you know give massages.  Your spouse might be willing to make a massage a part of your evening ritual before going to sleep, and it can even help bring you closer together as a couple as a bonus.

Massage chairs can be of benefit as well, though they can be expensive.

It’s also possible to massage yourself to a certain extent, such as hands, feet, legs, arms, even the small of your back.

While getting a massage from a professional is best, there’s little danger in trying it at home as long as you don’t have any medical conditions that counterindicate it, such as a bad back.

Although massage might not cure your anxiety on its own, it can go a long way toward helping you manage it naturally.  Talk to your doctor to see if massage therapy might be right for you to help lower your stress levels and help defeat your anxiety disorder.

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Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation, for example, a challenge in the office, studying harder for an exam, or keeping focused when delivering an important speech.

In general, a mild sense of anxiety can help one cope.

But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder.

Five major types of anxiety disorders are:

* Generalized Anxiety Disorder
* Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
* Panic Disorder
* Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
* Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)

Treatment

Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives.

In this topic area, we will discuss some of the common treatments for anxiety disorder.