Debra Dalton Stein, MFT

Ten Warning Signs of Anorexia Nervosa

• Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss
• Intense, persistent fear of gaining weight
• Refusal to eat or highly restrictive eating
• Continuous dieting
• Excessive facial/body hair because of inadequate protein in the diet
• Compulsive exercise
• Abnormal weight loss
• Sensitivity to cold
• Absent or irregular menstruation
• Hair loss

Click to go to Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms Explained at www.anad.org (National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders).

Seven symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa

• Preoccupation with food
• Binge eating, usually in secret
• Vomiting after bingeing
• Abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills
• Denial of hunger or drugs to induce vomiting
• Compulsive exercise
• Broken blood vessels in the eyes

Click to go to Bulimia Nervosa Symptoms Explained at www.anad.org (National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders).

Binge Eating Disorder

This disorder is often referred to as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING, and it is typically characterized by a person eating a larger amount of food than would normally be eaten under the circumstances within at least a 2 hour period of time. Such compulsive eating is accompanied by feelings of physical discomfort and emotional distress. This behavior occurs at least 2 times per week for 6 months. There is no purging associated with Binge Eating Disorder.

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are extreme unrelenting worry and fear, and are different from general everyday anxiety. Anxiety disorders include panic or anxiety attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and more.

Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It’s feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time.