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Eating disorder
Eating too much or too little at every meal over a long period is a pathological eating disorder, which is mostly related to emotions and personal self-image. Eating disorders are often accompanied by other emotional disorders, such as depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Moreover, if they are not properly treated, they can lead to malnutrition and heart disease, and the risk of death is also higher than that of others.
There are three main categories of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.
Causes:
Eating disorders have complex causes. Some are due to low self-esteem, coupled with society's strict definition of a standard body type, which disrupts eating habits. In addition, long-term depression and unhappiness can also lead to release through extreme eating habits.
Anorexia nervosa
- Refusal to eat or only willingness to eat small amounts of food, or even using methods such as choking or taking laxatives after meals to lose weight.
- 15% lighter than normal weight, yet still feels overweight and frequently weighs themselves.
- Due to prolonged hunger and malnutrition, hair and nails become brittle, skin becomes dry and yellow, anemia, osteoporosis, constipation, cold hands and feet, menstrual disorders, and depression may occur.
Bulimia nervosa
- Uncontrollable overeating, often wolfing down food until the stomach is overloaded or one feels sleepy.
- To avoid becoming overweight and eating more food, I frequently take laxatives and inhale through nitroglycerin after meals, but I feel ashamed of doing so.
Most patients have a normal body type, but a small number are overweight.
- Frequent vomiting has led to chronic throat inflammation, tooth damage from stomach acid erosion, and frequent acid reflux.
Binge eating disorder
- Uncontrolled binge eating, frequently consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time.
Unlike people with bulimia nervosa, people with binge eating disorder do not use any methods to lose weight or eliminate food.
- Most patients are overweight or even obese, and have a very high chance of developing cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases.
treatment:
The condition can be improved through weight changes, medication, and psychotherapy.
- Weight Change: Assisting patients in regaining/losing weight to a normal level and re-establishing normal eating habits.
- Medication: To relieve depressive mood and reduce the use of anorexia or binge eating to release emotions.
- Psychotherapy: Since eating disorders are mostly related to emotional and self-image issues, psychotherapy can be used to dismantle and correct the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that trigger abnormal eating, and rebuild healthy eating patterns.
Sleep disorders
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorder
- Excessive sleep
- Insomnia
- Sleepiness
- Sleep apnea
- Restless leg syndrome
- Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (REM sleep behavior disorder)
- Abnormal sleep disorder:
Sleep problems can be numerous, and when sleep fails, the body and mind cannot get the ideal rest, which can lead to a variety of problems.
Sleep problems:
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorder: Sleep onset and wake-up times deviate from the day-night rhythm, i.e., yawning frequently during the day but unable to sleep at night. The most common example is jet lag.
- Excessive sleep: Sleeping for too long, even if you get enough sleep at night, and frequently falling asleep during the day.
- Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or insufficient sleep duration
- Narcolepsy: Sudden onset of sleep and physical relaxation within a short period of time, often accompanied by hallucinations.
- Sleep apnea: Brief but frequent episodes of suffocation that occur during sleep due to relaxation of the tracheal muscles.
- Restless leg syndrome: When resting or lying down, the feet experience discomfort such as pain, itching, burning, or a crawling sensation, which can only be relieved by constantly moving the feet.
- REM sleep behavior disorder: Performing actions during sleep that occur in dreams, potentially leading to self-harm or injury to one's bed partner.
- Abnormal sleep disorders: such as sleepwalking, nightmares
Causes:
- Lifestyle habits: Drinking coffee, alcohol, and smoking can all affect sleep quality.
- Medications: Many medications can induce drowsiness, while others can cause daytime fatigue.
- Mood: Insomnia is a common symptom of depression and anxiety.
- Physiological factors: Excessive relaxation of the soft tissues in the upper respiratory tract can lead to sleep apnea; and those with heart or lung problems may also experience difficulty breathing when lying down, affecting their sleep.
treatment:
- Improve lifestyle habits: Establish good sleep habits; quit smoking and drinking; exercise in the morning.
- Medication: Sleeping pills only provide temporary relief and may cause dependence; they should be taken as directed by a doctor. If a diagnosis confirms that the sleep problem is caused by a mood disorder, relevant medications such as antidepressants may be taken.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: Assisting patients in identifying their troubling emotions and thoughts about sleep, uncovering the fallacies within them, and using behavioral methods to improve insomnia.