Monthly Archives: February 2016

Eating Disorders

Posted by

0

Eating disorders are recognised by having an abnormal attitude towards food affecting their eating habits and behaviours.

Types of eating disorders:

  • anorexia nervosa – a person that tries to keep their weight as low as possible, whether this means by starving themselves or exercising excessively
  • bulimia – a person that goes through periods of binge eating but then feels guilty in themselves, so deliberately makes themselves sick or uses laxatives to control their weight
  • binge eating disorder – a person who feels obliged to overeat large amounts of food in a short space of time

Causes of an eating disorder:

  • having a family history of them
  • feeling pressured to be skinny, may be through society or a job
  • being criticised for your weight, body shape or eating habits
  • certain underlying characteristics – anxiety, low self-esteem, being a perfectionist
  • personal experiences – sexual or emotional abuse, bereavement, relationship problems
  • stressful situations

In 2015, a report by Beat estimated that more than 725,000 people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder. Around 1 in 250 women and 1 in 2000 men will experience anorexia at some point, and this condition usually  develops around the age of 16 or 17. Bulimia is two or three times more common than anorexia, where 90% of people who suffer are female, developing around the age of 18 or 19. Binge eating affects males and females equally, starting later in life between the ages of 30 and 40. It is estimated that this affects 5% of the adult population.

Insomnia

Posted by

0

Insomnia menas difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for the required time needed.

As a common problem, it affects around 1 in every 3 people in the UK, particularly in elderly people.

The common symptoms of it are:

  • difficulty to sleep
  • lying awake for long periods at night
  • waking up several times during the night
  • waking up earlier than you should be in the morning
  • not feeling refreshed when you get up
  • despite being tired, finding it hard to nap during the day
  • feeling tired and irritable during the day, affecting your concentration

Insomnia can affect people differently, it may come and go without causing any serious problems, however it can last for months and even years. Continuos insomnia can have a massive impact on the quality of someones life.

Although there is no official guidelines how how much sleep a person needs (because everybody is different), an average amount of sleep for an adult is considered to be between 7 and 9 hours a night.

Some cause of insomnia are:

  • anxiety and stress
  • a poor sleeping environment (uncomfortable bed, a bedroom that may be too light, noisy, hot or cold)
  • lifestyle factors (jet lag, night shift work, drinking alcohol or caffeine before going to sleep)
  • mental health conditions (depression or schizophrenia)
  • physical health conditions (heart problems, long-term pain)
  • certain medicines (some antidepressants, epilepsy medicine, steroid medication)

Possible solutions to help insomnia:

  • setting regular sleeping times and patterns
  • relaxing before going to bed (meditation, warm baths)
  • improving sleeping environment to avoid noise and light
  • avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, heavy meals and exercise right before bed
  • not watching TV or looking at any devices right before bed
  • avoid napping during the day
  • try and clear any worries from your mind
  • as a last resort, try sleeping tablets

 

Depression

Posted by

2

Depression is the feeling of being persistently sad and down for weeks and months.
Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms. These can range from feelings of sadness and anxiety, feeling very tearful and stressed, and losing interest in the things you used to enjoy. There can be physical symptoms too, such as tiredness, no appetite or sex drive, and muscle pains.
The seriousness of the symptoms can vary, at its mildest you may just feel persistently low but with severe depression can make you feel suicidal.
Depression sometimes starts by a trigger in your life. This can be from bereavement, losing  a job or even having a baby. Those who have a family history of depression are more likely to get it themselves, however it can arise for no reason.
Depression affects about 1 in 10 people, women are 70% more likely to experience it than men and the average age of who is affected is 32. Studies have also shown that 4% of children age 5 to 16 are depressed.

Anxiety

Posted by

0

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear.

Although everybody faces anxiety at some point in their life i.e. you may be worried for an interview or exam, some people find it harder to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can affect their daily life.
Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions:
  • Panic disorders
  • Phobias
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Social anxiety disorder

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious most days about a wide range of issues. Rather than being anxious about a specific event, people with GAD often find it difficult to relax about a lot situations.

GAD can cause both psychological and physical symptoms. These vary from person to person, but can include:

It is estimated that 5% of the UK population are affected by GAD. Slightly more women are affected than men, and the condition is more common in people from the ages of 35 to 59.