Difficult process
A common belief is that gaining weight is much easier, as opposed to losing unnecessary kilograms. Treatment of eating disorders, especially anorexia, however, is not a simple or short-lived process. Therapy of this spectrum of disorders is associated not only with gaining weight, but also with changing her attitude to food and dealing with emotions that arise in connection with thoughts about increasing weight. People suffering from anorexia in the treatment process can feel anxiety and restlessness associated with the change – choosing a completely new diet.
Long-term therapy
In the treatment process outside hospital conditions, it is assumed that the weekly weight gain of a patient suffering from anorexia should be 0,5 kilograms within a week. In practice, however, these values are often much smaller, most often of the order 0,3 kilograms during the week. One of the most important aspects of treatment is showing the patient support. The increase in weight, which may seem insignificant to a healthy person, is a huge change for those suffering from anorexia, which is sometimes difficult to accept and not easy to accept. It should therefore support and praise any weight gain, which prevents a reduction in the patient’s involvement in the treatment process.
Stabilize your weight
In the process of weight gain even in one day, they can occur weight fluctuations – it can increase by as much as 1-2 kilograms. The most important thing, however, is to keep it. This result is evidenced by the same measurement value obtained at the same time each day under the same conditionsfor example in the morning before eating your first meal.
The weight gain process takes several months until the weight stabilizes. The experience of many therapists shows that in order to gain 0,5 kg in a week, one should eat about 500 calories more per day than is needed to stabilize the weight.
Change of emotions
As mentioned, the treatment of eating disorders does not only focus on weight gain, but focuses on both changed emotions and beliefs female patients. It is important for the sick person to understand the role of the eating disorder for them. Very often, the symptoms of anorexia are used to deal with many emotions. In the treatment process, patients learnrecognize emotions, react to them and discharge them in a more adequate way than by not eating or overeating, followed by purging. Therefore, not only balancing the weight, i.e. stabilizing it, is important. It is also about health emotional stabilization – balanced, cheerful mood, but also allowing oneself to feel and express negative emotions, such as anger or sadness, in combination with their acceptance and an adequate way of expressing them (not threatening oneself and people from the environment).