2. Disclaimer
• This a project for a high school AP Psychology
course. This is a fictionalized account of having
a psychological ailment. For questions about
this blog project or its content please email the
teacher, Laura Astorian:
laura.astorian@cobbk12.org
3. Anorexia Nervosa
• What is Anorexia Nervosa?
• According to Mayo Clinic, Anorexia nervosa is
an eating disorder characterized by an
abnormally low body weight, intense fear of
gaining weight and a distorted perception of
body weight
4. Diagnostic criteria for
anorexia
• Restricting food intake
• Eating less than needed to maintain body
weight
• Fear of gaining weight
• Intense fear of gaining weight persistent
behaviors that interferes with weight gain
• Problems with body image
• Denial of having a severely low body weight and
having a distorted view of one’s body
5. How it began…
When I was ten, I was not concerned about my
weight until I started to notice how skinny my
friends were. These thoughts about being skinny
like my friends soon became an obsession. I
began to feel fat and overweight every time I ate
and soon I just stopped eating.
7. How I felt…
At first, my intentions were good, I
just wanted to look skinny and
normal like everyone else around
me; however, soon, becoming
skinny became an obsession.
Instead of dieting, I just stopped
eating. No matter how many
pounds I lost, I still looked fat. I was
constantly worried about what
others might think of me, and I also
compared myself to the skinniest
girl thinking that she must think I
am huge.
8. How I felt…
My parents were the first to notice my
destructive habits. They asked me if I needed
help and begged me to tell them what was going
on. I told them that I was fine and that I was just
on a “diet.” As I began to lose weight, I didn’t
feel any better, instead I felt like all my energy
had been sapped out of my body. I felt
depressed, and I refused to hang out with my
friends because I feared about them judging me.
9. The Signs
It was not until my
parents found me
unconscious on the floor
that they decided to take
me to the hospital.
Because I was
malnourished and weak, I
ended up fainting.
13. Tests and Diagnosis
• Tests and diagnosis must be conducted
in order to rule out any other medical
causes of the weight loss and other
related illnesses or complications
14. Tests and Diagnosis
• Physical exam
• Measuring height,
weight, heart rate,
blood pressure,
and etc.
• Lab Tests
• Complete blood
count, urinalysis
and etc.
15. Tests and Diagnosis
• Psychological
evaluation
• Completion o
psychological self-
assessment
questionnaire and
sessions with
doctor
• Other studies
• X-rays,
electrocardiograms,
and etc.
16. Treatment
• Medical treatment
• Medical treatment
was necessary after
being diagnosed with
heart problems that
were caused by
anorexia
• Appointments with
the doctor were
scheduled frequently
in order to check my
weight and health
• Nutritional counseling
• I had a registered
dietician help me gain
weight in a healthy
way without
overwhelming my
body
• I was taught healthy
eating patterns and
gained understanding
about nutrition
18. Treatment
• The main reason that caused me to become
anorexic was they way I evaluated myself and
compared myself with others
• Therapy
• Talking with a psychologist help me cope with
the emotional reasons behind my illness
• Helped me change the way I thought about
myself and encouraged me to change my life
