Riley discusses her experience with anorexia nervosa, including how it began as a desire to be skinny like friends at age 10 and became an obsession, how she felt depressed and constantly worried about her appearance, and the physical symptoms like fainting that led to diagnosis. Her treatment included medical care for heart problems, nutritional counseling to gain weight healthily, and therapy to address the emotional factors and change her thought patterns.

1. Anorexia
Nervosa
Riley Gardner

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.

6. Anorexia Nervosa

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.

10. Noticing
• After noticing the
symptoms, my
mother had me go
get treated

11. Symptoms
• Extreme weight loss
• Thin appearance
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Dehydration
• Low blood pressure
• Intolerance to cold
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Absence of
menstruation
• Hair that thins, breaks
or falls out
• Osteoporosis
• Dry of yellow skin
• Constipation

12. Symptoms

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

17. Treatment
Medical treatment Nutritional counseling

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

19. Treatment

20. Bibliography
• http://fyinutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/7627630.jpg
• http://www.crystalinks.com/anorexia2.jpg
• http://www.psychguides.com/guides/using-amerihealth-for-anorexia-treatment/
• http://centralhealthclinic.com/anorexia-nervosa-treatment-with-therapy-phobic-
desensitization-and-liquid-diet/
• http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty_areas/eating_disorders/
• http://www.understandinganorexia.com/anorexia-treatment/
• http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Anorexia-nervosa.html
• https://www.google.com/search?q=getting+help+for+anorexia+nervosa&es

21. Bibliography
• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/anorexia/basics/definition/con-20033002
• http://prixray.com/Portals/0/Chest%20X-Ray%20Image.jpg
• http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1402083/images/o-BLOOD-TEST-
facebook.jpg
• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/anorexia/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20033002