This is 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 Chris Jocham: jocham@fultonschools.org

1. Anorexia Nervosa

2. What is Anorexia Nervosa? An eating disorder in which a normal- weight person diets and becomes significantly underweight, yet, still feeling fat, continues to starve.

3. What influences Anorexia Nervosa? Pressure to be skinny Peer pressure Typical gender roles

4. Symptoms of being Anorexic Caused by being starved Severely below your average weight

5. Other symptoms Unusual eating habits Social withdrawal Mood swings Fatigue Depression

6. How popular is the disorder 1 in every 100 people in the United States are diagnosed with this disorder. Over 1,000 die each year from being victim of anorexia. Millions and millions of people worldwide are also diagnosed.

7. Does this affect certain groups or genders? Mainly people who cant deal with the social issues of peers or society Young teenage girls are most affected

8. How can you be sure if your anorexic? The only way to be sure you are anorexic is to be examined by a psychiatrist or a doctor. They can determine whether you have the disorder or not

9. How can you tell if your experiencing this? You will be extremely skinner and weak It is painful yet you still have no urge to eat It can be so painful because in reality you are actually slowly dying from starvation.

10. What treatments are for anorexia? Cognitive- Behavioral therapy Other types of psychotherapy would world as well. The goal is to cure the disorder mentally then the physical issues will follow.

11. Daily life with Anorexia Nervosa I eat rarely and go to the gym everyday. I starve myself and work out because of my physical experience. I am not happy with the way I look.

12. Main Pressures When I go to school it is the most pressure. I try to wear larger clothes than I need to try and make me look smaller. I feel people talk behind my back and comment about my physical appearance constantly.

13. Early Life It all started as a young child. I was actually was qualified as overweight, but in a healthy way. One day in elementary school I walked by a group of girls and they chuckled. I couldn’t understand why but I heard them say something about being fat. From that point on I promised never to be fat again.

14. Motivation My main motivation for keeping my extremely small physical appearance is watching weight watchers. Those people look so fat and un happy that it makes me feel better about myself. Also when I see them strive for a goal in weight, it makes me believe I can too.

15. Daily scenarios Having this disorder makes it tough for me to be involved in activities in school. Ive always wanted to join the football team but I know the risk of injury is very very high.

16. Schoolwork When I go I can rarely ever focus. I am exhausted and very weak. It is hard for me to pay attention and keep my focus in learning a new subject. I have no energy to keep me awake.

17. My Mental State When I go to my room, my house, and the school bathroom and see an image of myself, I begin to criticize myself. What seems like a little voice talking in my head says how I am a failure and cant amount to anything. It just puts my self esteem lower and makes me feel like a failure.

18. My Doctor I went to my doctor last week and he said that I had been fighting my disorder very well. He just says to ignore the voice in my head and stay positive. Once the mental issue is taken care of, the physical appearance will follow.

19. My status now I feel im making good progress but I still have a long way to go. I need to work on my eating habits and need to handle the social issues that surround me. Things are looking up with summer around the corner and I can work on my disorder.

20. THE END