Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all mental disorders. Without treatment, up to 20% of people with serious eating disorders die. But people with anorexia do not want to change. They don’t want help. They don’t want to eat. So, how do you change the behaviour of a person who does not want any help? Well, let’s find out in this episode of What Monkeys Do.
In this episode, I speak with Mette Bentz, a psychologist and PhD, who works in the child and adolescent mental health centre in the capital region of Denmark. She is a specialist in the treatment of anorexia. She will help us understand the severity of the illness, what to look for and how we treat it best.
Mette will talk about:
- The symptoms of anorexia: What to look for
- How does Social Media impact the development of anorexia?
- How we treat anorexia: What you can do to help?
- The role as a parent and influential role models
Are you too busy? Here are the Key Points:
#1 We can help people change, even if they really do not want to. People with anorexia are suffering from significant weight loss, and if they don’t get the help they need, they will continue to lose weight until their body stops functioning. It is a serious mental illness. But it is possible to help them – even if they do not want to.
#2 We can learn a lot from family-based treatment; having support from people who love you and in whom you trust is critical. Typically, in the case of anorexia, it is the parents who are to fulfil that role. Moreover, getting treatment in your existing environment will help you break the illness in the long run.
#3 Let go of the black-and-white thinking and separate objective and subjective reality. Feelings are not reality. We know very little about the causes of anorexia, the exact role of genetics, the environment, and which factors play an important role. But we do know a lot about how to help the individual. However, to help, we need to separate our subjective reality from the objective one.
Curious for more? Here are the links I promised
- Mette Bentz on LinkedIn
- Mette Bentz on Twitter
- Research conducted by Mette Bentz
- Episode 6 of What Monkeys Do with Judy Grisel on addiction
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