Anorexia Treatment and Therapy

Anorexia (full name anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder where the sufferer becomes obsessed with losing weight. If you are anorexic you may have a fear of becoming fat or an overwhelming desire to be thin - starving yourself to keep your weight down. This can have a serious impact on your physical and mental health, and can be distressing for family and friends.

The causes of anorexia are unknown, but it can be triggered by traumatic events, including depression, abuse, stress, or a bereavement. The disorder is more common in women than in men, and tends to start in teenage years or early twenties.

Over time, depriving your body of essential fuel and nutrients can affect major organs such as the liver. In severe cases, anorexia can lead to death. However, it is possible to fully recover from anorexia - or at least live free of the debilitating symptoms of anorexia.

The Causeway Retreat offers an innovative psychological approach to combating eating disorders. Based on our own private island, anorexia treatment takes place in a tranquil, therapeutic and healing environment that encourages lasting recovery.

Signs & Symptoms of Anorexia

People with anorexia nervosa may have a distorted body image. For example, they may feel that they are too fat, or that they are not thin enough. General psychological and behavioural symptoms of anorexia include:

Eating very little,
Feeling happiness is intimately connected to weight,
Constantly thinking about body weight and feeling too fat,
Obsessing about calories and fat content in food,
Deliberately vomiting after eating,
Exercising to an excessive degree,
Avoiding eating with other people,
Following strict diets,
Skipping meals regularly.

Anorexia symptoms can also be physical, including:

Stomach pain, or feeling bloated,
Swelling in the feet and hands,
Feelings of dizziness or feeling faint,
Fatigue and low energy,
Unexplained aches and chest pains,
Changes to hair, skin and nails,
Poor circulation and irregular heartbeat,
Erratic or stopped menstrual cycle in women,
Damaged enamel on teeth (due to vomiting).

Anorexia can trigger periods of depression, or obsessive compulsive disorder. In fact, studies show that around 60% of people with anorexia also have depression - which may include symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, loneliness and tearfulness.

Treating Anorexia at The Causeway Retreat

If you're anorexic, the hardest step to take is admitting that you have a problem. Once you've made that crucial step, you can begin your path to anorexia recovery.

The Causeway Retreat provides a unique environment for anorexia treatment. Our private island has a resident chef and live-in therapists with addiction-based training. All clients have their own accommodation.

This means that we're able to blend orthodox medical, dietary and nutritional advice with individual menu selection, supervised eating or informal dining arrangements. We're also able to admit male clients, a group most traditional anorexia clinics struggle to provide for.

For safety reasons and to create a fully personalised programme, clients requesting anorexia treatment will undergo a preliminary outpatient assessment and physical examination, including blood tests, electrocardiograph and weighing.

The Causeway Retreat is private, luxurious and, above all, discreet. To find out more about anorexia treatment or to arrange a programme get in touch with us today.