f power she did not anticipate when she first begun to lose weight. The final stage is the Pseudo Identity stage and this is when sooner of later, anorexia has completely taken over and become that person. It means that people now stop trying to fight with the victim, they are learning to accept that it is a disease. The fourth stage in not characterized by new behaviors, but rather by the anorexics new sense of power, of her own notoriety, which has marked a deepening conviction that she is on the right path (Levenkron 2000).The effects of anorexia nervosa are severe and sometimes irreversible. It can cause changes externally, internally, and psychologically. The external changes include obviously dramatic weight loss but also can include rotting teeth, receding gums, dry skin, fainting spells, hair loss, and growth of fine body hair on face and back. The internal changes include loss of menstrual cycle, infertility, headaches, swelling, loss of bone density, kidney infections, liver damage, constipation, diarrhea, extreme temperature sensitivity, cramps, poor circulation, dehydration, low blood pressure, slowed or irregular heart rate, bowel tumors, hypoglycemia, throat infections, and low blood sugar (Pirke & Ploog, 1984). Psychologically, the anorexic suffers with isolation from others, mood swings, insomnia, hyperactivity, low self esteem, fatigue, depression, self-hatred, electrolyte imbalance and loss of sexual desire. Treatment for anorexia usually begins before the victim may or may not decide that they are ready. Medically speaking, we cannot wait them out until they are ready for treatment because they will not only run out of pounds, but also the ability to survive (Levenkron 2000). Treatments for anorexia nervosa usually consists of nutritional therapy, individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy and family counseling. Teams made up of pediatricians, psychiatrists, social workers administer treatment. Some physic...
