Lockdown took a heavy toll on many individuals' mental health, but research reveals that those who struggle with eating disorders experienced a worsening of their symptoms. A mother from Melbourne recounts her experience of feeling helpless as she watched her teenage daughter spiral out of control during this time, which she shares in her own words.
When her sons urgently summoned her, she hurried to her daughter's side and found her shivering and weeping, having attempted suicide. Despite having been optimistic and self-assured during the 112-day lockdown period without the usual structure, school, socializing, and physical activities, she had failed to recognize her daughter's deterioration, and their lives would never be the same again.
The insidious disease of anorexia nervosa had gained a grip on the woman as a result of the prolonged lockdowns that had severely impacted her mental health. The global pandemic and its associated fear, isolation, and loneliness had exacerbated the negative effects of social media and society's unhealthy message that being thin equates to being attractive, desirable, and worthy. The woman had become incredibly disheartened and overwhelmed with life's difficulties, compounded by a lack of positive experiences to anticipate, leading her to no longer want to live.
Mental Health Affecting Eating Patterns
The belief that an ambulance would quickly arrive to transport her child to the hospital in case of an emergency had always been comforting to the mother. However, on this night, the ambulance service was too overwhelmed due to the pandemic. Instead, two young police officers arrived at her home with guns at their hips, and it took three hours for them to convince her child to go to the hospital. Therefore, for the mother, the Covid lockdowns were an entirely different experience. While the rest of society was grieving over the pandemic, the mother was preoccupied with persuading her daughter to eat, not to harm herself, and to take her medicine.
While everyone else was confined to their homes for nearly the entire day, she had to frequently drive long distances to hospitals situated across the city. Although the 5km rule was not in effect, the "only one visitor per day" rule was strictly enforced. Therefore, the mother was the only person permitted to visit her daughter, who was struggling with anorexia nervosa. She alone bore witness as her daughter's eyes glazed over, and she attempted to run away. In an attempt to calm her child, the mother was accidentally struck in the eye by her flailing arm.
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a significantly reduced calorie intake and an intense fear of gaining weight, which often leads individuals to feel a sense of improvement in their self-image when they lose weight. Additionally, excessive exercise is often present. Although more frequently identified in adolescent females, anorexia can also affect men and women of different ages, as per Healthline.
Possible Symptoms of Anorexia
For 14 years, the mother has been feeding her child, but now the child asks her not to talk about food, look at her while she eats, or congratulate her when she finishes a meal. The mother, who had always made sure her child was well-fed, now watches as her child's body fights against starvation. With each day, her child's mood continues to dip lower and lower, and she becomes overwhelmed with sadness. Despite being aware that food is the cure for her condition, her child refuses to accept it.
The precise origin of anorexia nervosa remains uncertain. However, those who develop anorexia may possess a distorted perception of their body and may strive for perfection. They may also be seeking ways to manage and control their lives. Additional factors such as biology, environment, and psychology are also considered to contribute to the development of this disorder.
Anorexia nervosa may be influenced by genetics and hormones, as research has shown. There is also some evidence suggesting a connection between serotonin, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain, and anorexia. Additionally, societal pressure to conform to thinness can also play a role in the development of this disorder. Unrealistic depictions of idealized body types in media outlets like magazines and television can have a strong impact on young individuals and contribute to their desire for thinness. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be more prone to maintaining the rigorous diet and exercise patterns common in anorexia nervosa, as OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsions.
Diagnosis and Treatment
They are filled with inner conflict and affliction. Towards the end of the lockdown, the doctors sent them to the seaside to recover. However, even in a town that they were accustomed to after years of visiting, everything was unusual. The beach was deserted, the café was closed, and the grocery store had a new owner. The town's inhabitants, who were afraid of catching the virus or becoming a carrier and infecting others in a town of only 200 people, adhered strictly to the lockdown regulations.
They wore masks firmly attached to their faces and kept a safe distance from each other and the author and her daughter on the streets and the sand. During their convalescence at the seaside, the family faced unexpected challenges when a fierce storm hit the area, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Trees were uprooted, rubbish and seaweed littered the streets and beach, and the town was left without electricity and running water, as reported by News.au.com.
The once-familiar town now had a post-apocalyptic feel, with empty streets and a constant drizzle of rain. The family had to make do with limited supplies of food and water, and without a way to cook, their situation was dire. They huddled together in their rented house, eating apples, and rice cakes with peanut butter, and drinking from pre-filled water bottles, hoping to ride out the storm and its aftermath. The mother even considered leaving and searching for other people, but they stayed put, relying on each other for comfort and support.
RELATED ARTICLE: Women with Anorexia Nervosa Are 5 Times More Likely to Give Birth to Underweight Babies [Research Study]
Check out more news and information on Anorexia Nervosa on Science Times.
