Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological disorder, and considered to be a medical condition. Like all other medical conditions, there are criteria that must be met in order for an individual to receive this diagnosis. This particular condition has three criteria that must be met: “restricted net intake of nourishment, leading to significantly low body weight; intense fear of gaining weight, even though significantly underweight; disturbed body perceptions, undue influence if weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent denial of the seriousness of the current low weight” (Comer, 2014, p. 266).
Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa is a very similar disorder to Anorexia Nervosa, and can often show many of the same …show more content…
A large component of these factors is the actual make up of the individuals genes, their biological predisposition. Part of this is comorbidity of other mental health disorders like depression or anxiety. Personality type is one of the things humans inherit. Most individuals with eating disorders are type A personalities; where they like everything to be perfect and want to be in complete control. Carrie appears to be type A personality. She is and has always been a straight A student, graduating high school with a 3.96 GPA. Her need for control and order is evidenced in her planning out meals for each day, and becoming anxious if she has to deviate from this for any reason. In an attempt to feel power in control she refuses to give in to the feeling of hunger, viewing it as a sign of …show more content…
The environment that Carrie grew up in is probably one of the largest contributors psychologically. She was under a lot of pressure to please her father and to feel like he was proud of her. Carrie mentions how she can never do enough to make him proud of her, regardless of what she does. Both of Carrie’s parents have placed their appearances as a pretty high priority, always trying to be viewed as the perfect family.
Carrie learned at a very young age through her participation in figure skating for 14 years that what you looked like was important. Much emphasis was placed on looking good and maintaining the right kind of body in this sport. One specific example of the pressure is when Carrie was in 3rd grade. She was caught eating potato chips that her mother scolded her, telling her she was not naturally thin and she would have to be careful about what she ate if she wanted to continue figure skating. Later, when she was 14, her coach told her that she was beginning to be too chubby. He suggested that her mother take Carrie to a dietician, and she was then placed on a strict diet with close monitoring and planning. Due to this lifestyle change, Carrie lost about 15 pounds, and received many compliments on her changed looks. This was when Carrie discovered the strength she was able to feel by being able to lose weight. These habits have carried over into her