Anorexia Nervosa: A Survival Guide for Families, Friends and Sufferers

by Janet Treasure

When anorexia nervosa strikes an individual and her family, everyone is thrown into confusion by the mixture of emotions that emerge. One of the strongest is fear. The fear arises partially because so much is unknown. What has caused this to happen? What will happen now? What can we do about it? This book is an attempt to answer some of these questions. Unusually for a book on anorexia nervosa, this book includes sections for parents and other carers alongside a section for the sufferer herself. So often books have been written which only give one perspective. In her work with patients and families Janet Treasure has tried to ensure that family and professionals collaborate and co-operate in order to overcome the power of the illness. Many families have used and commented on various versions of this book, and have helped to form its content. Experiences and problems have been shared, and solutions generated. Anorexia nervosa is a difficult illness to experience and write about because it spans such an extreme range of severity and it can also develop in childhood and adulthood. Nevertheless, there is much common ground throughout the range. Readers are therefore encouraged to use this book as a tool box rather than a new engine and to ask the questions, 'Is this part relevant for me?', 'Can I use it?', 'Shall I try it?', rather than trying to fit it all into place and expecting it to run smoothly.

Genres: Mental Health, Nonfiction, Psychology

172 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

Reviews

[Di Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

anorexia nervosa isn't only about food. it's a lot more complicated than that.
a.n. is a very serious disease with a lot of gruesome short & long term effects and the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder.
the long-term prognosis of anorexia nervosa is changeable: a fifth of patients stay severely ill, another fifth of patients recover fully and three fifths of patients have a fluctuating and chronic course. recovery can be lifelong for some, but, it's possible.
this book helps you to understand - and in doing so it might help you to help yourself and your loved ones.
it's split into three different sections:
the first tells you about the history and the social and cultural context of the disease; the second part is "for carers" (friends, parents, teachers,..), the third for "sufferers".
it really gives you a broad overview and a lot of information in an easy accessible tone.
there's hope.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un buen libro en el sentido de que lejos de ser de autoayuda, proporciona todas las perspectivas (paciente, personas del entorno y profesionales de la salud). Contiene numerosas referencias a otros libros y textos cient��ficos y un cap��tulo sobre complicaciones f��sicas en el que se advierte del contenido t��cnico (aunque luego no es para tanto).



Es deficiente en el sentido de que al ser tan corto (apenas 180 p��ginas), ha de limitarse al an��lisis del caso medio del paciente de anorexia nerviosa, mujer y menor de 18 a��os, con lo que numerosos lectores no encontrar��n del todo el reflejo necesario, sobre todo en los cap��tulos dedicados a los miembros del entorno del paciente. Los cap��tulos dedicados al paciente aunque est��n enfocados a ese rango de edad, contienen todos los elementos comunes necesarios.