Anorexia - The Deadly Truth
It took great courage for Nelia to allow photos to be taken of her without clothes and to be exposed to friends, family and the community to see the truth of her condition. Fearing death she felt this was the only course of action left to her.
I became aware of the tragic case of local resident Nelia when Tomorrow Magazine received a heart-breaking plea from her sister-in-law. Fearing Nelia was about to die, Zenrika felt powerless to help with her psychological condition and so set up a fundraising campaign to get her the help she needed to save her life.
South African born Nelia, who has lived in the Algarve for 22 years, is suffering from Anorexia Nervosa. Zenrika tells us; “We are really worried and in fact at this stage, we are afraid for her life.”
Nelia is 46 years old and has been battling Anorexia for many years. She is, sadly, not managing to beat this monster. Amidst her battle with Anorexia, however, Nelia still shows zest and creativity. On a good day, she takes care to dress theme-related, still going to the Africa Craft shop where she is still maintaining a job to the best of her ability.
Taking inspiration from the case of Rachael Farrokh (an actress suffering from anorexia), Zenrika decided to set up a Gofundme page for Nelia. “In Portugal, treatment for Anorexia is extremely rare. There are no exclusive facilities for this treatment and the few private Mental Clinics that accommodate patients suffering from Anorexia, are very inaccessible due to extreme costs.”
Two years ago, after a long struggle with hospital authorities, her family managed to get Nelia into the Psych Ward of a big Public Hospital in Lisbon, where a very short term effect of just gaining weight was achieved, but no real long term solution was found. As soon as she got out, she just fell back into a downward spiral to the point that her life is in danger.
Zenrika tells me; “Anorexia is a horrible, misunderstood, disease, that is not easily treated or cured. It subtly steals your life away from you in all aspects, and over the years you become mentally, physically and financially exhausted, drained and depleted!”
For Nelia, constant nausea, dizziness and extreme fatigue are making normal life impossible. She can not maintain a full-time job, so she does not have a steady income. Her eating disorder is taking its toll, causing severe depression, putting more strain on her mind, body and soul. Her organs are not functioning well and are near the point of shutting down. She is very ill.
As a result of her campaign and fundraising Nelia has just passed a lengthy admission process and been accepted into an Eating Disorder clinic in Cape Town, South-Africa. Her flight is booked for September 8th. The family have enough funds for her plane ticket, and one months treatment and medicine. Her treatment program is a minimum of three months, in order to achieve the best results, so their campaigning is still continuing.
Zenrika tells me; “Nelia is so eager to get started but really nervous at the same time. Like we all know, there is no quick fix for this complex illness known as Anorexia Nervosa. So please keep on campaigning for Nelia on Social Media, spreading the word of her heartbreaking story. We desperately need more funding to give Nelia a chance of recovery and a new life. She plans to create more awareness and understanding of Anorexia Nervosa when she returns to Portugal.”
If people reading the article in Tomorrow could also start spreading the word, it can be another platform, whereas many new people as possible can be reached...please help us help Nelia.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-nelia.
Anorexia Nervosa - The Medical Facts
Helen Kampfraath is a GP who works with patients with an eating disorder, we interview her to find out more about Anorexia and what help is available in Portugal.
What are the symptoms of anorexia and how can people spot it in a family member?
Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness that can be present for a long time before any weight loss occurs. In the beginning of the illness the control over food intake and weight are associated with feeling safe and emotional control. It is often a way to suppress and control negative feelings, like fear of rejection, underlying anger or sadness. Some patients need the eating disorder to cope with traumatic events and the disease often starts after bullying at school, a divorce, emotional or sexual abuse, but not in all cases. Underlying feelings of grief, anger or fear of rejection are factors that are suppressed and controlled by the eating disorder. These factors are also keeping the disorder going. Taking away the disorder confronts the patient with almost unbearable negative and fearful feelings.
Patients create a world of their own. What they don’t realise is that the initial safety they experience by control of emotions through food and weight is, in fact, a coping mechanism that is turning against them, and controlling the patient. Imagine the disorder as a very powerful tyrant or force in the brain, controlling the thoughts and keeping the patient prisoner in her own body. Many anorexia patients spend all their time, energy and attention on what to eat, when to eat, how to eat, and how to compensate for calorie intake after eating, through physical exercise, or purging, or fasting.
It is a terrible life, with immense suffering for the patient, both mental and physical, and a disorder that is destroying relationships, families, friendships, careers and savings accounts.
2. Is it treatable and how?
Anorexia is treatable, but it takes time and expertise. When talking to the patient, the counsellor will notice that it is as if the patient has two voices: one controlled by the disorder and one healthy, authentic voice of the patient. As the disorder develops, the voice-controlled by the disorder tends to get stronger, in detriment of the healthy voice. For a counsellor, it is important to strengthen the contact with the healthy and often weakened voice of the patient. This part of the patient knows perfectly well that it is not right to starve herself. Often in treatment, the therapist literally has to sit down with the patient and supervise eating, while keeping close contact with the healthy voice in the patient, and chasing away the strong voices of the eating disorder. In the meanwhile, the underlying causes that keep the disorder going have to be treated.
If patients are physically in a critical condition, the refeeding has to be closely monitored, because underweight, as well as a refeeding syndrome, can be life-threatening.
3. Are certain people ages more susceptible, and is it preventable?
It is not clear why some people develop an eating disorder and others don’t, but there seems to be a genetic trait. Also, some personalities are more susceptible, like very perfectionist and sensitive characters. Early interventions are essential because once the eating disorder settles in the brain, it can be very difficult to reprogram the thinking. Eating disorders often start in early adolescence, although we see a shift to younger ages, and to boys.
4. When should people get help?
Early interventions are essential because once the eating disorder settles in the brain it can be very difficult to reprogram the thoughts.
5. What help is available for treatment in Portugal?
Nélia would have to be admitted to a specialised centre that has the necessary expertise of the physical and emotional aspects of the eating disorder. Forced feeding at a general hospital can be life-saving in the short term, but it will not cure the eating disorder if no attention is paid at the process behind it. In fact, forced feeding can easily become another traumatic experience that strengthens the disorder rather than diminish it.
The International Health Centres, Albufeira, +351 289588923.
