The meaning of starving oneself : identifying the sufferers’ perception of anorexia nervosa

Abstract

The development of Anorexia Nervosa changes an individual’s life. The purpose of this study is to explore in-depth the individuals’ lived experience of Anorexia Nervosa and what interventions they consider possible to come to terms with their skewed perception of body image and weight control. Five semi-structured interviews were carried out with female participants who have been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for 2 years or more. Their experience was recorded through a qualitative approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five themes emerged from this research study. By utilizing Smith’s method of analysis the themes identified were: Control, Avoidance, Relationships, The Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa and Recovery. These themes were then discussed in the light of existing literature. Results suggest that participants’ experiences were considered as a sense of achievement, marked by various challenging factors, feelings of isolation and complex relationships with relatives and friends. Participants value the support they received from professionals and family which helped them in the recovery process; they have come to view their past experience of battling Anorexia Nervosa more realistically, and have come to realize that there are other more appropriate ways to lose weight.