Mental health disorders like anorexia nervosa and borderline personality disorder are common among young people in Kuwait. For parents, seeing a young person face challenges in their mental health can cause stress, anxiety, sadness, and frustration. It’s not easy to know how to act or when to reach out for support.
Mental health disorders require professional support and early interventions are linked to better outcomes. This means that if you notice any signs of eating disorder, borderline personality disorder, or other mental health conditions, you should seek professional advice as soon as possible. There are many different treatment options available that can support a young person to reclaim a fulfilling life and future.
This blog offers some information on the signs of anorexia and borderline personality disorder and where parents can find support.
The Rise of Anorexia Nervosa in Kuwait
In the past three decades, Kuwait has seen a rise in the number of people living with anorexia nervosa. A 2019 study found that it had the highest burden of anorexia among 21 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Within the region, increasing economic development was linked with a growing prevalence of anorexia.
While eating disorders are often assumed to mainly affect females, data from Kuwait shows that males are also at a high risk of eating disorder attitudes, behaviours, and body dissatisfaction.
A study among female undergraduates at a Kuwaiti university found that 46% were at risk of developing an eating disorder. Likewise, a study among male undergraduates found that almost 70% experienced body dissatisfaction and 46.2% showed disordered eating attitudes.
The rise of eating disorders in Kuwait is often connected to the spread of Western culture – specifically beauty ideals – across the Middle East. More and more young people in Kuwait have internalised the ‘thin ideal’ that promotes a specific, unrealistic body shape as the only form of beauty. The internalisation of these values is linked to increased body dissatisfaction and, consequently, eating disorders.
When Should Parents Seek Help for Anorexia?
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that cause long-term damage to a young person’s mental, physical, and social well-being. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.
The good news is that anorexia is treatable and with the right support, young people can make a full recovery. However, timely treatment is crucial: treatment is far more effective in the earlier stages of the illness.
This means that it’s important to seek help as soon as you’re concerned that a young person is developing an unhealthy relationship with food. Treatment is essential – and effective – even when a young person doesn’t meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. Any eating problem should be taken seriously and requires professional support.
Many young people with eating problems try to hide their feelings and behaviours. This means it’s not always easy to tell when something is wrong. Every young person will show signs of an eating disorder in different ways, and if you feel like something isn’t right, it’s important to seek help no matter what signs you see.
Here are some of the early signs that a young person may be developing an eating disorder or eating problem:
- starting to control or limit how, where, when, or what they eat
- avoiding eating around other people
- being preoccupied with their body shape or being afraid of gaining weight
- seeing their body shape as different to the reality
- exercising much more than before
- leaving mealtimes immediately after eating
- wearing baggy clothes
- seeming tired, irritated, or having difficulties concentrating
Where Can Parents Seek Support for Anorexia?
When a young person is living with an eating disorder, it’s important that they receive specialist support. This means mental health care directed towards eating disorders specifically – and towards their age group.
Sometimes, general doctors can refer young people to specialist services. But treatment spaces are often very limited and may not be suitable for a young person’s needs.
Parents can also contact specialist services directly. You should look for mental health programs that specialise in eating disorders and child and adolescent psychiatry.
Mental health programs may offer residential and/or outpatient support. They should be able to support you in deciding which level of care is best for your child and family.
Borderline Personality Disorder in Kuwait
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health disorder that usually develops during adolescence or young adulthood. Having a personality disorder doesn’t mean there is something wrong with a young person’s personality. It just means that the way they see themselves and interact with the world can make daily life difficult to manage.
BPD can look very different in one young person from another. It’s characterised by instability in a young person’s sense of self, interpersonal relationships, and emotions. Young people with BPD may experience a strong fear of abandonment, intense and uncontrollable emotional reactions, and difficulties forming stable, lasting relationships with others.
Data on the prevalence of personality disorders in Kuwait – and other parts of the Arab world – is still lacking. Studies in Western countries estimate that at least 3% of adolescents and young adults live with BPD.
BPD during adolescence not only affects a young person’s well-being and quality of life but also their mental health and well-being in the future. It can affect their ability to work, build fulfilling and supportive relationships, and live an independent life. That’s why it’s so important for adolescents to receive accurate diagnoses and timely treatment.
When Should Parents Seek Help for Borderline Personality Disorder?
It can be hard to recognise the signs of BPD. Often friends and family members are the first to notice that a young person is struggling – even before they realise themselves.
Sometimes, parents may explain away some of the signs of BPD as normal behaviours of teenagers, such as impulsive behaviours or angry reactions. However, the traits and symptoms of BPD are well outside of what can be expected from most young people during their teenage years. While it can feel easier to overlook the signs of BPD, especially with the misconceptions and stigma that sometimes surround the condition, receiving support can have a huge impact on a young person’s future.
If you have any concerns about your child’s behaviours, it’s important to seek professional advice.
Some of the signs of borderline personality disorder include:
- difficulty maintaining close relationships
- risky behaviour with drugs, money or relationships
- impulsive behaviours like dangerous driving)
- self-harm or suicidal thoughts
- intense anger
- extreme mood swings that change from day to day or hour to hour
Where Can Parents Seek Support for Borderline Personality Disorder?
If you’re concerned a young person may have borderline personality disorder or another mental health condition, it’s important to speak with a mental health professional. Receiving an accurate diagnosis is crucial, and sometimes BPD can be overlooked or mistaken for something else.
Parents should look for a mental health professional or program that specialises in child and adolescent psychiatry. General doctors may be able to support with research and referrals but don’t usually have the expertise to make a diagnosis.
There is a lot of stigma surrounding BPD and many people – even some healthcare professionals – believe that recovery is difficult or even impossible. However, in reality, many young people recover from BPD and live fulfilling lives.
The Wave Clinic: Specialist Recovery Programs for Young People
The Wave Clinic offers specialist mental health programs for young people living with eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, and other mental health concerns. We provide residential, outpatient, and online programs that combine a diverse selection of evidence-based modalities, tailored to the needs of every young person.
Our team includes experts in child and adolescent psychiatry from around the world, providing reliable diagnoses and unequalled clinical care. We believe that families play a central role in recovery from mental illness, fully involving family members in our programs from the start.
If you’re interested in finding out more about The Wave, get in touch today.
