HEALTH HAZARD
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Health hazard: Anorexia Neurosa
Thousands of college students suffer from a tragic disease. The cycle
is vicious. You can help prevent Anorexia Neurosa by watching for the
common symptoms in yourself and your loved ones.
1. Conceptualizing learning as a 'reward' or perhaps as an 'end in
itself' without regard to where such learning may lead.
2. Learning 'for the sake of knowledge' and not because the victim is
ignorant or needs to know any particular fact.
3. Learning great quantities of unhealthy information, ie sugary facts
without substance or depth. (commercial jingles, art history)
4. Frequent or infrequent episodes of 'binge learning', when the
victim will cram as much information as possible into his or her
brain and then forget it as soon as possible.
The disease affects people from all walks of life, but especially students.
The disease often begins as the result of impractical learning to please
the victim's parents, peers, or teachers. Help fight Anorexia Neurosa and
make our schools a safer place.
What you (yes YOU) can do to help the victim.
1. Hide the source of facts. This may be anything from a television to a
textbook. Hide it. Make sure it stays hidden until the patient agrees
to learn information in a responsible manner.
2. Try to encourage balanced learning. If the patient tends to binge on
mathematical formulae, write some poetry in the margin of the abused
book or journal. For books of poetry, times tables and graphs will
help the patient towards a more balanced diet.
3. Distract the victim. When you think that an episode of 'binge learning'
is about to occur, distract the patient with a physical or emotional
issue. Dont give up easily; the patient's health is at stake!
4. Make the victim aware. Let the patient know you care and are determined
to help. Often the patient is either unable or unwilling to solve his/her
own problem and needs intervention.
5. Most importantly, dont delay! Start helping in little ways today, as soon
as you can.
oh no, Thank YOU.