Suffering from Bulimia? Need help?
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
"Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food (e.g. binge-eating), and feeling a lack of control over the eating" (ANAD, 2014). “This binge-eating is followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g. vomiting, excessive us of laxatives or diuretics), fasting and/ or excessive exercise” (ANAD, 2014).
DO YOU SUFFER FROM THESE SYMPTOMS??
What are the causes?
A bulimia sufferer does not necessarily have a weight problem, may actually be within the proper height/weight range, however they suffer from low self-esteem, possible depression, substance abuse issues, and other psychological illnesses. The constant vomiting affects their body by removing electrolytes, damaging the esophagus and internal gastrointestinal area.
What are the treatments?
Seeking medical attention is very important for Bulimia nervosa. “Similar to other eating disorders, therapy is a cornerstone of treatment in bulimia nervosa” (Duckworth & Freedman, 2013). “Individual therapy can include a wide-variety of techniques: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical therapy (DBT) have been shown in scientific studies to decrease the symptoms of bulimia nervosa” (Duckworth & Freedman, 2013). Additional nutritional guidance is important because a lifestyle change needs to happen where a person is required to incorporate small amounts of healthy food back into their diet without binging or vomiting. This takes time and patience and requires the family involvement for success. Counseling for what is causing the bulimia will help determine the main cause. This is not a disorder which someone wakes one day and decides I want to become bulimic, it is an epidemic that has developed for months and continues until either the person gets really ill or the family finds out. Either way it is important to find a solution.
Common Myths and Misconceptions about Bulimia Nevosa
“Bulimia is always associated with vomiting- Bulimia is defined by a binge-and-purge behavior” (McCarty, 2013). “After eating, an individual suffering from bulimia will attempt to purge his or her body through any number of means” (McCarty, 2013). Vomiting is one of the methods for this but there are also laxatives and diuretics that help with the purging,
“Only women suffer from bulimia” (McCarty, 2013)- It is more common for women to suffer from this disorder, however men are also prone to bulimia, they just hide it better by following a different lifestyle such as incorporating sports.
Children or Teens suffer from this disorder as well and usually will continue throughout their adult life unless treated. It is not a disorder that goes away as they grow, but needs to be addressed and treated as soon as possible.
References
Duckworth, K. & Freedman, J.L. (2013). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved September 14, 2014 www.nami.org
McCarty, T. (2013). Huffpost Healthy Living. Retrieved September 14, 2014 from www.huffingtonpost.com
National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders (ANAD). (2014). Bulimia Nervosa. Retrieved September 13, 2014 from www.anad.org
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2014). Abnormal psychology (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill
WebMD. (2014). Slideshow: A visual guide to understanding eating disorders. Retrieved September 13, 2014 from www.webmd.com