Bulimic Nervosa

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia is a particular eating disorder where the victim indulges in excessive eating and purging. They indulge in foods that are fattening and high in calories; even if they are not hungry. This is followed by the feeling of guilt accompanied by attempting to remove the food from their body through methods such as vomiting.

Bulimia nervosa is different from anorexic nervosa in one aspect. Bulimics indulge in food while anorexic do the opposite. Bulimics and Anorexics mostly display similar symptoms.

In America itself, the number of bulimics would fall within the range of 2%-6%. Percentage wise, this may seem to be a small number. However, if you translate that to the actual amount, it can add up to quite a big number.

What leads to Bulimic Nervosa?

In this competitive environment, eating disorder in bulimics could be due to excessive stress. Bulimics are not able to cope with stress. Hence turning their attention to food. Indulgence usually makes them feel good for the time being. It would help them relieve the feeling of stress. The feeling changes once the indulgence is over. The fear of weight gain starts to creep in. And hence bulimics start with dieting, exercising and the like. Bulimics may or may not realize this. However, they are caught up in a never ending chase between indulgence and diet.

Also, individuals suffering from stress normally turns to food to relieve it. However, for individuals suffering from bulimia nervosa, the consumption of food is excessive. They take in quite a bit of food at a very short span of time.

Another reason would be that the bulimic is suffering from low self esteem. Bulimic has the notion "Thin is In." This could be due to peer pressure, media influence or craving for acceptance. Slightest again means to them that they are not striving hard enough and are not determined enough to maintain their health.

Bulimics could also be eating excessively to make up for the loss of it during their diet period. They are highly fearful of weight gain. They are overly worried about the kilos and their body shape. They are not willing to compromise on their appearance even at the expense of their health.

There are speculations that Bulimics could be a victim of genetics. Also studies reveal high levels of Serotonin in the brain of the person who is pro bulimia.

Symptoms of Bulimia.

The symptoms of bulimia nervosa is usually found during the late teens and early adulthood. It is interesting to note that the number of bulimics are mostly females as compared to males. This could be due to the hormonal changes, that causes mood swings. Bulimics could suffer from menstrual disorder due to their eating disorder.

The victim usually have the fear of gaining weight. They are obsessed with weight loss programs, diet pills, mirrors (to see if they had put on weight anywhere in their body). They are constantly checking themselves in the mirrors. They would exercise excessively. It is not surprising to see that they fall far below their normal weight range recommended.

They are hard to identify, unless you are very close to them as they would display normal eating behavior when they are around others. They make up for it when they are alone. If you see someone sneaking out to have food, you can let your suspicion have a chance at finding out.

Bulimics generally suffer from fatigue more than others due malnutrition or dehydration. They suffer from constipation often and would be suffering from dental erosion and tooth decay. Also look out for signs that they are overly obsessed with the way they look and if they are harsh and unforgiving about it.

Dangers of Bulimia

Such eating disorders can be fatal. Loss of life would be the ultimatum. Some may even attempt suicide. Also, bulimics could suffer from menstrual disorder, starvation, cardiac arrests and excessive stress. Even if treated, the chances are high for relapse.

How to help : Bulimia Treatment

Professional

Seek help from the professionals. This would include counseling and behavioral mapping to better understand the cause for bulimia nervosa. It would be easier if the root cause for such acts are found out sooner for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Individual, group and family therapy are some of the treatments that are available. This is similar to the self-help support group mentioned in the self-help section below. Seek out therapists who are well trained in eating disorders, especially bulimia.

Anti depressants are given together with counseling should it be necessary to the patients. Depending on the seriousness of the disorder, bulimics could be advised to be hospitalized. If the doctors have limited facilities, a psychologist will usually be called in to evaluate the patient suffering from bulimic nervosa.

Self-Help

Form peer support. This can be set up in the schools, neighborhood. Information session could be organized which would talk about the dangers of Bulimia, how to seek help, where to find treatment, recovery process. Talk session could be organized with previous bulimics; this would serve as increasing the confidence feel of the bulimics who otherwise suffer from low self confidence.

Parents can help as well. Communicate. Try to explain things in a good manner. Do not exert anything. Do not judge them. Tell them it is okay to be not okay. Inform them that they are loved even if they do not have the "perfect shape." Help them keep their appointments with the doctor or psychologist.

Make changes in their eating habits. Cook healthy and nutritious food for the bulimics. Make sure they eat from the various groups on the pyramid so as to have a healthy and balanced nutrition. Make sure you stay with the bulimic and ensure that they have eaten fully and that they do not disappear to the toilet immediately to vomit. Keep track that they are consuming the medicines correctly. Help them build their confidence.

Help them make changes in their daily lifestyle. Enroll them in a meditation course such as yoga. This would help them gain back their lost confidence as well as make sure that they do not go back to their eating disorder. Take up an active sport such as badminton or swimming. This would keep their focus on the thing at hand.

Even engrossing oneself in the sudoku puzzle could do the trick. Keep the mind focused on things that do not focus on body image. Avoid reading articles on celebrities who lost so much kilos and how good they feel. Instead take up a new craft and start practicing it. Read up on the new found hobby such as knitting or keeping scrap books.