There are two primary types of eating disorders, bulimia and anorexia. Each different, yet related, and each can lead to death, if left untreated.
This article focuses on symptoms and treatment of bulimia. If you, or somebody you know, suffers from an eating disorder, I urge you to get help. Failure to address the symptoms of bulimia and receive treatment can be deadly.
Bulimia is widespread in our culture, and can be seen among many Hollywood starlets. The media focus on "staying thin" have led some to take any step, deadly or not, to shed potential pounds. While men, can and do suffer from bulimia, it is more common among women. Two prominent women whom faced internal demons with bulimia were Jane Fonda, and Princess Diana. Both women should be commended for bringing the problem of bulimia to the public light because hopefully it was impactful for someone.
Bulimia is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating, and then forced regurgitation, to avoid weight gain. Bulimia isn't walking into a restaurant, gorging huge quantities of food, and then throwing up because you ate too much food. Bulimia is binging on large quantities of food, at least twice per week, and then throwing up, in a deliberate attempt to prevent weight gain.
At the core of the psyche of the person anguished from bulimia rests low self- esteem. They fail to see their value or contribution to the world, outside of body size and how they look. Often characterized by perfectionist tendencies, the person suffering from bulimia has a need to be and look "perfect." Slight imperfections are not tolerated.
Complicating this perfectionist expectation of self is the society that rewards perfection and rewards it well. Perhaps this is why many folks living in the limelight suffer from bulimia. However whether you live in Hollywood or not, if you are experiencing bulimia you can die, if you don't stop, pay attention, and get help for this deadly eating disorder.
The individual living with bulimia has an overwhelming, consuming fear of becoming fat. This fear drives them to make poor choices, in efforts to pursuit weight loss. Binging on food, and then forced regurgitation of this food, in efforts to quickly shed, potential pounds, wreaks havoc on the body. The fear of become fat, leads to a persistent, gut wrenching, pursuit towards weight loss. All efforts towards losing weight, lead to losing control over ones eating habits, and a perceptual distortion of body size. The individual suffering from bulimia views their body as "fat", no matter what the weight. Sometimes the perception is supported in reality, sometimes not.
Underlying symptoms are depression and anger. The anger often ignored, left untreated, however it must be treated, to treat bulimia. A highly effective method of processing, and treating anger is through group settings, as group provides a form difficult to manipulate.
The goals of treating bulimia are to interrupt the binge/purge cycle of dieting, and attempt to normalize the eating patterns. Increase the self-esteem, through reshaping beliefs, thoughts and attitudes about self, and body image. There is a focus in treatment on taking steps to repair any physical damage that occurred. Overall, the idea is to build positive self- image, and generate healthy relationships.
Sufferers of bulimia have depression and anger. Unfortunately, the anger is frequently dismissed, or ignored, and often left untreated. One effective method of treating, and talking about the anger is in individual counseling session with a caring and knowledgeable therapist.
The level of treatment for bulimia is complex. Treatment ranges from individual counseling, support groups, to low intensity outpatient treatment, to intensive treatment. If you feel shame or do not know where to begin helping yourself, there are confidential and affordable online/phone therapists you can talk to immediately. They can help your stop your suffering and lead you on the path to a healthy relationship with yourself.
