Bulimia nervosa-the "binge-and-purge" cousin of anorexia nervosa-is an eating disorder common in society, particularly in women.
About one tenth of sufferers are male.
Like anorexia, bulimia can be very serious and potentially life-threatening.
A person with bulimia nervosa typically eats large amounts of food, and then forces it out through vomiting or tries to eliminate the calories taken in through excessive exercise or some other very unhealthy method such as laxative abuse.
The types of foods chosen for a binge and purge are generally unhealthy foods such french fies, crisps, chocolate, cakes, biscuits etc.
After the purge or excessive exercise or laxative abuse the person generally feels very tired and unwell and has a low blood sugar level.
This often leads to another episode of binging.
Bulimia can result in physical illness, often gastro-intestinal problems and abnormal bowels.
Apart from this, the person may also experience dehydration, irregular heartbeat patterns, abnormal menstruation (specifically amenorrhea or the cessation of menstruation), anxiety, and depression.
Bulimia nervosa is often hidden and it is not as easy to identify a sufferer as an anorexic.
This is partly due to the fact that many bulimics are of normal weight or are slightly overweight.
Often a person's bulimia is a secret and they cover up the illness and the behavior that goes with it, namely the binging, purging and laxative abuse.
There are many other physical symptoms of bulimia, although a person with the disorder may not exhibit all of them.
These symptoms include: - Sores in the throat, mouth, hands or knuckles from repeated episodes of self induced vomiting - Unhealthy teeth and gums from the stomach acid from self induced vomiting - Inflamed salivary glands again from vomiting - Private binging, or eating large amounts of food, up to the point of pain or discomfort - Exercising hard, or fasting after an eating binge.
- Using laxatives, diuretics or enemas to eliminate food which causes long term constipation or worse.
- Using the bathroom after or during meals Emotionally, the person struggles hard to control their eating and succumbing to the binge purge cycle makes them feel out of control.
Bulimics are often preoccupied with food, body weight and shape, and losing weight in general.
Bulimia is about trying to control something in a life that is often otherwise out of control.
Bulimia is often the symptom of an underlying problem or unresolved issue.
Problems of low self esteem and even self hatred are common amongst bulimics.
Negative body image is, according to psychologists, part of bulimic disorder.
The common link between Bulimia and Anorexia is poor self image.
To treat this, psychotherapy or counselling is needed.
This must be actively sought, because bulimia doesn't go away on its own, and it can create serious complications if left untreated.
Group or family therapy is the recommended psychotherapy approach for the disorder.
Also very effective is a technique called cognitive-behavior therapy or CBT.
Besides counselling, antidepressant medications can also help treat bulimia.
Prozac is the most commonly prescribed drug, although the psychotherapist may also choose other types of antidepressants.
If a person suspects that they have a bulimic disorder, they should consult a doctor or confide in someone who can help them find treatment.
It is widely accepted that many bulimics are depressed.
Remember, people can and do make recoveries from depression and go on to lead their best lives imaginable.
Seek help.
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