Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder and mental health issue that causes sufferers to severely restrict their food intake followed by binges and attempts to purge the food from their bodies by forcing themselves to vomit or using laxatives.
Bulimia nervosa can be connected to the following conditions, just like other eating disorders:
- low self-esteem
- alcohol misuse
- depression
- self-harm
Binge eating and purging
When it comes to food or body image, eating disorders are frequently linked to abnormal attitudes.
People with eating disorders tend to use their eating habits and behaviors to cope with emotional distress and frequently have an abnormal or unrealistic fear of food, calories, and being fat. While everyone has their own eating habits — for instance, people with food intolerance must avoid eating certain foods to stay healthy — eating disorders are conditions where people use their eating habits and behaviors to cope with emotional distress.
People with bulimia nervosa tend to restrict their food intake as a result of this fear, which leads to periods of binge eating and loss of control, followed by self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives (purging). They purge themselves as a result of their fear that the bingeing will make them gain weight, and as a result, these behaviors are typically carried out in secret because the individuals feel guilty and ashamed of their actions.
These cycles of bingeing and purging can be brought on by stress, hunger, or as a means of reducing emotional anxiety.
Warning signs
The person may appear flushed and have scars on their knuckles (from forcing fingers down their throat to induce vomiting), have an obsessive attitude toward food and eating, and frequently visit the bathroom after meals. Bulimia nervosa is also characterized by an excessive concern with one’s weight and appearance.
Physical issues brought on by inadequate nutrient intake, frequent vomiting, or excessive laxative use may eventually result from bulimia.
RISK FACTORS
Bulimia is much more common in women than in men, as it is with all eating disorders.
There are an estimated 1.6 million Britons who suffer from an eating disorder, and reports suggest that up to 25% of these men may have bulimia nervosa.
The condition can happen at any age, but mostly affects women between the ages of 16 and 40 (on average, it begins around the age of 18 or 19). According to recent studies, up to 8% of women experience bulimia at some point in their lives.
Children can develop bulimia nervosa, but this is very uncommon.
PREVENTION OF BULIMIA
You can seek assistance from a variety of organizations and support groups, such as:
- beat: beating eating disorders
- Mental Health Foundation
- Anorexia and Bulimia Care
- Men Can Develop Eating Disorders, Too
Recognizing the issue and genuinely wanting to improve oneself are the first steps in the healing process.
Strong evidence suggests that many bulimia nervosa sufferers can benefit from reading self-help books, especially if they ask a friend or family member to help them out.
A structured program of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be offered to you at an eating disorder service if this is not successful or appropriate, and some people may also benefit from antidepressant medication (fluoxetine), which can lessen the urges to binge and vomit.
SYMPTOMS OF BULIMIA
The two main symptoms of bulimia are binge eating and purging, which is when you force yourself to vomit or use laxatives to rid your body of food.
- eating and food in a fixated manner
- erroneous perceptions of body shape and weight
- depression and anxiety
- Losing interest in social interactions and isolation
Bulimia can cause a variety of physical problems if left untreated.
Binge eating
The urge to eat can start as a means of coping with emotional issues but can quickly turn obsessive and out of control. Binge eating is the practice of repeatedly consuming large amounts of high-calorie food without necessarily feeling hungry or needing to eat.
When binge eating is a bulimia symptom, it usually occurs frequently, not just once or twice, and you might feel physically uncomfortable after.
There are two types of binge eating episodes: planned and unplanned. Planned binge eating involves going shopping for foods that you know you’ll be eating during the episode.
Learn more about binge eating by reading.
Purging
After eating a lot of food quickly, you may feel physically bloated and unattractive as well as guilty, regretful, and full of self-hatred. Purging is a reaction to bingeing.
However, a strong, overwhelming fear of gaining weight drives the primary urge to purge.
Using laxatives to help your body pass the food quickly or forcing yourself to vomit are the two most popular ways to purge.
The use of diet pills, excessive exercise, extreme dieting, starvation periods, and the use of illegal drugs like amphetamines are less popular purging techniques.
Cycle of guilt
Being overweight even though you may be at or close to a normal weight for your height and build can make bulimia seem like a vicious cycle because it is often accompanied by extremely low self-esteem.
This could motivate you to make very difficult-to-maintain rules for your eating, exercising, and dieting, which could then lead to bingeing on the foods you’ve been depriving yourself of and purging to burn the calories.
CAUSES OF BULIMIA
Despite the fact that the disorder is associated with a fear of gaining weight, more nuanced emotions typically play a role; there is no straightforward explanation for what causes bulimia.
In order to cope with these powerful emotions, people frequently binge and purge.
Common emotional causes
Bulimia is frequently caused by the following issues:
- Low self-esteem – If you have an eating disorder, you may feel inadequate and view losing weight as a means of enhancing your sense of worth.
- depression – you might binge to deal with your sadness, but purging won’t make it go away, so the cycle keeps repeating.
- When you experience a traumatic event, like a death or divorce, or when you undergo significant life-altering circumstances, like getting married or moving away from home, you may become stressed.
Some people with bulimia have had a difficult childhood, with family issues, disagreements, and criticism. Bulimia can also occur in people who have had physical illnesses or who have been sexually abused.
Other mental health problems
The following psychological conditions have been linked to bulimia, according to research:
- anxiety disorders
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- personality disorders
Cultural and social pressure
Some people think that pressure to strive for thin bodies comes from the media and the fashion world.
Puberty
Around puberty, when hormonal changes may increase a person’s awareness of their body, many young people experience eating disorders.
Bulimia may appear to be the only means for teenagers who feel powerless to take charge of their lives.
Genetics
According to research, having a close relative with the disorder increases a person’s risk of developing it by four times compared to not having one.
Men and bulimia
Many times, bulimia develops as a result of bodybuilding or particular occupations like athletics, dancing, or horse racing. The causes of bulimia in men can be slightly different.
Younger men are, however, more prone than many women to disliking their bodies and experiencing bullying or cruel jokes about their weight as children.
DIAGNOSIS OF BULIMIA
Even though you may not think you have a serious problem, bulimia can harm your long-term health, so the first step in treating it is to acknowledge that you do.
Most bulimics hide their condition for months or years before seeking help, and it frequently takes a change in circumstances, such as the beginning of a new relationship or moving in with new people, to make a bulimic want to seek help. Accepting that you need help and support is the first step to recovery, but this may be a very difficult step for you to take.
Your GP will decide whether to refer you to a specialist mental health team after you have explained your situation to them, so it may be helpful to prepare a list of questions you want to ask before your appointment.
Your neighborhood team consists of:
- specialist counsellors
- psychiatrists
- psychologists
- nurses
- dietitians
- other healthcare professionals
Your doctor may advise a self-help program to get you started on the road to recovery before referring you for specialist care. Your treatment depends on how serious your condition is and the best way to manage it.
Bulimia can be completely overcome, and the sooner you begin treatment, the faster your recovery will be.
Do I have an eating disorder?
The SCOFF questionnaire, which involves responding to the following five questions, is a tool that doctors occasionally use to identify patients who may have an eating disorder:
- When you’re overstuffed, do you ever force yourself to throw up?
- Concerned that you no longer have control over your eating habits?
- One stone: In the last three months, have you lost more than one stone (six kilograms)?
- When people tell you that you are too thin, do you think of yourself as being fat?
- Do you feel that food is the center of your life?
TREATMENT OF BULIMIA
The first step towards recovery from bulimia is to acknowledge the issue and have a sincere desire to do so. This may require a significant change in circumstances and lifestyle. Recovery from bulimia may be a lengthy and challenging process.
It can be challenging to know what to do if you are worried about a friend or family member because an eating disorder patient is likely to be defensive and secretive about their eating and weight, and they are likely to deny having any health problems.
HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE OF BULIMIA
Arsenic album, veratrum album, kali chloricum, and hyoscymus
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