Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder in which a person overeats all at once (binge), and then puke out the excess food (purge). The symptoms can be physical, behavioral, or emotional. Bulimia may be brought on by a combination of inherited and learned habits, while the specific reason is unknown. Bulimia may be avoided by education and symptom awareness. Connect with Talk to Angel for Online Therapy on Bulimia Nervosa.

There is a type of eating disorder which is called bulimia nervosa, also sometimes known as bulimia. Eating disorders are serious mental health illnesses that may even be dangerous to life due o risk of suicide. A fixation with food and weight may be a symptom of an eating problem. Your emotional, psychological, social and physical health might be affected by these fixations.

A harmful pattern of how an individual eats known as “bulimia nervosa” has characteristics such as:

• Consuming a disproportionately high quantity of food in a short amount of time (binge eating).
• Eliminating the food (purging): Making yourself vomit (vomit) or using laxatives are two ways to purge. Laxatives are the kind of drugs that hasten the digestion of food in a person’s body.

Additional bulimia nervosa traits could be:

• Using diuretics or diet medications improperly.
• Consuming extremely little or no food (fasting).
• Excessive physical activity
• Hiding food so that they can binge eat and purge later when they are alone in order to avoid humiliation.

Bulimics typically maintain a healthy, normal weight. When it comes to how they view their weight and/or body type, they are harsh with themselves. Their issues with self-esteem and body image are frequently closely intertwined.

Bulimia can be challenging to recognize. In private, those who have the illness frequently binge and purge. However, empty meal wrappers and laxative boxes may be bulimia warning indicators. Bulimia nervosa also manifests as the following behavioral and emotional symptoms:

• Frequent toilet visits, especially following meals.
• Exercise in excess.
• Obsession with appearance.
• Severe aversion to acquiring weight.
• Substance addiction, anxiety, or depression.
• Feeling uncontrollable
• Having shame or remorse over eating.
• Social isolation from friends and family.

Dental problems are one of the bulimia nervosa physical symptoms. Your teeth enamel may erode from self-induced vomiting due to stomach acid. Additionally, your teeth may be more sensitive and appear transparent rather than white. Among the additional physical signs of bulimia nervosa are:

• Swollen jawline or cheeks.
• Digestive issues include acid reflux and constipation.
• Knuckle calluses, scars, or other wounds (from forced throwing up).
• Fainting.
• Irregular periods of menstruation.
• muscle lactic acid buildup
• Eyes those are red.
• Dehydration.

Treatment

Patients with bulimia may need to undergo a number of therapies, but a treatment approach that combines psychotherapy and antidepressants may be the most effective.

Typically, a multidisciplinary team composed of you, your family, your primary care physician, a mental health professional, and a dietitian with experience in treating eating disorders will treat you and your eating problem. A case manager might organize your care.

Here are several alternatives to traditional bulimia treatment and considerations.

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy, usually referred to as psychotherapy or psychological counseling, involves talking with a mental health expert about your bulimia and associated concerns. There is proof that the following forms of psychotherapy help reduce bulimia symptoms:

To help you control your eating patterns, cognitive behavioral therapy can help you identify unhealthy, negative attitudes and actions and help you replace them with healthy, positive ones.

Family-based treatment to assist parents in stepping in to stop their adolescent’s unhealthy eating habits, to assist the adolescent in regaining control over their eating, and to assist the family in dealing with the detrimental impact that bulimia can have on the development of the adolescent and the family.

By addressing problems in your close relationships, interpersonal psychotherapy aids in improving communication and problem-solving.

Find out which psychotherapy your mental health practitioner plans to employ and what research there is to support its effectiveness in treating bulimia.

Medication

When combined with therapy, antidepressants may help lessen the symptoms of bulimia. Fluoxetine (Prozac), a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is the only antidepressant expressly licenced by the Food and Drug Administration to treat bulimia. It may be helpful even if you’re not depressed.

Inhibitors of selective serotonin reuptake are a subclass of antidepressants. They can lessen how often people binge eat and throw up. But it’s unclear if these medications will remain effective over time. They work well in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Those who suffer from bulimia nervosa frequently have these symptoms.

Nutrition

Dietitians can help you create a meal plan that will give you the nutrition you need while establishing healthy eating habits that will keep you full and prevent cravings. In order to recover from bulimia, it’s crucial to eat regularly and refrain from reducing your intake.

In- patient Facilities

Bulimia is typically treatable outside of the hospital. However, you could require hospital treatment if your symptoms are severe and you have significant medical problems. Some eating disorder treatment centers could provide day treatment as an alternative to inpatient hospitalization.

Support Groups

Support groups are beneficial when combined with other types of therapy. People and their families gather in support groups to exchange tales.

Despite the fact that the majority of bulimics do recover, others claim that their symptoms continue. Episodes of bingeing and purging may come and go over time depending on your own circumstances, such as coming back during stressful times.

If you find yourself back in the binge-purge cycle, scheduling follow-up appointments with your primary care physician, nutritionist, and/or mental health professional may help you get through the crisis before your eating disorder spirals out of control once more. By establishing effective coping strategies, fostering supportive relationships, and reducing stress, recurrence can be prevented.

Contact your medical team as soon as possible if you have struggled with an eating disorder and notice that your symptoms have returned. Feel free to seek Relationship Counselling at TalktoAngel for more information.