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What Is Bulimia Nervosa? Do you or your teen eat large quantities of food after intense urges?   After eating, do you have strong feelings of guilt?   Does the fear of gaining weight trigger a need to purge at any cost?   Does your teen struggle with weight issues?   Do they feel like all their friends have perfect bodies, which causes them to want to lose weight any way they can? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," you or your child may be struggling with the symptoms of bulimia. Bulimics binge on large amounts of food, then vomit, use laxatives, or exercise excessively to prevent weight gain.

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All the causes of bulimia are not currently known. However, it's suspected that, like other eating disorders, bulimia is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Unfortunately, those with bulimia often derive pleasure from being able to eat large amounts of food and get rid of it in order to keep their weight down. Because of this, it's usually not until a bulimic realizes the consequences of their behaviors — which can become life-threatening — that they seek help.

Eating disorders like bulimia can be difficult to recognize for what they are. And, all too often, people don't seek professional help until the behaviors are out of control.

Bulimia: Signs and Symptoms

If you find you or your daughter:

• Eating excessive amounts of food in short periods of time;
   
• Compensating for bingeing by intentionally vomiting, over-exercising, fasting, or using laxatives or diuretics;
   
• Negatively comparing your self-image to others;
   
• Preoccupied with your weight and body image;
   
• Suffering from anxiety or depression; or
   
• Avoiding social situations and practicing secretive behaviors;

You or she may be suffering from the symptoms of bulimia nervosa.

As with other eating disorders, bulimia is way for people to feel in control.

Psychologically speaking, you or your child may feel powerless over your life. Controlling food may be the only sense of control you have. You or she may use food to numb uncomfortable feelings such as stress, loneliness, anxiety, or depression.

From the time when we're infants, we learn to soothe with food. It's likely you remember times when life was stressful and you headed for the pantry or the fridge. Many carry this coping mechanism throughout their life. When you feel, anxiety, depression, or stress, food becomes your medicine.

Purging after bingeing is a way for bulimics to acquire the soothing results of bingeing while achieving the control and weight-loss results of anorexics.

While all of the causes of bulimia aren't currently known, as with anorexia they are likely to include: concerns about weight, genetics, dieting to live up to cultural and media stereotypes, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and childhood trauma.

Fortunately, research has shown time and again that the sooner people who are concerned about their body image receive treatment the faster the healing process and the better the outcome.

Successfully Treating Bulimia

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, the most effective eating disorder treatments involve some form of psychotherapy. Therapy can help you uncover and address the underlying issues that trigger negative self-image and bulimic behaviors.

However, therapy must go hand-in-hand with careful attention to your specific medical and nutritional needs. For this reason, I work with a team of professionals that can help you determine a healthy weight, monitor your health, and help you learn about your body, your nutrition options, and discover what physical activities you enjoy.

Every treatment plan I create is individually tailored to each client and your treatment will depend on the severity of the problem you're facing and your individual strengths and needs.

That having been said, some common goals of the work I do with clients suffering from bulimia and its symptoms include:

• Medical management to restore normal eating patterns and maintain a healthy weight;
   
• Identifying the underlying issues that trigger the binge/purge cycle;
   
• Increasing your self-esteem and your ability to solve problems in a healthy manner;
   
• Developing a positive, healthy body-image;
   
• Finding healthy ways to cope with anxiety, stress, and depression;
   
• Gaining awareness of the societal triggers for obsessing about your weight;
   
• Educating family members about bulimia and developing a support system to help speed your recovery; and
   
• Reconnecting you with the things in life that bring you joy so you can reclaim your life and replace your food and weight obsessions with meaningful and rewarding activities.

In a supportive, compassionate, and confidential setting we can work together to determine if you need help, uncover and resolve the issues that keep you focusing on your body image and eating issues, and create a treatment plan that makes the most sense for you.

I consider it vitally important that mothers and daughters in our society learn to accept their bodies, understand their weight and eating issues, and create healthy lifestyles that meet their personal needs.

Your body is not an "enemy" that needs to be controlled. You can develop a positive self-image and learn to eat anything you want… just not everything you want.

And, by learning to spend less time obsessing about food and weight, you'll find more energy to focus on all the aspects of life there are to enjoy and truly be thankful for!

Life can replace the obsession! As one of my recent clients commented, "I got my life back! Now that I'm not constantly thinking about food, I remember how creative I am and how much fun life can be!"

For more information about bulimia and the prevention and treatment services I offer, I encourage you to call me at 650-854-4631 with any questions you have or to schedule a free, initial phone consultation.

 

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