BULIMIA
Bulimia is an eating disorder that can wreak havoc on your body, relationships, and life. It can permanently damage the body and can even be deadly. People with bulimia will often eat large amounts of food, and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. It also affects the brain and is often linked to mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
It's no sense of control over eating behavior and followed by inappropriate methods for trying to lose weight, such as vomiting, fasting, or compulsive exercising.
Bulimia tends to develop late in childhood or in early adulthood. It affects females more often than males. People with bulimia often perform the behaviors in secret, feeling disgusted and ashamed when it's done, yet relieved once they purge. They usually weigh within the normal range for their age and height. However, they may fear gaining weight, have a desire to lose weight, and may feel intensely dissatisfied with their bodies.
There is no known cause for Bulimia, it may begin with a dissatisfaction of the person's body and extreme concern with body size and shape. Usually, individuals suffering from bulimia have low self-esteem and fear of being overweight. Though it is hereditary, it tends to run in families.
There are several complications to Bulimia, some of which are: Swelling and soreness in the salivary glands (from repeated vomiting), Stomach ulcers, Dehydration, Irregular heartbeat, Disruption in the normal bowel release function, higher risk for suicidal behavior and so on.
Recovering from bulimia can be a difficult process, Guidance from a professional who specializes in eating disorder recovery will help one in the recovery process. Many people are not able to recover on their own.
The first step in recovering from bulimia is getting help. Tell someone, tell a trusted family member or friend to get support for reaching out to a professional.
Stop the Purge Cycle; this painful pattern can often feel impossible to break. Learning the causes of this pattern can help you break free from it with help from a professional.
Stop restricting your food; eat regularly as this tends to hunger, and make sure you are giving your body the food it needs.
Learn your triggers; Something as simple as being in a particular place, or a specific time of day, can be a trigger. Stress and feelings of sadness, loneliness, and anxiety can also be triggers, examine what triggers this behavior for you, and develop strategies for managing those triggers.
Make a plan; come up with a plan that will help you tolerate these moments. Knowing what to do when the feeling hits you can help you get through it. Things you may want to include on your plan are calling a friend or family member, distracting yourself with a task, or going to a safe location where you don’t have the means or access to purge.
Manage your Anxiety; Anxiety is at the heart of the behavior for many people with bulimia. So, conversely, managing anxiety is an essential piece of how to recover from bulimia.
Distract yourself; Distraction can be a powerful weapon in combating anxiety. Find ways you can get past a moment of anxiety. For some people, a repetitive task like knitting, sketching, reading can be soothing and distracting enough that momentary anxiety melts away. And some people may need to physically take themselves out of an anxious moment or situation by going for a walk or hopping in their car for a drive with the radio on.
Start healing your relationship with your body; Bulimia is destructive to your relationship with your body in so many ways. It can cause physical damage, such as oesophageal and dental problems, but the damage goes well beyond that. Bulimia can turn you into a combatant against your body, waging a war against your own flesh. And an essential piece of recovery is healing that relationship and reconnecting with your body as a friend, not a foe.
By: Sidiqah Uthman
It's no sense of control over eating behavior and followed by inappropriate methods for trying to lose weight, such as vomiting, fasting, or compulsive exercising.
Bulimia tends to develop late in childhood or in early adulthood. It affects females more often than males. People with bulimia often perform the behaviors in secret, feeling disgusted and ashamed when it's done, yet relieved once they purge. They usually weigh within the normal range for their age and height. However, they may fear gaining weight, have a desire to lose weight, and may feel intensely dissatisfied with their bodies.
There is no known cause for Bulimia, it may begin with a dissatisfaction of the person's body and extreme concern with body size and shape. Usually, individuals suffering from bulimia have low self-esteem and fear of being overweight. Though it is hereditary, it tends to run in families.
There are several complications to Bulimia, some of which are: Swelling and soreness in the salivary glands (from repeated vomiting), Stomach ulcers, Dehydration, Irregular heartbeat, Disruption in the normal bowel release function, higher risk for suicidal behavior and so on.
Recovering from bulimia can be a difficult process, Guidance from a professional who specializes in eating disorder recovery will help one in the recovery process. Many people are not able to recover on their own.
The first step in recovering from bulimia is getting help. Tell someone, tell a trusted family member or friend to get support for reaching out to a professional.
Stop the Purge Cycle; this painful pattern can often feel impossible to break. Learning the causes of this pattern can help you break free from it with help from a professional.
Stop restricting your food; eat regularly as this tends to hunger, and make sure you are giving your body the food it needs.
Learn your triggers; Something as simple as being in a particular place, or a specific time of day, can be a trigger. Stress and feelings of sadness, loneliness, and anxiety can also be triggers, examine what triggers this behavior for you, and develop strategies for managing those triggers.
Make a plan; come up with a plan that will help you tolerate these moments. Knowing what to do when the feeling hits you can help you get through it. Things you may want to include on your plan are calling a friend or family member, distracting yourself with a task, or going to a safe location where you don’t have the means or access to purge.
Manage your Anxiety; Anxiety is at the heart of the behavior for many people with bulimia. So, conversely, managing anxiety is an essential piece of how to recover from bulimia.
Distract yourself; Distraction can be a powerful weapon in combating anxiety. Find ways you can get past a moment of anxiety. For some people, a repetitive task like knitting, sketching, reading can be soothing and distracting enough that momentary anxiety melts away. And some people may need to physically take themselves out of an anxious moment or situation by going for a walk or hopping in their car for a drive with the radio on.
Start healing your relationship with your body; Bulimia is destructive to your relationship with your body in so many ways. It can cause physical damage, such as oesophageal and dental problems, but the damage goes well beyond that. Bulimia can turn you into a combatant against your body, waging a war against your own flesh. And an essential piece of recovery is healing that relationship and reconnecting with your body as a friend, not a foe.
By: Sidiqah Uthman
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