Bulimia Nervosa

When someone is struggling with bulimia nervosa they often go into eating with an intent to overeat, binge eat, or they feel an overall lack of control while eating. This is then paired with a compensatory behavior to “fix” the perceived problem of the initial intake, such as purging, excessive exercise, misuse of laxative or other medications, fasting, or a combination of purging methods. The individual is also preoccupied with food and weight, but it is important to note that not all individuals struggling with bulimia have an abnormal or unhealthy weight status. More so, it is the individual’s view of weight and intense fear of gaining weight that leads to behaviors. Efforts made to control weight and shape are not only damaging physically, but also impair mental and emotional health. Seeking treatment for bulimia is so imperative due to the numerous health risks paired with this disease. Use of purging methods impact many parts of the body, from internal organs, bone, skin, hair, and gums. Bulimia can also lead to severe consequences including (but not limited to) cardiovascular problems, seizures, fertility issues, hormonal imbalances, gastritis, depression, and anxiety. There is no one universal form of bulimia as each individual differs. In attempts to hide behaviors from others, some might publicly display normalized eating habits but then struggle secretively with binge eating and purging at home. Another might alternate between bouts of restrictive eating followed by bouts of binge-purge behaviors. For others, binge eating might not occur at all and purging stands alone after any moments of food intake. Managing the secrecy of one’s bulimia can impact all areas of life. Social interactions are often times avoided or severely impaired due to the preoccupation of food and need to find ways to compensate for eating. Relationships can be shattered as the eating disorder eclipses all meaningful moments of life. Often times our clients share that their temperament drastically changed due to the eating disorder. We often see clients lash out at others, lie to cover up behaviors, and even steal from loved ones to fuel behaviors. This wraps the individual struggling with bulimia in guilt and shame, which further leads them in a downward spiral. This is also why it is common for individuals struggling with bulimia to have dual diagnoses, such as depression or substance abuse. At Lotus Therapy Group, we are aware of how equally scary it can be to continue to use behaviors and to give these behaviors up. We are also aware of the specialized treatment needed to safety move clients away from negative behaviors and the need to collaborate closely with all medical professionals during this process. When one’s eating disorder is replaced by healthy behaviors, the quality of their life increases tenfold.