Warning Signs of Bulimia Nervosa and Healing Methods

What is Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia, a psychological eating disorder, is manifested when you experience episodes of binge eating (consuming a large quantity of food in one sitting). You feel completely powerless over your eating during these binges. Afterward, you try improper weight-loss methods like:

• Vomiting
• Fasting
• Excessive use of diuretics and laxatives
• Exercise compulsion

Bulimia is a serious illness that poses a threat to life. Bulimics may purge or exhibit purging behaviors, as well as engage in a cycle of bingeing and purging. The use of fasting, strengthening exercises, or extreme dieting is all examples of purge behaviors. Obsession with achieving an unrealistic body image can also result from bulimia nervosa. A person with this eating disorder may be constantly self-critical and obsessed with their weight. To learn more, connect with the best Psychologist near me at TalktoAngel.

Warning Signs of Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia can have physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms.

• Physical Signs

• Oral health issues aren’t the only physical symptom of bulimia, though. People could also go through it.

• Eyes that are red

• The back of the hand has calluses.

• Chest pain

• Recurring episodes of constipation (resulting from laxative abuse)

• Deficiency in water and electrolyte imbalances

• Recurring throat pain

• Headache

• Heart flutters

• Dizziness or a loss of balance (may experience fainting)

• Oral sores

• Stomach pain

• Increasing hand- and foot-size

• Enlarged glands and a rounding of the jaw

• Dental caries

• Sensitive teeth

• Spitting up blood

• Teeth that are yellowing, graying, spotted, or decaying

Behavior-Related Signs

The behavioral symptoms listed below are the ones that friends and family members notice the most frequently.

• Establishing routines or rituals that permit bingeing and purging.

• A burning desire to work out despite how it interferes with other activities.

• Signs of binge eating include storing food, stealing food, and consuming a lot of food at once.

• Evidence of purgings, such as the need to constantly use the restroom, the need to take a shower after eating, or the presence of laxative or diuretic packages.

• Exercising a set amount in order to “burn off” the calories consumed during extreme eating behaviors (strict dieting followed by overeating).

• Dull appearance.

• Frequently visiting the restroom.

• Large quantities of food missing from the refrigerator or pantry, as well as large quantities of food packaging in trash cans or vehicles.

• Discussions that are so preoccupied with dieting, calories, food, or weight that they interfere with casual interaction.

• Uses alcohol or detox teas to reduce appetite.

• Leaving behind friends, families, and routine activities.

Emotional Symptoms

Even when they are unaware of the bingeing and purging behaviors, family members and friends are frequently able to spot emotional symptoms, despite the fact that they are more difficult to notice than behavioral symptoms. Although not specific to bulimia nervosa, these emotional problems could be concerning. 3

• Depression

• Extreme agitation

• Incredibly critical of oneself

• Feeling uncontrollable

• Mood changes

• Self-worth, self-esteem, or attractiveness based on outward appearance and body mass

• The intense desire for approval

Step to Healing from Bulimia Nervosa

There is no known “cure” for bulimia that works for everyone, and eating disorders of all kinds can be challenging problems to address from the ground up. However, in terms of aiding patients in getting better and raising their quality of life, medical professionals and experts in distorted eating have come a long way.

The following are a few of the most important steps you, a loved one, or someone else can take to combat bulimia:

Although there isn’t a proven way to stop bulimia, you can encourage someone to make a change to better habits or get assistance from a trained counselor before things get out of hand. The following is how you can contribute:

Encourage and reinforce a positive body image in your children, regardless of their size or shape. Encourage them to grow their self-confidence in things besides looks.

• Family meals should be taken frequently.

• Don’t talk about your weight at home. Live a healthy lifestyle rather than concentrate on bad habits.

• Encourage healthy weight-control methods rather than dieting, especially when it comes to fasting, using laxatives or supplements to shed pounds, or inducing self-induced vomiting.

• Ask your psychologist for advice. He or she may be well-positioned to recognize early indications of an eating disorder and help in its prevention.

• If you notice a relative or friend who appears to be struggling with food issues that could be a sign of an eating disorder or be a precursor to one, you might consider supportively discussing these issues with them and asking how you can help.

Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa:

Your medical care will be based on your physical and psychological requirements when treating bulimia. Treatment options include counseling and medication. A group of medical, nutritional, and mental health professionals frequently participate. The best online mental health resource is TalktoAngel, and they’ll work to restore your health and encourage you to adopt healthy eating habits.

Psychotherapy: Cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT), during this type of therapy, you learn healthy eating practices and how to identify the causes of binges and purges. As false ideas and bad habits start to appear, you challenge them.

Family Based Therapy (FBT): It is frequently used in adolescents and teens with bulimia and aids the family in coping with the condition and any issues it may bring about.

Interpersonal counseling (IPT): This focuses on any problems you might be having in your relationships with other people. How you interact with others may impact your emotional state and mental health.

Bulimia self-care: In addition to following your therapy and treatment plan, you can look after yourself.

Maintain your physical health: Include healthy foods in your diet to make sure you are getting the nutrients you need. 

Consult your doctor to determine if supplements are appropriate for you. Additionally, ask your doctor how much exercise is recommended for you.

Connect with others: With the guidance of friends and family, you may be able to change negative behaviors and raise your self-esteem. A support group could be helpful as well.

Stay away from triggers: Avoid looking at pictures on social media of people with unnaturally thin bodies for too long. Do not use the scale or the mirror. Work on developing more effective coping mechanisms if boredom or stress triggers binge eating. For more information, feel free to seek Online Counselling at TalktoAngel.

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