Bulimia Nervosa Therapy

Let’s be real: society’s unrealistic standards of beauty can have detrimental effects on both men and women.

With stick-thin models in the magazines and photoshopped pics on social media, it’s no wonder so many of us feel immense pressure to look a certain way.

This warped sense of “beauty” can lead to a serious eating disorder called Bulimia.

While all eating disorders are dangerous, Bulimia has the most rapid detrimental impact on the body and mind.

Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by a binge-and-purge cycle.

This cycle consists of frequent episodes of binge eating, (consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time), followed by efforts to avoid gaining weight, such as vomiting, taking laxatives, or exercising to excess.

Eating in this way can cause damage to your digestive system and create chemical imbalances in your body that harm major organs, including the heart.

In severe cases, the imbalance of electrolytes can even cause the heart to stop, resulting in death.

So this is serious stuff.

The physical motion of purging can also rupture the esophagus, which can be fatal as well.

It can be really scary.

Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa sufferers may experience stomach cramps or gastrointestinal complaints, including constipation or acid reflux.

You may temporarily or permanently lose your period and you have a higher chance of developing sleep problems.

Due to low thyroid, hormones, and potassium, you can also develop anemia or experience a constant state of coldness.

Dizziness upon standing or fainting may also happen, along with dry skin, hair loss, and brittle nails.

Due to the shame and guilt experienced after a binge-and-purge cycle, many people with bulimia will develop comorbid mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidality.

Translation: Not fun.

While Bulimia is most common among young women, this rampant eating disorder can affect women and men of all ages.

When you’re in the throes of an eating disorder, life may feel like a constant battle between the desire to lose weight and the overwhelming compulsion to binge eat.

But no matter how trapped you feel, there IS hope.

With treatment and support, you can break this unhealthy cycle, learn to manage unpleasant emotions in a non-destructive way, and regain your sense of control.

And we’re here to help.

Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics of Bulimia in case you are wondering whether you or a loved one are suffering with this disorder.