People suffering from bulimia may suffer even more with long-term effects. Obsession on physical image, weight and self-esteem issues are some of the components that make up bulimia. If not recognized or treated immediately, it could lead to even more dangerous effects like physical and psychological damages or even death. Then there are the psychological issues which more people are afraid of than the physical, because it is the psychological problems which make your life a misery and is the trigger for starting a bulimia recovery program.
Bulimia begins with an extreme need to focus on bodily appearance and weight problems that lead to habits that can help them maintain their proportions. These measures include throwing up after eating, taking diuretics and laxatives.
Doing these regularly and purposely may cause some serious harm in the body. Eventually, the body can succumb to the following symptoms: sore knuckles from inserting the two fingers in the mouth to forcefully make yourself throw up; bad breath and damaged teeth from the stomach acids coming out; and ulcers as well as heart burn.
Psychologically, the bulimic patient may eventually suffer from depression as well as extremely low self-esteem. If they do not go in to a bulimia recovery program, then who knows what other effects the person may experience.
The recommended non-medicated treatment for bulimia are psychological therapy and one on one counseling. Only in cases that are severe and with a patient’s non-response to the initial treatments is hospitalization necessary.
The most popular treatments for bulimia is cognitive behavioral therapy. Frequently, this is the most popular initial treatment since research has found it effective in over 50% of patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy includes nutritional counseling in order to prepare the patient for coping differently and prevent relapses in the future. You can also try interpersonal therapy treatment. This type of therapy deals with the emotional aspects like depression that influenced the eating disorder. Support group therapy can be helpful if the bulimia is at its early stages and the patient’s health have not been severely compromised. Another treatment that might work is family therapy. Reports have been positive on this treatment compared to interpersonal therapy since a vital support mechanism such as the family is utilized and given support to as well.
Patients who have shown signs of depression have responded well to medications to treat their bulimia. Experts however advise that drugs are to be given in combination with some form of psychological therapy such as CBT. The antidepressants prescribed are a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. There are different pharmaceutical substances provided to patients to help with issues like vomiting. Occasional anti-epileptic drugs are prescribed since tests have reflected that they can help with periods of binging and purging. Bulimic patients are benefited by B vitamin drugs originally prescribed for depression and bipolar disorder.
There are other treatments for bulimia as well that have been explored. But more studies must be done and it has not yet been proven that these treatments are effective in the majority of cases. Hypnosis, light therapy, guided imagery, and acupuncture are some of these new treatments.
Hypnosis has been proven to work with patients who have bulimia, however patients that have anorexia do not respond as well to this therapy. When a patient’s bulimia is related to seasonal affective disorder then light therapy is used. But, the desired results are due to the decrease in depression and not the elimination of binge-purge behavior in bulimic patients. In research, guided imagery has been found to minimize binging and purging by nearly three-quarters. In this method, the patient listens to audiotapes where images are evoked that will help in achieving treatment goals. Acupuncture entails choosing points in the abdomen where there is a balance of Qi as well as good blood and oxygen circulation. This remedial treatment operates on the assumption that lack of energy balance in the system leads to eating disorders. This therapeutic method allegedly causes endorphins to be emitted, minimizes stress, and boosts the digestive and endocrine functions.
These are the most common and accepted bulimia nervosa treatments: the use of drugs to control bulimic tendencies (pharmacological), and psychological study, re-education, and CBT (psychotherapeutic). However, it should be noted that this medical condition affects individuals differently. Different sufferers of bulimia nervosa will display different symptoms of the condition. The same is true when it comes to the gravity and the occurrence of bingeing and purging episodes. The problem is further compounded by the fact that this condition takes hold at different ages. Some people experience severe forms of bulimia in their early teens while others experience mild cases during their late 20s.
Similar to many other psychological disorders, treatment for bulimia has varied success among different individuals, and some people are still searching for the options that work best for them. It is accurate to state that a lot of folks suffering from bulimia have tried successive therapies, including combining some treatments in the hope of a faster cure. Both traditional and alternative treatments can be prescribed singly or together - with the strict and full cooperation of the patient to the treatments. Acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and stress releasing activities are a few treatments that have shown good but limited success.
Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of alternative medicine. This form of treatment for bulimia has been shown effective in alleviating binging and purging urges. In some cases, the person with bulimia nervosa feels less inclined to practice unhealthy eating habits due to the general feeling of well-being after each acupuncture session. But only a small percentage consent to and seek out alternative treatments like these, so their cooperation and willingness to believe in the therapy is the most important factor in the healing process.
Hypnotherapy is generally utilized in cases where patients are experiencing some type of depression. It is widely accepted that psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression often accompany bulimia nervosa. Sometimes hypnotherapy is used as part of a psychotherapy course of treatment. Again, very few people can actually be placed under hypnosis or follow suggested actions to overcome both bulimia and depression.
For older patients and those suffering only from mild cases of this medical condition, stress releasing activities or stress reduction techniques can help alleviate depression, and thereby the need to binge and purge. Tai chi, yoga, meditation, and massage therapies - all low impact and relaxing activities - can help an individual develop a more positive bodily outlook. Usually, when a person responds to these forms of treatment for bulimia, MNT or medical nutrition therapy is then introduced. Here, patients relearn all they need about getting a proper diet for optimal health.
Patients afflicted with bulimia typically get psychological or psychiatric treatment. Effectiveness of the bulimia treatment depends on the willingness of the patient to participate and if the type of treatment cures the disorder’s underlying causes for a particular patient.
When using cognitive-behavioral therapy the patient eats three regular meals a day with the gradual intake of previously avoided foods. With Interpersonal Therapy, the goal of the treatment is for the patient to discover what caused the disorder by exploring emotional issues and social relationships especially with the patient’s family. Family therapy or family-based treatment is given to treat and empower both the patient and the family.
Due to the high cost of treatment that involves therapy and medication, some patients who suffer from bulimia look at cheaper alternatives. First are self help books on eating disorders. Some books provide information and background on binge eating and detailed steps on how to overcome it. Authors of these books range from psychologists, psychiatrists, nutrition and diet experts, and even people who have formerly suffered from bulimia. Psychological methods of treating eating disorders point out the importance of having a strong support system in making the treatment effective. If finances are the hindrance in seeking bulimia treatment, one may try going to support group sessions for bulimics.
Long gone are the days where women celebrated the joy and pride of having that voluptuous hour-glass shape, much like that of Marilyn Manroe’s in the 40’s and 50’s . Now we find ourselves fast forwarded to a time of androgenic beauty as the newly hailed ideal of beauty, having somewhere on the time line shaped by the stick like shape of Twiggy in the 70’s. We now looked to Victoria Beckham’s or Angelina Jolie’s frail bodies , not shy of revealing ample skeletal assets as our inspiration – while we go on failing our own self with bulimia recovery!
So how did we get to this point, where our own state of health and wellness is forfeited to by the images that we soak up in the world around us? Apart from our own vulnerabilities, the role of media has a lot to answer for, bombarding us with images that are untrue, unattainable and ugly to any true feminine beauty. Why are we so quick to feed in to the insecurities that the media wants us to feel, while rejecting our own self worth and unique beautiful body images that are a gift from our generations above?
Our poor body image that leads us to surrender to a coping mechanism such as bulimia comes from our inner flawed self esteem that associates our body image directly with self esteem. Unlike this curse in women, majority of men are exempt from tying up the two concepts in to one lump problem. Men simply hold on to their higher self esteem, despite how poor their bodies or body images may be. Then again, the pressure in society is not preoccupied with men..but women with vulnerabilities.
In the world of women, where fat = unattractive, youth= attractive, slim=success or thin=desirable; certain beauty industry stand to keep us locked up in this state of despair and constant battle with one self to be perfect. So who stands to profit out of your bulimia: media, cosmetic industry, diet clubs and fashion. While you go on spending unaccounted time, energy and resources to be the next image of perfection, you also know your life is falling apart in front of your very eyes: deep despair and constant anxiety, self destruction, depression, broken relationship, failed career, financial insecurities, secrets and lies.
This detrimental influence of media reflecting slender boyish appearance bordering on anorexic looks that shouts out ageless body stuck in cryogenic suspension, are not the norm ..nor do they tell the truth about our body’s full physiology, as it grossly denies nature and it’s processes and stages of cycles of life. If you could step away from the unnecessary external imposed pressures of our western society, could you love your self or your body that much better? The answer is Yes.
If you could go without a moment of glancing glossy magazine or watch an image on a billboard or television…you could begin your process of inner resilience and courage..that is much needed to over turn your body’s dysmorphia or bulimic ways.
Your bad days, will not feel so bad that it is so out of control; instead you may discover that you can delve deep and fish out that motivation to recover from your bulimia and seek that self empowerment. Bulimia treatment will not only address how to love the body you get to shape by your own standards of health, but also give you strategies to fight back against the propaganda of media in the way it tried to preach a certain body image with which you ought to be happy in .
