Bulimia is a kind of mental disorder that can affect anyone at any age. However, it is the young generation aged between 15 to 25 years which is most likely to get affected by this disorder. An individual affected by this disorder is most likely to go through a phase where they eat an excess amount of food in a very short period of time (binge eating) and then try to get the same food out of their body to try to not gain the extra weight.
Usually, they force themselves to vomit and get rid of the food they have eaten in excess or take some medicines that can help them poo or pee more, indulge in extensive exercise, fasting, or even both as a combination for the fast result.
Symptoms of bulimia
While every individual affected by the condition may display different symptoms, some of the common ones include:
- Eating a lot of food in a short time, often uncontrollably – this is known as binge eating
- Worrying about gaining weight
- Self-body shaming or fat shaming
- Mood swings – for example, feeling very depressed or anxious
- Frequent Thoughts about food
- Staying away from social gatherings that involve food
- Feeling to have lost control of their food habits.
The person may also display some physical signs like:
- Feeling exhausted
- Symptoms of pharyngitis
- Stomach ache or bloating
- Swallow face
- Self-punishment
Generally, an individual who has bulimia starts behaving very secretively hence it’s not easy to find out the symptoms.
Causes of bulimia
Some of the most common causes for having this eating disorder are:
- Family history of such eating disorders, depression, or addiction to alcohol/drugs.
- In childhood, the person has faced criticism or body shaming.
- Any kind of pressure for looking slim. It could be from your loved one or your job demands you to be in some kind of shape.
- If an individual already has an obsessive personality, high anxiety level, or low self-esteem.
- Any childhood trauma such as physical or sexual abuse.
Health risks of bulimia
This disorder cannot be taken lightly as it eventually impacts the physical health of the person due to lack of the right nutrients. This is generally because a person vomits a lot, or overusing medicines. Some of the probable issues that can be caused due to bulimia include:
- Feeling fatigue and loss of strength
- Oral health conditions – stomach acid from constant vomiting can harm tooth enamel
- Other problems that arise due to stomach acid are bad breath, sore throat, or even tears in the lining of the throat
- Improper or absent periods
- Effect on the skin and hair
- Onychoschizia
- Can cause lymphadenopathy
- Fits and cramps
- It also impacts the heart, and kidneys and causes bone problems like low bone density (osteopenia).
Treatment for bulimia
The first step to treat the condition begins with accepting that you have the condition or are affected by it. Post that, it is important to seek medical help, which is the toughest. Once you decide this, then the rest of the steps can be easily followed, especially when you have one of India’s best Psychiatric hospitals – Athena Behavioral Health.
It is the government-approved, NABH-certified rehabilitation facility and has all the latest facilities and inpatient mental health services available. In case you or someone you’re concerned about is showing any signs of bulimia or any other mental illness, then contact us today. Call us at +91 92890 86193 or drop us an email at customercare@athenabhs.com an we will get back to you shortly.
Our mental health expert will create a treatment plan that will be tailored as per your condition’s criticality and should take into account any other support you might need, such as for depression or anxiety.
The psychiatrist may guide you about a self-help program as a first step in the treatment of bulimia. This is usually a combination of working through a self-help book or online program and sitting with a therapist. This program will be based on your condition and in case after 4 weeks they do not see much progress in your condition then they will start cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or an additional type of therapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is all about talking to a therapist, He will help you to change the emotions and thoughts that could be the root cause of your eating disorder, and also your perspective towards your weight and body shape.
They will guide and support you to start a regular eating habit and show you the ways of how to adhere to it.
Things you should consider while recovering from bulimia.
- Do not brush your teeth just after vomiting so you do not wear away the enamel
- Make sure to clean your mouth with a non-acidic mouthwash
- Keep your oral health checked with a dentist regularly.
- Avoid eating acidic foods, such as fruit juice, during a binge and after purging
An individual needs to be admitted to hospital for if the condition gets more serious and he/she displays these symptoms:
- Excessive amount of weight loss
- Due to illness if your life is at risk
- If you are below 18 years old and your therapist believes that you may not get enough support at home
- If the psychiatrist feels that you might harm yourself or are at risk of suicide
In Athena Behavioral Health we will keep a very careful eye on physical and mental health. So, don’t worry once you are being cared for in our hospital. We have psych wards with all the required facilities and as soon as therapists find that your weight is increasing and your thoughts are on the right track they will let you go home.
