Food can create feelings of nostalgia, create a bridge across cultures, and lift a low mood.If you regularly feel compelled to binge eat and then purge, you may be affected by bulimia nervosa.Both males and females are affected by bulimia nervosa.If you or someone you know has a eating disorder, it is important to learn how to get help.
Step 1: If you see signs of bingeing, examine your eating habits.
One of the main symptoms of bulimia is binge eating.Bingeing is when you eat a lot of food in a short time.Do not confuse bingeing with regular eating.It isn't considered a problem unless it is a common occurrence.Bingeing can cause feelings of guilt, depression, or being out of control.Someone with the eating disorder binge eats at least once a week.Binge eating involves a lot of secret and shame.People who binge eat in private, buy food at different stores to hide their habit, or replace food so no one will know they ate it.
Step 2: There are signs of purge.
Many people with bulimia attempt to make up for their excess calories by vomiting after a binge.The person can abuse laxatives.There are a number of signs of purge, including frequent bathroom visits after meals, tooth or gum damage, swollen cheeks, and scars on the knuckles.Some people with bulimia use water pills or enemas to purge.
Step 3: Patterns of fasting or over-exercising can be found.
People with eating disorders don't always purge.When they are not bingeing, they may take an all-or-nothing approach to food and severely restrict their intake.Some people spend a lot of time exercising to burn calories.How much exercise is too much?Any type of exercise can become destructive if it is taken to an extreme.When exercising isn't possible, people tend to prioritize exercise over other responsibilities, and continue to work out even when sick or injured.
Step 4: There are physical symptoms of bulimia.
Many people with bulimia are normal weight or slightly overweight, and they may have large or frequent fluctuations in weight.Swelling of the cheeks or jaw area can be caused by this eating disorder.
Step 5: Do you know if it runs in the family?
Eating disorders may have a genetic component.If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have a eating disorder, check to see if anyone else in the family has ever been diagnosed.If eating disorders are common in your family, you may have a family history of related conditions.
Step 6: Negative body image issues should be acknowledged.
A negative body image can cause eating disorders.A negative body image can make someone see themselves as overweight or unattractive.Negative body image issues can be caused by constant self-criticism, comparing one's own body to that of other people, and idealizing an unrealistic body type.A person with a negative body image is worried about how their body looks.The idea of attaining a perfect body would lead to a better life.An eating disorder can be a result of this irrational belief.Body image issues can be traced back to early childhood.Children who are criticized for their weight can develop a negative body image.People with self-critical tendencies are more likely to have a negative body image.
Step 7: Look for indicators of low self-esteem.
Eating disorders can be caused by low self-esteem.Someone with a low sense of self-worth may try to feel better about themselves by changing the way they look, which can lead to an eating disorder.Being hypersensitive to criticism, excessively seeking approval from others, having a pattern of turbulent relationships, and habitually being unconfident and unassertive are some of the signs of low self-esteem.
Step 8: Look for signs of trauma.
Eating disorders can be triggered by trauma.Many people with this condition have suffered sexual abuse or other types of trauma, but not everyone has a painful past.Some of the symptoms of trauma include withdrawn behavior, anxiety, anger, and mood swings.It can cause fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and vague physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat.
Step 9: You should be aware of environmental influences.
The culture or environment you live, work, or grow up in can affect your relationship with food and your body.If you suspect that you or a loved one may have an eating disorder, look for risk factors such as teasing or criticism about weight from family members, classmates or coworkers.Living in an environment where thinness is emphasized is a part of being a member of a Fraternity.Modeling, acting, or professional athletics are some of the professions that have strict physical requirements.
Step 10: Mental health issues that occur with bulimics can be checked.
People with bulimia have a variety of related conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, borderline personality disorder, or a history of self- harm.If you or a loved one has an eating disorder, be on the lookout for symptoms.There is a correlation between these conditions and eating disorders.You may be able to recover more effectively if you get treatment for both bulimia and related conditions at the same time.
Step 11: Other life stressors may cause eating disorders.
Many people with eating disorders started with an eating disorder as a way of dealing with stress.Bingeing may serve as a comfort mechanism or an escape, while purging or restricting calories restores a feeling of control.Problems at school, illness, and a difficult home life are some of the common stressors that can cause or worsen eating disorders.
Step 12: You should schedule an appointment with your doctor.
If it isn't treated, bulimia can be dangerous or even fatal.It's important to seek medical help if you suspect someone has bulimic tendencies.A doctor can perform a physical evaluation, help you come up with a plan for recovery, and refer you to a therapist to address the emotional aspects of bulimia.If you have bulimia, you can be at risk of life threatening problems.Call a doctor or go to the emergency room if you can't urinate, have a heart problem, or have black stools.If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, call the emergency services.
Step 13: Go for a physical exam.
The body can be damaged by bulimia.A doctor can determine if you have been bulimic by performing a thorough evaluation of your health.It is possible for you and your doctor to determine the best path to recovery with a thorough physical examination.Your doctor can order lab work, such as blood or urine tests, to check for damage to your heart.
Step 14: Ask about your eating habits.
To determine if you have an eating disorder, your doctor will ask you questions about your relationship with food and eating.They can use the "SCOFF Questionnaire," which consists of the following questions: S, C, and O.
Step 15: You can keep a log of your eating habits.
Food logs can be used to diagnose and recover from bulimia.Writing down everything you eat, as well as your mood and thoughts at the time, helps you to stay aware of your food choices.A food log can be used to assess an eating disorder.There are many ways to keep track of food.You can use an app on your phone or a notebook to keep track of everything you eat.
Step 16: See a therapist for treatment.
A mental health professional can help you break down the negative thoughts that lead to eating disorders.Negative thought patterns can be hard to fix without professional help.A therapist can help you find ways to deal with emotions without resorting to eating disorders.It is possible to work through trauma, poor self-esteem, and negative body image issues through therapy.
Step 17: Find support.
There are many sources of information on the internet.It is possible to find local groups where you can get face-to-face support from others who are recovering from eating disorders.If you want to find groups in your area or online, try searching here: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-help-support.