Roughly, bulimia affects up to 4% of the population. The onset of bulimia is most common in early to mid adolescence with the highest percentage falling in the age category of women around 20 years. But for some it can begin before the age of 10.
Bulimia is characterized by engaging in episodes of eating large quantities of food followed by self-induced purging. Not only is bulimia defined by this but it is also defined by non-purging type activities; namely abuse of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, excessive exercise and even fasting. All these forms of purging are in an attempt to rid the body of calories consumed.Although there is a common misconception that bulimia is about weight, bulimia is about stuffing feelings and coping with distress.
Often times a bulimic may have a history of dieting and/or striving to be thin. And sometimes the initial feelings associated with bulimia are euphoric. But soon these feelings diminish and the bulimic finds themselves feeling emotionally distraught, depressed, anxious, unworthy and full of shame and guilt. Bulimia typically protects the sufferer from experiencing feelings that may be unknown to them or simply unbearable. Psychological issues are apt to be deflected onto food. Binging tends to burry these emotions while purging releases them. Ultimately the sufferer has numbed themselves to the point of not really feeling or experiencing the many facets of life. In the end, the bulimic feels worse about themselves rather than better, hence a vicious and seemingly out of control cycle of binging and purging occurs.
Some signs associated with bulimia:
Preoccupation with food
Preoccupation with body weight
Chaotic eating
Binging and purging
Abuse of laxatives, diuretics and diet pills
Excessive exercise
Fasting after a binge
Swollen face, scaring on hands
Broken blood vessels on face and in the eyes
Some physical effects of bulimia:
Dehydration
Loss of potassium
Tooth decay/enamel erosion
Cavities
Ruptured stomach/ulcers
Tears in esophagus
Gastrointestinal complications (cathartic colon, malabsorption of nutrients)
Allow yourself to “feel” your feelings with non-purging activities
Write/journal
Boost your self-esteem by engaging in activities that you enjoy (art, walking, playing with pets…)
Surround yourself with positive people
Improve your relationships (family, friends, community)
Be realistic with yourself recovery takes time and patience
As I cannot list all the facts about bulimia I have tried to list the ones most commonly known. Bulimia has many common threads but each and every person affected with this disease is unique. Therefore, having been down the road of false promises and serious medical conditions, I cannot stress how important I feel seeking therapy is for recovery. I personally was unable to keep any of the promises I made to myself (tomorrow will be a new day-I will not binge and purge, if I only eat this or that or do this or that then I won’t binge and purge, if I keep busy 24/7 then I will not have a bulimic day.. the list goes on). I found out through therapy that I had so many unresolved feelings (many I had no idea existed, others I simply didn’t know how to express) and in learning who I really am, I was able to use various tools and strategies to be in the space of recovery.
