What kinds of thoughts are going through your head? Distance yourself. Realize that you are NOT your feelings. Emotions are passing events, like clouds moving across the sky. Sitting with your feelings may feel extremely uncomfortable at first. Maybe even impossible. Even emotions that feel intolerable are only temporary. You can choose how to respond. The bingeing and purging of bulimia is often fueled by dysfunctional, self-sabotaging ways of thinking that undermine your confidence, color everything in an unrealistically negative light, and make you feel helpless, inadequate, and ashamed.
But you can learn to put a stop to these unhealthy mental habits. All-or-nothing thinking. You have a hard time seeing shades of gray, at least when it comes to yourself.
Emotional reasoning. You believe if you feel a certain way, it must be true. Musts, must-nots, and have-tos. You call yourself names based on mistakes and perceived shortcomings. You jump to the worst-case scenario.
Once you identify the destructive thoughts patterns that you default to, you can start to challenge them with questions such as:. As you cross-examine your negative thoughts, you may be surprised at how quickly they crumble.
If you suspect that your friend or family member has bulimia, talk to the person about your concerns. Either way, bulimia should never be ignored. Offer compassion and support. Keep in mind that the person may get defensive or angry. But if he or she does open up, listen without judgment and make sure the person knows you care. Avoid insults, scare tactics, guilt trips, and patronizing comments. Since bulimia is often caused and exacerbated by stress, low self-esteem, and shame, negativity will only make it worse.
Set a good example for healthy eating, exercising, and body image. Accept your limits. Eating Disorder Hope offers online support groups dedicated to providing assistance and encouragement. The groups are led by licensed professional counselors. Recovery Record: Eating Disorder Management. This app is designed to help you manage your recovery from eating disorders. It lets you track your mood and meals.
You can also connect with your therapist or dietitian and receive feedback. National Eating Disorders Association Blog. There are also entries that provide educational information about eating disorders. They build relationships with Congress, federal agencies, and national and local organizations to advocate for awareness. The AED hosts this annual scientific conference, which highlights research and education related to eating disorders.
Experts from around the world attend to learn about emerging breakthroughs in the field. The Meadows Ranch. This acre property located in Arizona provides a relaxing retreat so you can focus on regaining your health. Their experts specialize in combining approaches to treat a range of eating disorders, including bulimia.
Representatives work with your health insurance company to make your treatment as affordable as possible. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: October 13, Medically Reviewed. Bulimia is a serious eating disorder that involves both bingeing and purging. Common treatments include: 1,4 Psychotherapy Different forms of therapy and counseling can improve symptoms of bulimia. Talking to a mental health professional may help you identify your unhealthy behaviors and come up with ways to eliminate them. Sometimes family members are encouraged to participate in therapy sessions. Nutritional counseling A dietitian can help you develop a healthy eating plan.
Hospitalization If your condition is severe, you may need to be hospitalized until you get better. Here are some tips: 1, 8 Try to avoid talking about your weight. Be mindful of your triggers and steer clear of them; examples may include social media or fashion magazines, certain interactions with highly critical people in your life, etc.
It is different for everyone, but it is important to be mindful if certain experiences lead you to be more likely to binge or purge.
Focus less on your weight and more on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Avoid unhealthy weight-control measures, such as fasting, laxatives, or supplements. Talk to your doctor if you have any early signs or symptoms of bulimia. Seek treatment for underlying conditions, such as depression.
Ask a loved one for support. Educate yourself about unrealistic body expectations portrayed by the media. Talk to friends or family members if you think they have food issues. Some risks that can develop from bulimia include: 1, 9 Severe dehydration Electrolyte imbalances, which can lead to heart or kidney failure Stomach damage or ulcers Irregular periods in women Tooth decay Chronic sore throat Indigestion , heartburn , or acid reflux Constipation , diarrhea , or other problems with bowel movements Osteoporosis Infertility in men and women.
Sometimes people with bulimia have other eating disorders or medical problems. Conditions that may be related to bulimia include: 7, 11 Anorexia This disorder involves extreme calorie restriction.
Depression This mental health disorder is characterized by a depressed mood or loss of interest in activities. Another way to purge calories is with the use of laxatives. This method is less common and also less studied with similar research barriers as with vomiting. It is important for anybody seeking this knowledge to understand the safety risks involved when purging. Purging through vomiting can lead to some very serious ailments, including death.
Laxatives and diuretics have some similar symptoms in common, such as dehydration and loss of nutrients, which can make them just as harmful as vomiting. Overall, purging puts a lot of strain on the body, and long term purging is going to have some lasting effects that may not be reversible. Those considering purging should be helped by a medical professional, usually a psychiatrist so that they can avoid hurting themselves.
Those who purge often do it to lose weight or prevent themselves from gaining weight. The psychological factors can also increase weight over time and many who purge often have recorded this. When a person expects to purge after eating it is likely they may eat more than they would have normally, perhaps they are uninformed and think that any food ingested would be discarded after purging.
This person may not realize either that as soon as they started eating their body began producing insulin to absorb the sugar it expects to be in the blood shortly.
However, after purging there is no extra sugar available but still plenty of insulin. The insulin absorbs the normal supply of blood sugar leaving one with low blood sugar, causing the body to send a signal that it needs food. This means eating more, which is generally considered a bad way to lose weight.
So you should immediately stop asking yourself about how many calories do you retain after purging.
0コメント