If you think you are on the path to bulimia or know someone who is, take a few minutes to read this article about the dangers of binging and purging.
Is this bulimia?
Overeating is not necessarily the sign of an eating disorder, such as bulimia. On the other hand, if you routinely binge, (i.e., you eat massive amounts of food, to the point where you begin to hide it from others) then it’s a little scary.
If you vomit after you binge eat, or you take laxatives, diuretics, exercise excessively or use any other method to rid your body of the surplus calories, it's more serious. If you exhibit these behaviours frequently and over a long period of time (at least twice a week, for three months or more), then we’re talking about a chronic condition that can develop into a real, and very dangerous, eating disorder.
Why engage in this binging and purging?
The main factors that drive individuals, especially women, to binge and then purge:
- Suffering from low self-esteem;
- In order to tolerate strong emotions and alleviate emotional suffering;
- To fill an emotional void;
- Living in an environment fixated on thinness, or in a or culture where there is pressure to be skinny at all costs;
- A history of being overweight or underweight;
- A family history of eating disorders, depression or anxiety;
- Emotional instability;
- Hyper controlling behaviour (control freak);
- A dysregulation in serotonin levels after excessive dieting.
What are the consequences?
These are health risks that arise from repeated vomiting and purging:
- Gastrointestinal disorders (ulcers, constipation, bloating, etc.);
- Mood swings and anxiety;
- Sleep disorders and difficulty concentrating;
- Esophageal perforation;
- Eroded teeth, cavities and damaged gums;
- Muscle aches;
- Fainting;
- Hair loss;
- Osteoporosis;
- Heart problems;
- Social isolation.
How can you beat it?
If you're still at the early stages of this risky behaviour, you may be able to stop by yourself. Though it's likely you may need support. So talk to at least one person you trust to confide in. Start by resuming healthy and balanced eating habits, i.e., eating three meals a day, at the same time every day. Indulge yourself with a treat about once a week to avoid total deprivation and to help modify and develop new reward seeking behaviours. Part of recovery is learning about nutrition and healthy eating habits. This will help you to eat well and avoid hunger.
Seeking professional help
On the other hand, if you feel too fragile and too deeply mired in a vicious cycle of overeating, you may also need professional help. It’s critical to seek help as soon as you can, these are the first steps:
- Admit you have a problem;
- Call a crisis hotline, an eating disorder association or contact your community healthcare services centre for resources;
- Break the silence and talk to someone.
There are several underlying problems that can manifest themselves through eating disorders. There is no shame in seeking professional help to determine what those causes are and help stop bulimia before it causes any serious harm to your body.
