Bulimia is self-starvation due to the irrational fear of
becoming fat. It may sound too bizarre and even ludicrous
to think that anyone would starve to the point of death in
order to stay slim. However, bulimia is real because it is
a mental illness with a distorted perception of how an
individual may look. Bulimia is becoming a rampant eating
disorder in the Western world, especially among more
affluent individuals.
Bulimia is an eating disorder that is difficult to treat,
especially when the disorder has been left untreated for a
while. Such difficulty often deepens when the victim of the
disorder not only resists help but also resents
interference from people around.
The symptoms of bulimia are many, but often may not seem
too apparent until the disorder has deteriorated.
Many people may be unduly self-conscious of their body
weight that they count calories, watch food portions, and
even skip meals every now and then. However, despite these
abnormal eating behavior patterns, they may not be bulimic.
Symptoms of bulimia, which are more apparent, include over
exercising, cutting food into very small pieces, vomiting
after meals and abusing laxatives. Unfortunately, victims
of bulimia are often good at masking these symptoms of
their disorder by wearing baggy or loose-fitting clothes,
as well as vomiting and abusing laxatives in private.
However, there are still some tale-telling signs in their
abnormal behavior and difficult personality that might
reveal their eating disorder, such as withdrawal from
normal social activities; irritability, lack of trust,
secretiveness, and stubbornness.
If you suspect that a close friend or a member of the
family is bulimic, you should confront him or her, and seek
medical help. People suffering from bulimia are mostly
women in their twenties, often before twenty-five. An
absence of three consecutive menstrual cycles is a good
indicator. A distorted perception of size and shape
reinforced by obvious weight loss with no physical disorder
is another positive sign of bulimia. Other physical
indications may include cold skin with a bluish tinge, and
the development of fine body hair with loss of hair on the
head. A physician's diagnoses of low blood pressure,
abnormally slow heartbeat, severe constipation, difficulty
in swallowing, indigestion, fatigue, sleep problems, and
anemia would further confirm the disorder.
Is there a cure? How does one eat right again?
You must confront a bulimic individual head on.
Confrontation or intervention is the only solution that
might result in a cure. The patient seldom seeks
professional help voluntarily.
Family members or people closest to the bulimic patient
must intervene. However, they must not condemn or criticize
the patient.
A bulimic will not only deny but also resist any
intervention. At that point, standing firm is critical to
successful outcome for the patient. In addition, you must
arm yourself with facts and knowledge about the disorder.
To help the patient, you must not get angry or frustrated
yourself; you must acknowledge the patient's fear and
concern, while reassuring that changing eating habits is
difficult but necessary for ultimate recovery.
Time is of essence, and procrastination often leads to
ultimate failure in overcoming the eating disorder.
Once the eating disorder is acknowledged and identified,
seek medical and professional help. Find a program based on
the credentials and appropriate experience of the staff, as
well as the components of the program, such as the
assessment methodology, the in-patient component, and the
medication therapy available. Once a close
therapist-patient relationship is established, recovery is
only a matter of time.
Yes, there is a cure for bulimia, and eating right again is
an attainable goal.
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Stephen Lau is a researcher, writing medical research for
doctors and scientists. His publications include "NO
MIRACLE CURES" a book on healing and wellness. He has also
created several websites on health and healing, including
the following:
http://www.longevityforyou.com
http://www.rethinkyourdepression.com
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