Bulimia Nervosa: "We’ve all been there: turning to the fridge when feeling lonely or bored or indulging in seconds or thirds when stressed. But when you suffer from bulimia, the now-and-then impulse to overeat is more like a compulsion. And instead of eating sensibly to make up for it, you punish yourself by purging, fasting, or exercising to get rid of the calories.
This vicious cycle of binging and purging takes a toll on the body, and it’s even harder on emotional well-being. But the cycle can be broken. Effective bulimia treatment and support can help you develop a healthier relationship with food and overcome feelings of anxiety, guilt, and shame.
In This Article:
* What is bulimia?
* The binge and purge cycle
* Signs and symptoms of bulimia
* Effects of bulimia
* Bulimia causes and risk factors
* Getting help for bulimia
* Bulimia treatment and therapy
* Helping a person with bulimia
* Related links
What is bulimia?
Amy’s Story
Once again, Amy is on a liquid diet. 'I’m going to stick with it,” she tells herself. 'I won’t give in to the cravings this time.” But as the day goes on, Amy’s willpower weakens. All she can think about is food. Finally, she decides to give in to the urge to binge. She can’t control herself any longer. She grabs a pint of ice cream out of the freezer, inhaling it within a matter of minutes. Then it’s on to anything else she can find in the kitchen.
After 45 minutes of bingeing, Amy is so stuffed that her stomach feels like it’s going to burst. She’s disgusted with herself and terrified by the thousands of calories she’s consumed. She runs to the bathroom to throw up. Afterwards, she steps on the scale to make sure she hasn’t gained any weight. She vows to start her diet again tomorrow. Tomorrow, it will be different.
