Bulimia nervosa is a serious mental health condition that can have a number of physical harms if left unaddressed. If you or a loved one are showing signs of bulimia, reaching out to a bulimia treatment center provides you with the best possible chances of recovery.
At Promises, our eating disorder treatment center focuses on bringing the highest quality evidence-based treatment options to people with this debilitating condition. Call our team today at 844.875.5609 to learn more about our treatment options.
An Introduction to Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a severe and sometimes life-threatening eating disorder. The hallmark signs of bulimia typically include people binge eating large amounts of food, followed by purging behavior such as vomiting or laxative use.
However, bulimia is much more than just a pattern of binging and purging. People with this disorder can experience debilitating shame, guilt, or body dysmorphia and can struggle to stop their behavior without the help of eating disorder professionals.
Furthermore, people living with bulimia often experience a host of other mental health challenges that interfere with daily life.
What Are the Signs of Bulimia?
If you think a loved one may be experiencing bulimia, there are several signs you can look for to indicate that they may have developed a problem that requires professional treatment. Some of the most common signs of bulimia include:
- Disappearing shortly after meals
- Excessive exercise
- Purchasing a large quantity of laxatives
- Eating in secret
- Withdrawal from social activities
Furthermore, people with bulimia often experience a number of mental health symptoms, such as depression, alongside their changed eating behavior. It’s not uncommon for people with bulimia to use substances to cope, show a high level of impulsivity, or engage in self-harm behavior.
Symptoms of Bulimia
If you or a loved one develops bulimia, it can lead to a number of harmful physical and mental health symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of bulimia include:
- Feeling a loss of control during eating
- Compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or overuse of laxatives
- Strong negative feelings related to weight or body image
- Tooth decay due to purging behavior
Left untreated, bulimia nervosa can often become life-threatening. Purging behavior can put people at extreme risk of dehydration, which, in turn, can lead to seizures, kidney failure, or heart failure.
Healing From Eating Disorders
Thankfully, healing from eating disorders is possible. Eating disorder treatment is typically a combination of mental health interventions to help people cope with uncomfortable emotions, medical treatment to address physical complications that have occurred as a result of the eating disorder, and nutrition treatment to help people heal their relationship with food and get adequate nutrition during recovery.
Typically, this means a combination of individual and talk therapy, psychiatry, medical evaluations, and meeting with a registered dietitian. People with co-occurring mental health conditions can receive simultaneous treatment for disorders such as depression or anxiety.
With this comprehensive approach to recovery, you or your loved ones can break free from eating disorders and prevent the onset of further medical complications.
Start Healing from Eating Disorders at Promises Today
Recovery from an eating disorder isn’t easy. It takes intense mental health interventions, a commitment to change, and substantial support in order for most people to recover. However, with the support of the compassionate team at Promises, you or your loved ones can find evidence-based support to break free from bulimia once and for all.
Are you ready to begin treatment with Promises? If so, use our online contact form or call 844.875.5609 to speak to one of our representatives about the comprehensive mental health treatment options we have available. We know how difficult trying to overcome an eating disorder can be, but the rewards of recovery are worth the effort.