Bulimia Nervosa: The Binge-Eating Disorder

Bulimia is a mental disorder which involves episodes of binging and purging. People suffering from bulimia, usually eat a lot of calories in one shift. The next stage of bulimia involves purging through various ways. Purging may happen through induced vomiting or laxative use. Some people may also exercise excessively.

Since this is a mental disorder, it requires a psychologist‘s assistance.

Bulimia patients are extremely conscious of their weight and tend to be underweight. Women are much more likely than men to be the victims of bulimia. World Health Organization attributes such a big gender difference to the ideals created by the entertainment industry.

According to a statistics report, there are around 70 million people suffering from bulimia around the world. Around 1.1 to 4.2 percent women suffer from bulimia at some point in their life.

Bulimia is a dangerous condition and can cause severe mental and physical stress. The patient may experience heart palpitations and heart attacks in extreme cases. As bad as bulimia is, it gets worse in winters.

The winter depression and the holiday season play a big part in worsening eating disorders in winter. Here are some tips to deal with bulimia in winters.

1-Holidays:

Holidays are generally a time of indulgence. Generally people arrange lavish dinners at their house and also eat out frequently. Winter is the season of holidays and binging episodes are common even among general population.

For people dealing with bulimia, holiday season can be especially difficult. There are more occasions where one can binge. There is also anticipation of food which can trigger a starvation episode. Thus bulimia patients need to be mindful in this season.

One way to avoid a binging and purging cycle is to keep the food intake at a steady level. Indulging a little each day can reduce the chances of a massive binge. Another way to avoid binging is to cherish the spirit of holidays. One should engage in positive activities with friends and family so that there is no need to seek comfort in food.

2-Seasonal affective disorder:

Seasonal affective disorder can heighten the intensity of bulimia. SAD is a form of depression and it tends to enhance general anxieties. For bulimia patients, this means a heightened anxiousness regarding body image. This can anxiousness can create panic in the patient’s mind, triggering a bulimia episode.

Eating according to the meal plan and getting lots of sunlight can help one cope with SAD and bulimia.

3-Exercise:

Exercise is a dangerous territory for bulimia patients. In winters however, it is critical. SAD can bring on binging episodes and no exercise will only make the depression worse. No exercise can also make the patient opt for other unhealthy ways of purging.

It is thus important to exercise under the supervision of a trainer. A trainer can keep an eye on the amount of exercise and help avoid excessive exercise.

4-Strategy:

It is also important to strategize while dealing with bulimia. Fill your environment with people and things that encourage you to be healthy. Body images are largely derived from people around us, it is thus necessary to keep company with people who have positive body images.

Another strategy that can help avoid a binging episode is to clean your house of pre-packaged food. Do not store food in the home. This will restrict you from any opportunity to binge even if you were craving it.

If you are experiencing symptoms of bulimia, you should visit a psychologist as soon as possible. You can read more on eating disorders at oladoc.com.

You can also book appointments at our website with top psychologists in Karachi and Lahore,  Islamabad or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 to get directed to the specialists that can cater to your specific concerns.