Bulimia Treatment

It may come as a shock to some people to know the long-term and harmful effects of bulimia. Bulimia is an eating disorder wherein the person suffering from it feels a certain need to control and obsess about his or her body image. If not recognized or treated immediately, it could lead to even more dangerous effects like physical and psychological damages or even death. Why do you think most sufferers seek out a counselor instead of a doctor for their bulimia recovery, it is because the emotional trauma is a lot more painful than the physical effects.

Bulimia begins with an extreme need to focus on bodily appearance and weight problems that lead to habits that can help them maintain their proportions. Taking laxatives and diuretics as well as purging after binge eating is rampant in cases of bulimia.

The body can only take so much of the abuse and it may eventually give in to the harmful effects of these practices. Eventually, the body can succumb to the following symptoms: sore knuckles from inserting the two fingers in the mouth to forcefully make yourself throw up; bad breath and damaged teeth from the stomach acids coming out; and ulcers as well as heart burn.

Psychologically, the bulimic patient may eventually suffer from depression as well as extremely low self-esteem. Without a proper bulimia recovery program and detection of this eating disorder, the person can do more harm to his or her body in the future.

Psychological therapy and one on one counseling are recommended non-medicated treatment for bulimia. Surgical treatment or hospitalization is only required in severe cases and failure of the patient to respond to the initial treatments.

Of all the different treatments for bulimia, cognitive behavioral methods are the most widespread. This is often the preferred first treatment as studies have shown that this treatment is successful in more than half of the cases. Cognitive behavioral therapy includes nutritional counseling in order to prepare the patient for coping differently and prevent relapses in the future. You can also try interpersonal therapy treatment. This type of therapy deals with the emotional aspects like depression that influenced the eating disorder. If bulimia is caught early on, and the patient is still in relatively good health, support group therapy can help. Another treatment that might work is family therapy. Positive results have been reported when this method was used, as opposed to interpersonal therapy, since the family, a vital support factor, is supported and utilized also.

For patients exhibiting signs of depression, drugs for the treatment of bulimia is given. But, professionals recommend that medications be administered along with a type of psychological treatment like CBT. Antidepressants are in the form of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Other drugs are also given to patients such as those that prevent vomiting. Studies have shown that antiepileptic medications decrease the number of bingeing and purging episodes, so sometimes these are prescribed. Bulimic patients are benefited by B vitamin drugs originally prescribed for depression and bipolar disorder.

Different treatments for bulimia have been investigated as well. However more studies are to be conducted and the effectiveness of these treatments have yet to be proven for a wide number of cases. Hypnosis, light therapy, guided imagery, and acupuncture are some of these new treatments.

Hypnosis seems to have a better success rate when used on women with bulimia, but those who are anorexic are resistant to this treatment. When a patient’s bulimia is related to seasonal affective disorder then light therapy is used. But, the desired results are due to the decrease in depression and not the elimination of binge-purge behavior in bulimic patients. In contrast, research has shown that guided imagery causes a nearly 75% reduction in binging and purging. In this method, the patient listens to audiotapes where images are evoked that will help in achieving treatment goals. In acupuncture, points in the stomach are selected so that the qi is balanced and proper circulation of oxygen and blood is maintained. This treatment works on the premise that eating disorders are caused by energy imbalances in the body. Stress reduction, releasing of endorphins, and the strengthening of the digestive and endocrine systems are the claims of this treatment.

Two of the most accepted treatments for bulimia nervosa include pharmacological treatments (the use of powerful drugs to curb the bulimic tendencies) and psychotherapeutic treatments (psychological evaluation, re-education and cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT.) But it is important to remember that different people are affected differently by this medical condition. Signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa are never the same for patients. The same is true when it comes to the gravity and the occurrence of bingeing and purging episodes. The problem is further compounded by the fact that this condition takes hold at different ages. Serious bulimia strikes some individuals in early adolescence, with others suffering milder conditions in their late 20’s.

Following the majority rule for mind-related ailments, some non-medicated treatment for bulimia are successful for a small percentage, while the rest with this condition are still looking for cures. It is quite safe to say that there is good population of people with bulimia who have been trying one treatment option after the other, or even combining options for a speedier cure. Both traditional and alternative treatments can be prescribed singly or together – with the strict and full cooperation of the patient to the treatments. Hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and activities for releasing stress are a few of the known remedies that are alternative which show positive, but limited success.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries as an accepted form of practice in alternative therapy. This kind of internet based bulimia treatment has been known to provide relief from the constant need to binge and purge. There are instances after each acupuncture session where the bulimia nervosa patient feels so upbeat that they feel less of an urge to indulge in unhealthy eating habits. But just a very small percentage are drawn to, and naturally seek out this sort of therapy; and the patient’s cooperation and faith in the remedy is so vital to the healing process.

Hypnotherapy is generally utilized in cases where patients are experiencing some type of depression. It is an accepted theory that people with bulimia nervosa also suffer from anticipated disorders like anxiety disorders and depression. Sometimes hypnotherapy is used as part of a psychotherapy course of treatment. Again, very few people can actually be placed under hypnosis or follow suggested actions to overcome both bulimia and depression.

For older patients and those suffering only from mild cases of this medical condition, stress releasing activities or stress reduction techniques can help alleviate depression, and thereby the need to binge and purge. Low impact but relaxing workouts such as tai chi and yoga, as well as meditation and massage therapies may help the person develop a more positive outlook regarding his or her body. Typically, MNT or dietary therapies will be added once the patient responds to this type of treatment for bulimics. Here, a person is re-educated about the nutritional needs of a person to sustain good health.

Are you aware of all the dangers in being a bulimic, here are some of them; disturbance of the chemical balance in the body fluids, heartburn, swollen parotid glands, internal bleeding and skin damage. When a bulimic starts binging and purging they don’t realize what damage they are doing to their body, they don’t know that there is a health cost to what it is they are doing. This video goes into more detail about the dangers in bulimia or you can read about a bulimia treatment here.

After a bulimic binge and purge, some bulimia sufferers get swollen glands; this is because of the body’s natural defense mechanism kicking in, in order to repair the damage which was produced by the purging, by the vomit which passes through the mouth. Vomit is full of acid, and it is this acid that harms your mouth and teeth. To stop the swelling you need to stop the purging, if you can’t stop by yourself then get some bulimia treatment.

Patients afflicted with bulimia typically get psychological or psychiatric bulimia treatment. There are different psychological approaches developed to treat bulimia. Effectiveness of the treatment depends on the willingness of the patient to participate and if the type of treatment cures the disorder’s underlying causes for a particular patient.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is the most common treatment and has been successful in more than half of bulimia cases. The treatment works on the premise that eating disorder is caused by a false picture of one’s body that promoted an unhealthy relationship with food. CBT has an element of nutritional counseling and can run for a period of up to six months. During the bulimia treatment, the patient eats three regular meals a day with the gradual intake of previously avoided foods. These are to be monitored and recorded diligently by the patient. Any reactions while eating, especially negative thoughts are recorded. If a relapse to bingeing or purging occurs, it is noted down as well. These are all reported and discussed with the therapist during regular sessions.

The goal of this type of treatment is for the patient to gradually discover how one’s negative relationship with food and health has been controlled by a false attitude on body image. Ideas, attitudes, and responses towards food that have developed or caused the eating disorder are challenged. The patient is also taught to replace them with a more realistic attitude. In order to sustain this progress, an action plan is also developed so that the patient will learn to cope appropriately instead of relapsing.

Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal therapy deals less with food and body image and more with the social factors that led to the eating disorder. This type of therapy is also called supportive therapy or talk therapy. The goal of the treatment is for the patient to discover what caused the disorder by exploring emotional issues and social relationships especially with the patient’s family. Any traumatic event in the past, especially sexual abuse, is explored as a principal cause that led to bulimia. The patient is strongly encouraged to express feelings and concerns. During the sessions, the patient is guided in discovering how to better cope with stress, problems, and change in one’s life. The patient is also taught how to develop independence and individuality in order to assert oneself over any situation instead of making things better with bingeing, and later purging, on food.

Family Therapy

Family therapy or family-based treatment is given to treat and empower both the patient and the family. This is often given to patients who have exhibited signs of anorexia and has been hospitalized. Instead of focusing on the causes, the treatment is more concerned with equipping parents with the skills needed to intervene and disrupt the patterns of the disorder, and guide the patient in taking control.