Bulimia

Bulimia in the Most Common When the television is turned on or a magazine is being opened, it is most likely there is someone beautiful on the screen or paper looking at you. These beautiful people have slim waists and ideal curves and are plastered all around us. They are also one of the reasons why the majority of women in the United States put themselves through drastic eating disorders, like bulimia nervosa, to be beautiful too. Approximately 85% to 90% of people who suffer from eating disorders are women, and unfortunately I have contributed to this percentage. The American Psychiatric Association suggests that among those with bulimia nervosa, women outnumber men ten to one. The word bulimia is derived from the Greek words bous (ox) and limos (hunger), literally translating into “hunger like an ox”. Bulimia nervosa is considered a psychiatric disorder in which a person will eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time, then proceed to make themselves vomit what was just recently consumed. This term is often referred as binging and purging and can be a continuous or short termed cycle. A binge is different for all individuals. For one person a binge may range from 1,000 to 10,000 calories, but for another, one cookie may be considered a binge. Other forms of purging besides self-induced vomiting can involve laxative abuse, excessive exercise, fasting, diuretics, diet pills, and enemas. No matter what form is taking place, it can lead to serious problems like dehydration from purging, chronic bowel problems from laxative Volok 2 use, tooth decay from excessive vomiting, low blood pressure, swollen salivary glands, permanent heart damage, and even death. Bulimia is common in modern westernized cultures and can happen to anyone. It most commonly appears between the ages of 15 and 20, but can develop earlier or later on in time. It is somewhat difficult to distinguish someone with bulimia because they usually maintain a normal body weight or are slightly above normal weight, according to Doug Bunnell, a clinical psychologist and director of the Renfrew Center in Connecticut. "You have to look at what they're doing with food and what their thoughts and feelings are," he says. "My greatest concern is that people think these are relatively mild disorders and that [teens] think they're really not at risk for anything serious." I developed bulimia a few months before my 17th birthday during my junior year of high school. I was not an obvious looking candidate for self-esteem issues or an eating disorder, so my condition went unnoticed most of the time. My weight did look completely normal for someone my age and height, but “normal” was not how I wanted to look or to feel. I would binge and purge two to three times a week when I would get home from school. No one would be home during this time to witness or stop my frequent “rituals” around the porcelain bowl, and eventually I led myself to rely on these “rituals” for more then just a weight loss method. To purge or not to purge, that is the question, or at least it is in the minds of many bulimics. The concept of food and eating so much of it can give rise to shame, disgust, fear, and self-loathing. This is where purging comes in and leads a “sense of relief” to oneself, even though the act itself is somewhat shameful and disgusting. There is no exact Volok 3 cause for bulimia, but there are many factors surrounding it and as to why some people, like myself, would even consider doing it: The cultural emphasis on body image and fear of getting fat is a supporting factor to bulimia and eating disorders. Joining activities that stresses to be thin like cheerleading, gymnastics, and ballett can also take and effect. Recent studies have revealed that there may be a connection between biological factors associated with clinical depression and the development of eating disorders. Sexual abuse, low self-esteem, anxiety, method of loosing weight and controling hunger, and way to deal with stressful situations can also contribute to the factors of bulimia nervosa. Many of these factors I can relate to, but the biggest one for me was using bulimia as a stress reliever. The beginning of my senior year was when my bulimia was at its worst and this was due to the fact that my parents were divorcing after 18 years, and it was effecting everything around me. The divorce made me very anxious and depressed because of all the escalated fighting and atmosphere that had been created. All the emotional discomfort I felt eventually collided together and created a sickening feeling that was felt physically and mentally. Without thinking clearly, the solution I had to my emotional discomforts was to get behind the pocelain bowl and project all those feelings out because I felt this was the only thing I had control and power over. Pouring out my feelings into a toilet bowl eventually led a concerned friend of mine to question my actions and give me the support I needed. Bulimia nervosa can be difficult to overcome, but a huge chance of recovering successfully from it involves diagnosing and treating it early. The longer an eating disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, the harder it is on the body and the more Volok 4 difficult it is to overcome. Although the majority of people with bulimia do recover, some find that bulimia symptoms do not go away completely. Bulimia may be more similar to a chronic condition that requires long-term care. Periods of bingeing and purging may come and go through the months and years, depending on your life conditions. For example, in times of high stress, you may return to that familiar unhealthy eating behavior. Learning positive ways to cope, creating healthy relationships, having support, and managing stress can help prevent a relapse. There is also professional help like psychotherapy, which is individual and group therapies that deal with the issues underlying with the eating disorder, improving self-esteem, and learning healthy ways of responding to stress and emotional pain. Nutritional counseling helps create design meal plans, set dietary goals, and achieve a healthy weight. Nutritional counseling may also involve education about basic nutrition and the health consequences of eating disorders. Medications like anti-depressants are also an option. Support groups are amazing receive advice, get encouragement, and overall cope more comfortably with the situation. My bulimia was noticed early and easier to overcome thanks to close friends and loved ones. Much support was given and I took it, but unfortunately there are others out there that are not as lucky. Having the support for something you need to fight against makes it easier to fight it in the first place because you are not alone. Many people worry about their weight, what they eat, and how they look. This is especially true for teenagers and young adults who face extra pressure to fit in and look attractive at a time when their bodies are changing. Bulimia nervosa puts people through harsh conditions mentally and physically, and in contrast it slowly destroys a person rather than helps them overcome and achieve what was sought for. Even though I was a Volok 5 victim of bulimia nervosa, I am a much wiser person now because I have learned from my faults and actions. I also have figured out what is and what is not worth sacrificing, and my body is not in that category. Overall, beauty is only skin deep. Volok 6 Work Cited Bower, B. (2007) Starved for assistance: coercion finds a place in the treatment of two eating disorders. Science News, 171.3, 38(1). Retrieved 21 November, 2008, from General OneFile.  David P. Parker. (8/12/2005). Bulimia. Retrieved November 21, 2008, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bulimia/article_em.htm Study results from University of Naples, Department of Psychiatry update understanding of eating disorders. (2008, October 1) Biotech Week. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from http://biotechweek.com Skolnik, N., & Clouse, A. (2007, May 15) Eating disorders.(Clinical Guidelines For Family Physicians). Family Practice News 37.10, p.29 Melinda Smith, M.A., (February 4, 2008). Helping Someone with an Eating Disorder. Retrieved November 21, 2008, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eating_disorder_treatment.htm#understanding Katherine A. Halmi (2005, May 1). A Complicated Process: Diagnosing and Treating Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. Psychiatric Times, 22.6. Retrieved November 21, 2008, from General OneFile.