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How to Help Someone Who Suffers From Bulimia
Posted Date: 6/26/2009 Blog by: poost
Viewed: 131
  
Category: Mental Health Disorders » Eating Disorders
  • Bulimia nervosa also known as Bulimia to all is an eating disorder where a person binges and then purges out all that he/she has eaten. This syndrome is also rightly known as the binge and purge. A bulimic overeats and then vomits out everything they eat to burn the food eaten or even by excessive exercising or using laxatives. It is alarming to know that 90% of the people who suffer from bulimia are women.
  • Fundamentally different from anorexia nervosa, bulimics cannot be identified easily as the patients do not look famished; they may look normal or may be over weight also. People do not experience bulimia frequently. It may vary from people to people; some people may purge everyday after every meal and some people experience irregular purging bouts every few months.
  • People who are victims of bulimia lose control over themselves when they binge after eating. They tend to eat much more than they would normally eat to satiate their hunger. After eating so much bulimics feel shameful and guilty about eating so much.
  • Though the actual cause for bulimia is not known and understood properly, but bulimia victims have similar characteristics of low self respect, guilt feeling and discontentment with the way they look.
  • If you have friends or relative who suffer from bulimia it is important to know what this syndrome is all about. Handling a bulimic and helping them come out of this syndrome is only possible when you have complete knowledge on what you are handling. There are many support groups that dedicate themselves to help all those people who suffer from this disorder.
  • Consult support groups to understand this problem further.  Try and accompany your friend or relative who have agreed to go through the treatment as it can be mentally very stressful for them to go through this alone. Offer to attend talks that support groups have for people who suffer from eating disorders with your relative or friend.
  • Help bulimic patients in preparing their food as they may have tendencies to indulge in bad eating habits. Never allow them to be alone in a room or bathroom for long durations as they have to deal with depression and low self esteem.
  • Try counseling and talking to a bulimic patient about the pitfalls of this syndrome and the effect that it has on their lives. They may listen to you as you are their friend and not a professional counselor with whom they may be intimidated. You can seek help from books and sites that talk about bulimia and the ways to handle bulimia patients.
  • While talking to them make them feel wanted and cared for as they have this constant discontent with their body and shape and extremely low esteem about themselves. So it is important to try building their self esteem at the same time appreciate what they are gifted with and not take out faults in themselves. This will encourage them to have a positive attitude towards themselves and their lives. They will eventually learn to appreciate what they have and not get depressed at their own sight.
  • Known to be a psychological disorder, try not to put pressure on them when you are trying to help them out.
  • Give an ear to people who want to open up with their secrets about bulimia. Listening will help the person to have faith on you. Do try not to give opinions while they are talking.
  • Understanding the psychological aspect of the disease goes a long way in helping the patient. Once you understand that it more of a psychological problem, you can take steps to fix it with the help that is available all around you.

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