Are you wondering whether you have bulimia? Typing “Do I have bulimia?” into a search engine you’ll likely get a lot of different opinions. Ultimately, a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa needs to be given by a professional. If you feel as though you may have any type of eating disorder, contact us right away. For now, here are a few things to consider.
Do I Have Bulimia: What Are the Signs?
Bulimia nervosa occurs when people attempt managing their weight through a cycle of overeating and purging. If you fixate on weight and weight loss, frequently feel as though you overeat, and self-induce vomiting, you likely have this condition. Although many people suffer from bulimia, there are many misconceptions about this disorder.
Foremost, it is not a disorder “vain people” have nor is it shallow being bulimic. Often, people with bulimia have it because of other issues outside of their control. For instance, they have a disposition towards it, a dysmorphia preventing them from seeing how thin they are, or simply crave a sense of control.
If you refuse to eat, the disorder you’re experiencing is more likely anorexia. Bulimia is specifically typified by an urge to binge and then purge. Any amount of binging and purging can be seen as unhealthy self-harm. Of course, it becomes more serious if it is regular behavior. The urge to binge and purge, itself, is a sign of bulimia, signifying a lack of control when eating and a feeling one must self-harm to avoid digestion.
Bulimia is a severe disease that can eventually lead to an individual’s death. Over time, you can cause damage to your esophagus or cause internal vessels to rupture. Tooth enamel and gums can be worn down due to increased acidity, and chronic fatigue can make it very difficult to care for yourself.
Despite this, it can be difficult to self-diagnose bulimia. Bulimia can come on slowly, as an escalation of previously harmless habits. And because you may not see yourself as you are, you may think that you “need it” or that you’re just trying to stick to your goals. It never hurts to get a professional assessment.
Do I Have Bulimia? And If I Do, What Do I Do About It?
If you think that you suffer from bulimia, the best thing you can do is get help. Many bulimics keep their disorder a secret, but friends and family can often tell. Though you may not realize how much weight you’ve lost, the people around you likely do.
Reaching out to your friends and family is the first step towards getting help. Going to a treatment center or a therapist is the next important step towards getting help.
It can be difficult to recover from bulimia alone, as it’s a disorder that involves a certain level of distortion. Often people who are bulimic don’t see themselves as they are, and that makes it hard for them to tell how sick they are, or how much help they need.
Thus, getting help from a professional is critical. Many eating disorders are extremely difficult for a patient alone to manage. While a substance user can avoid a substance, someone with an eating disorder is never able to avoid food altogether.
What Do I Do If I Have Bulimia?
Your next steps are to contact a treatment center with the help of your friends and family. You may not know how severe your eating disorder is, but a professional will be able to help you get a diagnosis and take the next steps.
Once you connect with a professional, they will be able to put you on a treatment plan, possibly including both therapy and medication. In-patient treatment may be necessary if you need to start working on your relationship with food in a healthy place. Over time, you will be able to achieve better and healthier eating habits. Call 866.262.0531 today to get more information how Crestview can help you.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
