Nervous bulimia
Nervous bulimia is a disease characterized by repeated “bouts of gluttony”, after which comes the inevitable unloading (taking diuretics, causing vomiting, etc.), increased physical activity or the beginning of a strict diet to minimize the effects of overeating.
As a rule, women with excessive concern about their body weight and shapes suffer from this disease. The peak incidence occurs at the age of 18.
Causes of bulimia nervosa:
the influence of mass media promoting thinness as a symbol of a woman’s success;
uncertainty in one’s own life position, orientation to someone else’s opinion;
regular stressful situations;
hereditary factor.
Symptoms of bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by two main signs:
gluttony, when a huge amount of food is consumed, very quickly, without self-control, with unquenchable greed, which is accompanied by suffering from permissible liberties;
strict cleansing measures for the body to reduce the risk of negative consequences (in the form of extra pounds) to a minimum. These are enemas, vomiting, sports, etc.
During an attack, the patient can really eat a huge amount of food, and there may be a reverse situation when the portion did not exceed the norm, but the person is sure that he is extremely overeated.
After an attack of gluttony, it is common for a person to experience emotional overstrain, since patients tend to hide all the symptoms of this disease. To reliably confirm this diagnosis, it is necessary to record seizures at least twice a week, although they may be repeated more often. Such people are extremely concerned about the possibility of gaining extra, in their opinion, kilograms. Although obesity is indeed diagnosed in some patients suffering from bulimia nervosa, their weight is usually within the normal range.
Vomiting, which is regularly caused by patients, can have a negative destructive effect on the enamel of teeth and provoke inflammation of the esophagus and an increase in the parotid salivary glands. Harsh methods of cleansing the body cause a decrease in the potassium content in the blood, which leads to a violation of the heart rhythm.
As a result of repeated, uncontrolled intake of drugs that cause vomiting, a fatal outcome may occur. People suffering from bulimia nervosa, in extremely rare cases, manage to eat such an amount of food that can mechanically injure the stomach.
With bulimia nervosa, patients, in most cases, understand exactly what they allow themselves and because of this they feel guilt or regret. These people are more likely to go to a medical institution with a complaint about their condition, or at least to a third party. These people are quite open to communication, but at the same time they have a great tendency to impulsive behavior, severe depression, drugs or alcohol.
Diagnosis of bulimia nervosa
Visual observation of a specialist:
unjustified consumption of laxatives;
erosion of tooth enamel;
low potassium content in the blood test;
description of the attack of gluttony and cleansing by the patient himself.
Treatment of bulimia nervosa
The disease is treated on an outpatient basis. Being in a hospital is justified only if it is necessary to choose the most effective medicines. Psychotherapy is very effective in this case, especially if it is possible to contact a specialist with experience in the treatment of eating disorders.
With the help of antidepressants, bulimia nervosa is controlled much more effectively, even if a person has no depressive states. Unfortunately, in some cases, after discontinuation of medication, an exacerbation of the disease may occur.
