How to Overcome Bulimia by Eliminating Subconscious Blockages

I know you are thinking right now "Why do I have bulimia? How can I overcome it? And why isn't anything I tried before stopping it and has failed to help?"

You understand that bulimia is slowly killing you and ruining your life but you can't stop. It seems like something inside you is stronger that your own will.

Do you want to know what this "something else" is?

Well! It is another part of your brain called the subconscious mind that not only is responsible for your feelings, emotions and non-conscious actions that keep you alive, but it can also work against your own free will.

It is the part of the mind that is responsible for our actions when we do something but we don't know why we did it. Like when we get angry and explode, then we don't know why we did it (when there is no conscious explanation for it).

The subconscious mind operates on feelings and senses. And very often people can't even describe it logically. They just do what the subconscious mind wants.

So, the reason you have bulimia lies in your subconscious mind and to overcome bulimia you need to get rid off your subconscious blockages that always keep you being a bulimic against you will.

This is a major reason why conventional therapy doesn't work in most cases, because they try to affect the conscious mind of the person only. They don't change a person's subconscious. That's why when bulimics come back home from the clinic or doctor's room they continue their distractive eating behavior unabated again and again.

One of the common subconscious blockages bulimics have is the "broken eye syndrome". This is when bulimics see themselves fatter then they are and see their entire environment and other people in a different (wrong) way.

So, in order to overcome bulimia you should really find a way to change your subconscious mind and overcome these subconscious blockages that cause your bulimia.

Without working on your subconscious you will always come back to the same spot when you first started your bulimia and recovery becomes impossible, it is a never ending circle.

To conclude, if you have been unable to stop you bulimia it more that likely is a result of a subconscious emotional blockage. For example, the most common blockage is the "broken eye syndrome".

If you have a subconscious emotional blockage preventing you from stopping the bulimia, you are unlikely to realize it. An example of this is a bulimic who doesn't realize that they have "broken eye syndrome" - they see in a mirror a different picture from everyone else: basically their own mind is lying to them.

You are almost certainly not consciously aware of what the blockage is. For example again the "broken eye syndrome" - people are not aware of it, they truly believe that what they see in a mirror is the truth.

Subconscious self-beliefs cannot be identified and changed at the rational thinking level. For example, the "broken eye syndrome" gets worse and worse the longer you have bulimia, because the bulimic brain is constantly working on false information.

Identifying and eliminating your subconscious blockages is the best and really the only way you will ever overcome bulimia. More information http://www.bulimia-cure.com

Dr Irina Webster MD is the Director of Women Health Issues Program which covers different areas of Women Health. She is a recognised athority in the eating disorders area. She is an author of many books and a public speaker. http://www.bulimia-cure.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster

History of Bulimia and How It Evolved Into a New Problem

The History of bulimia is old. Even in ancient Rome people used to vomit up food they ate in the period of feasting. They even had special places for it called "vomitorium". There is a lot of recollection about these events in ancient Rome books. Roman emperors Claudius and Vitellius were bulimic.

Some other cultures like ancient Egyptian purged themselves every month for three days in succession, using emetics and clysters to preserve health. They thought that human diseases come from food.

In Europe in Middle Ages purgation was used like a remedy for many diseases and was advocated by middle age physicians.

In ancient Greece and Arabia there were also descriptions in texts of binging and purging.

But all these ancient practices of binging and purging are similar but not the same as what we call "bulimia" now. There was no evidence of a drive for thinness that is the obvious trait in all modern bulimics; in fact skinny women were not the normal shape for women.

From the evidence that have been reported it is obvious that bulimia nervosa as it is presented now was an unknown disease until the late 20th century.

In the 1970s there were cases described in medical literature of three patients in whom overeating alternated with under eating and was classed as anorexia nervosa. One patient vomited and the other two took a lot of laxatives to get rid of food.

The first description of the modern bulimia nervosa was published in 1979 by Dr Russell. He stated in the result of his research that overeating and self-induced vomiting may have been common practices among otherwise normal female students attending North Americans universities. He mentioned that the condition was always most relevant to females.

There is no doubt that bulimia incidents significantly increased in the 1980s and came to exceed the incidences of anorexia nervosa.

Still there are many questions remaining about bulimia nervosa.

Questions like, is a bulimia nervosa a new disease or it is it the same disease that has been known for centuries, but manifesting as a different version? And what made bulimia increase so significantly in the last a few decades? Was it modern pressure to be thin or more like inherited personality traits or both?

To conclude, bulimia like simple overeating has been known since ancient time. But the term "bulimia nervosa" can not be applied to the cases recorded in histories that were published before 1979. Simply because the motives in the past for overeating and then purging were different from today and the psychological aspects were also different.

The modern term "bulimia nervosa" means not just the simple practice of binging and purging, there are now certain personality traits behind the term. These traits include addictive tendencies, problem with impulse control, obsession with weight and general looks and certain personality disorders can be associated with the term of bulimia nervosa.

So my own opinion is that bulimia nervosa is a new disease of our time that has emerged due to the intensive pressure to look slim. Also the fact that they are used by many sufferers as a coping mechanism for the extra stress we have in our lives nowadays.

Modern medicine as put all its reliance on cognitive behavior therapy for dealing with Bulimia. Although there was some early success it has now become apparent that it is failing for the majority of sufferers as the disease continues to evolve.

The new way forward in treating the disease is to remove the subconscious blockages that have been shown to hinder and hold back a person from recovery. As more and more is know about how the mind works medicine has to move with the flow of discoveries and not rely on an outdated methodology.

But unfortunately throughout history medicine has never moved at a quick pace, so many sufferers who do not find out about the newer methods will have to suffer needlessly until medicine catches up.

Find out more at http://www.bulimia-cure.com

Dr Irina Webster MD is the Director of Women Health Issues Program which covers different areas of Women Health. She is a recognised athority in the eating disorders area. She is an author of many books and a public speaker. http://www.bulimia-cure.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster

Anorexia, Bulimia, and Depression - Is There A Cure?

Many of those suffering from anorexia and bulimia are high-functioning adults coping with stress, anxiety, and depression. They may have tried many different solutions to their problem. This article explores the typical experiences of a few people suffering from such eating disorders. Most therapists today deal with these disorders by first treating the underlying causes of the body-image problems. These causes are assumed to be past experiences and how they may have affected us.

Women and men who suffer from these illnesses may have to overcome deeper issues ranging from poor self-esteem to childhood abuse. Effective therapy can help improve their professional and family lives as well.

Therapy for anorexia and bulimia

Anorexia, bulimia, and eating disorders are a way of coping when stress and anxiety seem unbearable.

With the encouragement of a therapist, an anorexic or bulimic client can learn to face the sources of her stress or anxiety, and find healthier means of reacting to stressful situations.

One woman who had overcome eating disorders several years earlier consulted a psychotherapist in Austin when her problems recurred. This woman had recently moved into Austin, and she was without the support of family and friends while working at a new job. She had reverted to her old methods of coping with stress, namely food. Food is a form of self-treatment for many people, as it was in this woman's case.

Her therapist helped her to see her need for developing new relationships, and she also participated in group therapy to meet people.

By the end of therapy, she made new friends and was excelling in her new job. Her eating disorder no longer affected her.

Eating disorders and treating depression

Depression can be another cause of eating disorders too. Of course, eating disorders can cause someone to be depressed, so determining cause from effect is difficult.

A depressed person may overeat, or not eat enough, and so either gain or lose a lot of weight. This will affect their physical health. A therapist will help her concentrate on her strengths and regain her sense of balance.

One woman in Houston was depressed because her husband had had an affair and left her. She blamed herself and her recent weight gain for this, but was not able to lose weight. She tried everything she could but the weight remained. Therapy helped her see several other contributors to her depression. She explored some of the events in her past that were causing her a great deal of distress.

She was able to take responsibility for her eating habits, and find a warm and supportive relationship.

Eating disorders, PTSD and victims of sexual abuse

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder may happen because of one-time traumas likes being the victim of an accident or a crime, and also because of long-term abuse like childhood sexual or physical abuse.

PTSD often goes hand in hand with eating disorders.

Victims of childhood abuse sometimes keep the abuse secret, and the therapist may be the first person they confide in. Sometimes when childhood abuse has been blocked out, a reaction may be triggered in adult life by seemingly unrelated events. And lots of times, bulemia or overeating is a symptom. One therapist in Denver helped her client work her way through traumatic memories by giving her art and journaling exercises. These gave the victim a sense of perspective and she was able to stop blaming herself. She also became better connected with others emotionally. Her eating disorder markedly improved.

Eating disorders and counseling for couples

Eating disorders may affect someone who is married or in a committed relationship.

Counseling can benefit married, engaged, or lesbian and gay couples, if one has an eating disorder. The partner with the eating disorder may feel guilty for what he thinks he is causing his partner to feel. And the partner may feel guilty for feelings of resentment towards the partner with the disorder.

That is why couples therapy helps so much.

The most common problems that bring partners into therapy are poor communication, or upheavals like illness, death of a family member, or an affair. Any of these can plunge partners into depression and conflict and often make the eating disorder worse.

Therapy can find the cause of the dissatisfaction, and a solution both partners are happy with while preserving the relationship. It helped one lesbian couple in Austin to come to terms with each other’s families of origin. They were able to work out ways to achieve both their goals without sabotaging their relationship. Even though one partner remained quite overweight, the couple achieved a peaceful resolution and enjoyed a much better relationship.

If you want more information on eating disorders, depression and anxiety, and how they go hand-in-hand, visit the Capitalcounselors.com website You can find a psychotherapist in your neighborhood and set up an appointment. Your first visit to any therapist on this site will not be charged.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Geller

Bulimia - Control Is Within Reach

By Michael Russell

Did people of the past have any of the disorders that exist in the present? It seems like every activity comes with a disclaimer. Even food has a negative side. For some people food isn't a joy, but a disaster. Some people have had their lives taken over by eating disorders and one of those disorders is known as bulimia. Bulimia occurs when people go through periods of overeating, which are then followed by periods of self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives and diuretics and excessive exercising. Bulimia may start because other attempts at dieting have failed.

People who are bulimics are also susceptible to other types of compulsions and addictions. Bulimics may have major fluctuations in their weight. They are ashamed of their behavior, so they usually carry out their actions in private. Overeating is not caused by hunger, but by feelings of depression and stress. Bulimics actually get a sense of happiness from overeating, but that feeling doesn't last very long. Bulimics don't just purge their bodies as a way to control weight, purging is also a way for them to regain control of their overeating.

There is no concrete evidence, that points to what causes bulimia. It appears to be more of a mental state than a physical one. Bulimics may actually be underweight, but they see themselves as being overweight or fat. It's their distorted images of themselves that drives them to extremes. Because bulimics may not show obvious signs, they could be impossible to identify. It may take a medical condition to appear which is related to bulimia, before a proper diagnosis can be made.

The actions associated with purging can lead to serious health problems. Repeated vomiting can cause ulcers, ruptures or narrowing of the esophagus. Acid that flows back into the esophagus, is also a major concern. Swelling and soreness in the salivary glands is also a result of repeated vomiting. The misuse of diuretics may produce an abnormal fluid buildup. The continued misuse of laxatives and diuretics combined, could cause an electrolyte imbalance, which could have life threatening consequences.

Because the major factors in bulimia take place in the mind, most treatments are geared toward helping bulimics come to terms with their thought processes. Bulimics can be treated by physicians or psychiatrists. There are also anti-depressant medications that have been useful in treating bulimics. Depending on their physical conditions, some bulimics may need hospitalization, while others may only require counseling and monitoring.

Eating disorders seem complex and mysterious. Maybe the reason no one has found the causes of these disorders is because one doesn't exist. A lot of people experience the same types of feelings that bulimics endure, but they don't use food as a way to express their emotions. Bulimics use food in the same way some people use shopping and makeovers; it's just a temporary diversion. Whatever problems bulimics have before they overeat and purge will still be there when they're through. Hopefully bulimics can find a way to cut through the smoke and take a real look into their mirror.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

How To Prevent A Bulimia Eating Disorder Relapse

By Sandra Kim Leong

Bulimia is an eating disorder that is increasingly common. There are many causes of bulimia. One of which is the vast influence of the media. The media has been blamed for its constant portrayal of body images that are unrealistic and difficult to attain. Its definition of what is beautiful has a significant impact on the imagery formed in the minds of young teenagers and even adults.

If you have a bulimia eating disorder, you suffer both in the mind and the body. You have a poor self image, and feel depressed. You may also feel isolated as you seek to keep your condition a secret from your friends and loved ones. Physically, a bulimia eating disorder can cause much harm to your body and including, death.

As a bulimic, you have two options in terms of dealing with your condition. You can either seek help or allowing the disorder to waste your body away. You may like to know that the statistical chance of success when you seek for help appears good with counseling and therapy. Studies show that eighty percent of all sufferers get successfully treated for their disorder. Unfortunately, many relapse, and hence, it is important that you learn about how to prevent a bulimia relapse.

Firstly, you should avoid the situation of becoming too hungry. While you should not be eating all the time, if you restrict yourself heavily, you may be all the more likely to binge eat. Studies have shown that when someone is undergoing a serious diet, they are much more likely to binge eat.

Next, binge eating on certain foods such as high cholesterol foods, can be extremely harmful. So you should refrain from eating them as much. Also, it is best not to make these foods as taboo. When you do so, you may find more and more drawn to it. And when you cannot resist the temptation anymore, you binge eat on it. Instead, you should try to cut down the portion size of the food that you are lusting for as a first step.

It is obvious that you should avoid going to places where you tend to eat by the mouthful. These may include buffets or fast food restaurants where you have a habit of upsizing your meals. Being in this environment can easily make you want to pig out.

If you find the urge to binge and purge overwhelming, try restraining yourself for thirty minutes. Then, during this time, use some positive visualization techniques. You can imagine how and what you would feel if you overcome bingeing. Imagine the happiness and the health that you will enjoy when you no longer have a bulimia eating disorder. Associate yourself with the feelings and emotions of joy so much so that when your mind gets back to your current situation, you would have lost interest in your meal.

Finally, have fun. Try to do at least one thing per day that lifts your mood. It cannot be denied that a bulimia eating disorder is a difficult problem to overcome. The mental strain that it places upon you can be difficult to deal with. Should you find it hard to overcome bulimia on your own and you suspect that a relapse is imminent, speak to a physician or a counselor immediately. Getting the support that you need can make all the difference between healthy habits and relapsing into a bulimia eating disorder once again.

Sandra Kim Leong writes about bulimia eating disorder and other types of disordered eating. For free tips, please visit http://www.eating-disorder-research.com

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Can you fight Bulimia and Other Food Addictions with Herbal Medicine?

By Irina Webster

Bulimics and other food addicts eat compulsively. They can’t stop their compulsive behavior once they have started their binge eating and tend to disregard the consequences of their behaviors.

These people are persistently preoccupied with buying, preparing, cooking and eating food. They also can sneak or steal food, hide the food in their bags, cupboards, drawers and other places. When the food supply is cut off, withdrawal symptoms can occur, including chills, dizziness, headaches, poor concentration, nausea and lethargy.

A food-related addiction can also be accompanied by co addictions. Many bulimics may also binge on alcohol or get addicted to prescription drugs or even over-the-counter medications like diuretics and laxatives. Bulimics may be addicted to cigarettes to help moderate their food cravings.

The treatment for food addicts and bulimics is complex. Behavioral therapy, family therapy, nutritional therapy and even hospitalization can be used to treat sufferers. But the most difficult thing in the treatment process still remains their coping with cravings to binge or binge and purge during the recovery process.

If only you can stop these cravings to overeat things would be different! Some sufferers even describe it as little voices in their head that force them to binge. If only you can stop the little voices or at least make them not as strong people maybe able to cope better.

Many methods have been tried to kick a food addiction. The most beneficial methods are probably the ones which involved changing a person’s way of thinking and dealing with emotions. But I also found that some herbal therapy can help you to fight your food addiction also. These herbs seem to be useful for kicking food addictions:

Gymnema blocks the taste and metabolism of sugar if consumed before eating. It can quickly help your body stop sugar dependency.

Amla is rich in nutrients, especially vitamin C. Ayurvedic medicine uses it a lot to help people feel lighter and happier. It is also a mild laxative.

Alfalfa is also rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. But the main benefit is that it contains enzymes that helps digest the food (for bulimics it is necessary because bulimics have slow digestive processes).

Ginger stimulates circulation to all parts of the body. Also it improves digestion and gives body more energy.

Burdock improves fat metabolism and eliminates extra water from the body. It is very beneficial for kidney, liver and bowel function.

Nettle is a traditional remedy for cellulite. Also eliminates extra water from the body and stimulates blood circulation.

Dandelion Root improves liver function and metabolism of fat. The leaf is a natural diuretic and is rich in trace minerals, especially potassium.

Fennel Seed is a natural appetite suppressant and helps to control your cravings for specific foods.

Cola Nut is a stimulant. It contains caffeine and theobromine. It can be used to suppress hunger and mental exhaustion.

Cinnamon is naturally sweet. It can lower the desire for other sugars. It also improves circulation.

St. John’s Wort is a natural antidepressant and anxiety reliever. It can help to stop emotional eating.

Valerian Root is a natural sedative. It also can be used to stop emotional eating.

Yerba Mate works as an appetite suppressant, an antidepressant and a mild stimulant. It can stop a binging cycle. It is also rich in nutrients, minerals and vitamins.

Flaxseed oil can help to stop cravings for fatty food. Take a one tablespoon of this oil daily to stop fat cravings.

This is only a few of many other herbs that can help to fight food addictions and bulimia. For more information go to www.mom-please-help.com

Dr Irina Webster is the Director of Women Health Issues Program which covers different areas of Women Health.

Dr Irina Webster has a wholistic approach to medicine and her favorite area is to discover natural treatments for Women health problems and share these treatments and methods with other people.

Dr Irina Webster believes that the majority of women health problems can be treated naturally without drugs or surgical treatment.

At present she does Eating Disorder natural treatment research. http://www.mom-please-help.com

Dr Irina's web-site: http://www.womenhealthsite.com

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Eating Disorder - Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating

By Michael Russell

An eating disorder is characterized by a strange eating behavior and unhealthy beliefs about eating and weight. It is most commonly found in a young female during her adolescence. It can go undetected for years. You must recognize an eating disorder before the treatment process can begin. There are 3 main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restricted eating or self-starvation. They have a fear of food because they are afraid of becoming overweight. A person with anorexia nervosa refuses to maintain a safe body weight. They try to reach a dangerously low weight by going on extreme diets, fasting and compulsively exercising. Some people even refuse to eat and put themselves in danger of starving to death. They view themselves as being fat even if they are actually emaciated or dangerously thin. They set unreasonably high standards for how their body should look. A person with anorexia nervosa will usually undergo bouts of depression and anxiety. They may also abuse illegal drugs or go through mood swings. Some women may go through three or more consecutive months without a menstrual period. A case of anorexia nervosa usually begins while you are dieting and after a stressful event has occurred. About 1 percent of the American population has anorexia nervosa. About 90 percent of these cases happen to females. Most of these people are Caucasians who come from middle-class and upper-class backgrounds. About 5 to 10 percent of the people who suffer from anorexia nervosa die because of starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that consists of repeated bouts of binge eating. A person who is a binge eater has an uncontrollable urge to eat excessive amounts of food. This person will believe that he or she is overweight even when they are not. Some of these people induce vomiting, also known as purging, or use laxatives or diuretics to get rid of all of the food that was eaten during binging. Other people might fast and/or exercise excessively instead. People with bulimia nervosa might also abuse illegal drugs, feel depressed, or feel uneasy or fearful for no reason. The medical complications that accompany bulimia nervosa are not as dangerous as those that accompany anorexia nervosa. All of the binging and purging or fasting might result in dental and periodontal problems, heart problems, bleeding in the esophagus and ruptures in the lining of the stomach. About 2 percent of the American population suffers from bulimia nervosa. About 90 percent of these people are female. Most of these people are Caucasians from middle-class and upper-class backgrounds. However, it is getting more common among non-Caucasian groups. Bulimia nervosa occurs mainly to vulnerable people who have already suffered through a traumatizing event.

No one had heard of binge eating disorder until the term was first introduced to the public in 1992. Binge eating disorder consists of repeated bouts of overeating. A person with this disorder has an irresistible need to eat. Eating is usually done in private. After the eating is done, this person usually feels very guilty or remorseful. However, unlike bulimia nervosa, there is no purging, fasting, excessive exercising, or use of laxatives or diuretics. About 3 percent of Americans suffer from the binge eating disorder. Most people with this disorder are adults. It may surprise some people to know that just as many females as males are afflicted with it and it is also prevalent across all ethnic groups. You do not have to be overweight to be diagnosed with this disorder. In spite of this, studies indicate that 40 percent of obese people have the binge eating disorder. These people are at a higher risk for medical complications because of further weight gain. Binge eaters who are also obese might also abuse illegal drugs, suffer from depression, lack self-confidence, or feel that his or her body does not measure up to the standards of modern society. Medical researchers have yet to determine the cause of this eating disorder.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell