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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