learn more about bulimia nervosa:
- What is bulimia nervosa?
- Signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa disorder
- The right time to see a doctor
- Some warning signs and symptoms in this case are as follows
Introduction
Hello, if you remember, in the previous article we talked with you about one of the common mental disorders related to weight and appetite, which is anorexia nervosa. As you remember, in that article, we made a short digression on the issue of anorexia nervosa, in which the patient eats a large amount of food at every meal, but in the end, because he is obese and overweight Do not do some things to prevent food digestion, such as artificial and unnatural vomiting.
In the following, we will talk and discuss with you about this disease, its symptoms and treatment methods.
What is bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia is actually a type of eating disorder in which the patient usually loses control over eating and after eating a large amount of food, tries to eliminate it in incorrect and unhealthy ways. This disorder sometimes becomes so severe that it even threatens the person’s life.
Patients in this category use incorrect methods to eliminate food in order to prevent obesity and overweight. After eating, sufferers of bulimia nervosa may do things such as intentional vomiting, enemas, using laxatives and diuretics, weight loss supplements, etc. to get rid of it. Sometimes it is observed that Patients with this disease resort to very strict diets, water fasting or heavy and exhausting sports to prevent excess weight.
Usually, people who suffer from this type of disease are mostly obsessed with their weight and fitness, and mostly only see the flaws in their physique and appearance.
Usually, the treatment of this disease is more difficult than anorexia nervosa, the reason being the relationship between this disease and the issue of food and appetite, as well as mental self-concept. they also benefit from the help of nutritionists so that they can prescribe healthier diets for their patients
The severity of binge eating in patients with bulimia nervosa disorder is determined by the number of binge eating times per week. In this disorder, the person usually overeats at least once a week for 3 months
Signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa disorder:
Usually, psychologists introduce the following symptoms as symptoms of this disorder, which are:
- Patient’s excessive obsession with their weight and fitness
- Constant fear of being overweight and obese
- Eating a lot and frequent overeating in one meal
- When eating, such people feel that they have no control over their eating and cannot stop eating.
- Intentional vomiting or heavy sports to eliminate food and calories
- Taking refuge in medicines to relieve constipation and diuretics or even enemas after eating
- Fasting and not drinking food or water, staying hungry, skipping one or two meals a day, and using some drugs or weight loss supplements.
The right time to see a doctor:
If a person has any of the signs and symptoms mentioned below, it is better to see a psychologist or psychoanalyst immediately. If there is a delay in going to a psychologist and taking action for treatment, this disorder can really endanger the physical health of the person. It is also important to know that since people with this disorder usually have a normal and normal weight and physical fitness and are rarely seen to be overweight, that’s why few people notice their mental disorder in This is the context.
. Some warning signs and symptoms in this case are as follows:
- Expressing constant and permanent dissatisfaction with one’s fatness
- Having a false and wrong self-image and belief about your weight and fitness
- Indiscriminate and excessive eating of food in one meal, especially “foods that the person usually refused to eat before and did not like.”
- Fasting water or food or both and keeping yourself fasting or following a strict diet after eating every large meal.
- Reluctance to eat with others or in public
- Going to the bathroom immediately after eating or in the middle of a meal or staying in the bathroom for a long time
- Doing hard and exhausting sports and of course in an excessive and excessive way
Remaining scars or scratches or calluses on the hands or fingertips caused by fake vomiting
- Having a damaged tooth or gum caused by putting a hand or something in the mouth to fake vomiting
- Swelling of the face and cheeks due to enlargement of the glands
- Weight changes
What are the causes of overeating caused by nervous disorders?
Doctors and scientists have not yet clarified the exact reasons why people suffer from bulimia nervosa. But in general, the factors that can play a role in the occurrence of this disorder have been identified. These factors include: genetics and heredity, emotional health, social expectations and others. However, research shows that women are generally more at risk of contracting this type of disease than men. Bulimia nervosa mostly occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood. Factors that can increase the risk of bulimia nervosa in people include:
- Biological factors: If in a family, people and first-degree relatives of the patient suffer from this type of disorder or any other type of nutritional disorder, they can have a special effect on other members becoming sick and suffering from disorders. This factor is somehow related to the factor of heredity and genetics. Being overweight during childhood and adolescence can also contribute to a person suffering from this disorder at an older age.
- Emotional issues and psychological factors: some psychological and emotional problems such as depression, nervous or anxiety disorders, or disorders related to substance abuse, can create a close relationship with people’s eating and nutrition disorders. In this disease and abnormality, usually people with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa have a negative feeling towards themselves and their physical condition and fitness. Also, some events and environmental events that have emotional and mental effects on the person. can be effective in getting this abnormality
- Diet: Usually, the occurrence of this abnormality and suffering from this type of disorder is more common in those who are always on diets than others. Many sufferers of bulimia nervosa, between their periods of overeating, abstain from food with high intensity, which itself causes them to overeat again and intentionally reject food. Other triggers for overeating include stress, a false self-image of one’s fitness, the type of food, or aversion to it.
Complications of bulimia nervosa:
The habit of overeating and suffering from bulimia nervosa can cause complications and serious problems for a person. Some of these complications may threaten the health and life of the patient. In the rest of the article, we point out some of these complications and provide explanations:
- Negative self-esteem and self-confidence and the occurrence of some serious problems in communicating with other members of society
- The occurrence of dehydration, which threatens the health of the kidneys and other parts of the human body.
- Emergence of some cardiovascular problems such as irregular heartbeat, or other cardiovascular failures
- Severe tooth decay and gum damage
- Irregularity of menstrual periods in women and its disturbance
- Occurrence of some digestive problems and diseases
- Occurrence of some personality disorders or bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression and other mental problems
- Excessive consumption and abuse of alcohol and drugs
- Self-harm and cultivating thoughts related to suicide in the mind and also acting on it
Prevention methods of bulimia nervosa
While there is no sure way to prevent the occurrence of bulimia nervosa, it is possible to encourage the patient to adopt healthier behaviors or better and more appropriate treatments before the patient’s condition worsens. Some of the help that can be given to this group of people are:
- Promote a healthy body image in your children. This work helps them gain the necessary self-confidence regardless of their appearance.
- Regular and pleasant meals and eating together with other family members
Avoid talking about weight and fitness at home and instead encourage family members to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Avoiding strict diets, especially when a person has unhealthy behaviors such as not eating and fasting, using drugs and weight loss supplements, or drugs to relieve constipation, diuretics, and intentional vomiting.
However, it is always recommended that upon seeing the first symptoms mentioned in each person, he must see a doctor and take appropriate treatment methods from the very beginning of this disorder. Usually, people who have eating problems They are voracious, in the future they will be susceptible to eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa. If you see these symptoms, you should take the matter seriously and see a doctor.
Diagnosis of bulimia nervosa
If the attending physician suspects that the patient is suffering from bulimia nervosa after the patient’s visit, in this case he usually performs the following measures:
- Talking and interviewing the patient about eating habits, weight loss methods, and physical body symptoms
- The patient will undergo a clinical examination
- Complete blood and urine tests will be taken from him
- In order to check and evaluate his heart condition, an EKG test will be taken from him
- Conducting psychological evaluations and talking to the patient about his attitude towards his body and fitness
- According to his diagnosis, the attending physician may prescribe the tests, tests and other examinations that he deems necessary.
Treatment methods for bulimia nervosa
Usually, a person with bulimia nervosa needs several types of treatment methods for treatment, but psychiatrists often prefer to use a combination of treatment methods and the simultaneous use of antidepressants, interviews and psychological counseling.
The treatment of anorexia nervosa is usually done as a team and group work, which includes the person himself, his family, nutritionist, psychiatrist, and psychologist. However, we mention some treatment methods for this type of disease.
- Psychotherapy: Another name for this method is talk therapy or psychological counseling, and it includes a psychiatrist talking about bulimia nervosa and issues related to it. Psychotherapy itself includes different types such as:
1- Cognitive behavioral therapy: In this method, the doctor helps the patient to return his eating patterns to a normal state.
2- Family therapy: In this method, the psychiatrist tries to help the patient improve his eating and living conditions with the help of parents and other family members.
3- Interpersonal psychotherapy: In this method, the psychiatrist tries to solve the communication problems of the individual with the members of the society.
- Bulimia medicine: the use of antidepressants, when they are used together with psychotherapy methods, can help to improve the patient’s condition. In this context, the only antidepressant approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of bulimia nervosa is fluoxetine. This medicine has the reabsorption function of sutonin , and even when a person does not have any mental problems or depression, it can be helpful and effective. However, it is recommended to use it under the supervision of a specialist doctor.
- Nutrition education: in this way, nutritionists can design and prescribe correct and suitable diets for the patient, which will be useful in improving his health. This diet can help the patient to return to the correct eating habits before.
Hospitalization: Bulimia nervosa can usually be treated without hospitalization. However, if the symptoms of the disease are severe and the consequences are serious and dangerous, it may be necessary to hospitalize the patient. and be treated.
Final: Although many patients with bulimia nervosa recover completely after being treated, there are few people who will have some of the symptoms of this disease with them for the rest of their lives. For example, it is possible that very rarely and due to the occurrence of some stress, anxiety and psychological pressure, the patient unconsciously goes towards bulimia nervosa and performs this procedure once. Since the onset of this disease occurs in adolescence and the beginning of youth, and people at this age often live with their families, therefore it is recommended to parents and guardians of families, according to the mentioned symptoms of this disease, Take the issue seriously and if you see a case in one of your children or family members, immediately and without delay, make sure to see a doctor or a psychiatrist.
