how can i stop bulimia?

[sarah2]

hello,
ive been bulimia-ing for a...well, not very long.
ive started to actually eat these past 2 weeks. but after i eat i just want to puke it all up.... any tips on stopping? coz, i no, it can really damage ur stomach and oesophegus (sp).

[Dawn10]

Sarah,
Bulemia is a disease and diseases should be treated by a physician. I would confide in your doctor that you have this problem adn he or she can refer you to the appropriate doctor and therapist to help you. You are brave to acknowledge this problem and I wish you well.

[Nina Kay]

Sarah,
I really do agree with everything that Dawn said to you, especially about confiding in your Dr. I have always believed that I have strong bulimic tendencies because I binge & then am so tempted to go & throw it all up, but I don't because of my fear being such a great saving blessing in this area. I have read alot about it & what it can do to you & watched alot of movies about the stories of people who go ahead & act out their extreme tendencies & then it becomes a very strong addiction that is also so progressive. So maybe if you could read up on it alot & watch alot of movies & documentaries, it would help you alot to overcome the temptations to give in to your temptations . Knowledge is power. Fear of something harmful is also a protective respect for the powerful trouble that you need to avoid for your own lifes' sake.

[Necile]

Hi Dawn,

I know exactly how you are feeling. I was bullimic for a long time, purged at least once per day and often more. One day, for a lot of complicated circumstances, I knew that my life and my future depended on me stopping. I vowed one day that I would stop forever, no matter what. I knew that it would be better to be fat then to continue the way I was. I stopped completely that day and I didn't get fat either.

I am not saying I'm perfect. Far from it. I still have problems with binge eating and I am working on recovering from other addictions. I agree with what the others have said, that a doctor can help you. BUT, don't believe for a moment that you lack the power to stop. You CAN CHOOSE to stop. It is in your control. You have to be able to accept the consequences: You will feel the urge to get rid of your food, you will feel a loss of control becuase one of your mechanisms for control is lost, you may feel fat. I had to accept all those things.

By the way, years later I still feel the urge to purge. Over the last ten years I have maybe done it twice so I don't consider myself bullimic anymore, but I know the danger will always be there for me.
I wish you luck and willpower and determination becuase it takes all that.

[connecian]

Sarah

it is tough to stop purging, but I agree the 1st step is to stop and very important to talk to your dr. Mine was a great support. I recomend ( and this is a personal recommandation) to get a book I think it is called the bulimics guide to recovery.
This may help some and get thigns started for you.
It is a difficukt road, i have had an eating disorder since I was about 15 and it was diffucult to overcome I have been 7 months abstinate, no b/p or other eratic and y weight is leveling out and I am slowily going to strive to a healthy waight.

I wish you the best and hope you keep posting.
~connecian

[pedagogue]

Just found your thread, and I'd like to give you a more complete response that what I have time for now, I'm consider this a place holder, and I"ll post a more thorough response tonight.

-pedagogue

[pedagogue]

*please note my signature*

Bulimia can be tough to tackle on your own, so if you have access to therapy, I think it can be REALLY beneficial. If you cannot find/utilize therapy, some of the information below may be helpful.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most common treatment for Bulimia, especially for bulimic women. Any treatment will pretty much be a long term commitment, and will force a change in your lifestyle. It took you quite awhile to establish they way you are, so it will take you awhile to change them.

Some suggested area of focus:
*EDUCATE YOURSELF. Become an expert about all that is involved in bulimia. Determine if you are a binger or binger/purger, etc.

*Recruit a sponsor (just like AA)

*Examine your current cognitions/thoughts because there are going to be some that are contributing to your bulimia. (This is where a therapist or sponsor is REALLY helpful. You can also use your journal...referenced below)

*Develop coping methods:
.....distraction
.....limited portions through pre-planned meals
.....focused/deliberate eating

*Implement a journal to specifically track trigger--> cogition--> emotion --> behavior. You need to LEARN what sets yourself off. You need to track it EVERY DAY. One of the BIGGEST problems with a person with an eating disorder is that they are unaware of why they do what they do, they just know they do it. Bingers have described their binges as a time when they 'tuned out' and then later realized they just ate [a larger quantity of food].

*Participate in an eating disorders support group

It is true the binging and purging can be very harmful, for the reasons you listed, in adiditon to a myriad of other reasons.

There are some excellent books out there about eating disorders. I can't name them off the top of my head, but maybe some people can suggest some titles.

Like I mentioned above....this is a long term commitment. The goal is to not only extinguish your binging and purging, but also reinforce your new healthy thoughts and behaviors to ensure that you don't relapse.

Best of luck!

-pedagogue