Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, or overexercising. Below I list some of the signs and symptoms of Bulimia. You don’t have to exhibit all of these behaviors to have Bulimia. Additionally, you may have experiences or behaviors that are not listed here.
- Binge (eating large amounts in a short time) on food, typically in secret, often when not hungry
- Feel frenzied or numb during binges: you don’t taste the food and you feel unable to stop
- Feel ashamed of the binges
- Compensate for the binge by purging (vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics), fasting, or overexercising
- Experience food as both the enemy and a friend
- Spend significant time thinking about food and planning binges
- Spend significant amounts of money on binge food
- Take laxatives daily
- Have constipation and other digestive problems
- Often have swollen glands (“chipmunk cheeks”)
- Eat mostly “safe” foods outside of binges
- Spend increasing amounts of time alone
- Become increasingly moody (irritable, depressed)
- Constantly feel unhappy with your weigh
- Wake up most days thinking, “Today is the day I don’t binge.”
“Food is not the enemy. Self-hate is.”
— TheLoveYourselfChallenge.Tumblr