Therapy for Bulimia
Fear. Guilt. Confusion.
Each day you tell yourself…today will be the day I will stop the binge purge cycle.
But in the end you give in.
The urge to binge takes over. You eat until you can’t. Then comes the guilt, the shame, and the sadness. You feel as though you must release these feelings, so you do, in the only way you know how, with a purge.
As hard as you try the urges they don’t go away, they are like a shadow always following you around.
You may have thoughts like…
“ I have made it a whole week without purging, then immediately crashed.”
“ Why is it so impossible for me to not binge when I know I don’t want to?”
“ I just want to eat food like I used to, but I am not sure how to get there.”
The back and forth of binge eating, purging, and maybe even restricting is exhausting, confusing, and oftentimes very lonely. You are confused on how to stop the cycle.
And what’s at risk is so important. A life free from shame, guilt, and loneliness that comes from binging and purging is your highest priority.
That life, it is possible. It takes work, dedication, and specific focused action. These actions, combined with the correct form of help, can absolutely put you on the path to recovery.
Why do people turn to bulimia?
People turn to bulimia as a way to manage emotions as well as their weight.
Oftentimes bulimia forms out of a diet, or an intention to lose weight where someone begins to restrict food. A lot of restriction can eventually cause someone to compensate by eating large amounts of food at once. For someone who is trying to lose weight, eating this much food causes shame and guilt. To manage the guilt, one chooses to purge either through vomiting, over exercising or the use of excessive laxatives.
Bulimia can also be born out of a desire to avoid painful emotions such as deep sadness, fear, or loneliness. Food consumed in mass amounts has a numbing effect on these emotions. However once a binge is complete shame and guilt ensue, triggering the purge response mentioned above. Often times after a purge people feel a sense of euphoria which can also be a big contributor to the binge/purge cycle.
Therapy can help.
In therapy you will gain insight into emotions you are avoiding. You will also examine the societal pressures for thinness and work to incorporate a sense of body acceptance.
You will also increase holistic skills that will give you the ability to be able to withstand an urge to binge.
You will begin to focus less and less on using food to control your feelings and your body size.
Your nervous will begins to calm, and you will find more peace with food and with your body. You are able to eat regular meals, and feel less and less of a draw to binge.
You can begin to focus on the things that really matter to you, you can give all of your attention to your loved ones, to your work, to your school, to your hobbies.
Time for Change.
The cycle of binging and purging can come to an end. If you are ready, ready to take that leap into food freedom, and a life without stress related to your food choices, I am here to help.
Committing to change is a big step. It can be the first step to telling your eating disorder, NO MORE. It’s scary and a bit challenging, I get it.
I am here to help with the scary of making that initial step.
Click below to schedule a consultation.