What Can Be Done if You Struggle with Weight and Self-Esteem
From young to old, plenty of people are concerned about their weight and maintaining a healthy, “attractive” body image. However, some people choose to go beyond standard exercise and dieting and take their weight control a step too far. Depending on how you choose to control your weight and eating habits, it’s easier than you think to develop eating disorders like bulimia nervosa. Thankfully, with support from Chapin & Russell Associates, bulimia can be overcome, and confidence in your body can be restored!
Understanding Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is a serious mental health disorder characterized predominantly by a cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives, to prevent weight gain. Individuals with bulimia often feel a lack of control over their eating during binge episodes and experience intense shame, guilt, and distress about their eating patterns. This disorder can have severe physical, emotional, and social consequences, making it crucial to seek comprehensive treatment that addresses both the psychological aspects of the disorder and its physical health implications.
What Are Bulimia’s Warning Signs and Symptoms?
If you are struggling with bulimia yourself or suspect someone you love is, it’s essential to understand the signs and symptoms of this destructive eating disorder. Those with bulimia nervosa may experience:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Binge eating
- Fasting between binges
- Vomiting (on purpose)
- Mood swings
- Over-reliance on dietary medications, supplements and laxatives
- Excessive exercise
- General unhappiness with your body shape and weight
Causes of Bulimia and What Can Be Done
There is not a defined “cause” for bulimia nervosa. However, most mental health professionals and researchers attribute bulimia to a combination of genetics and learned behaviors. For example, societal cues often encourage “skinny” bodies as the ideal, placing pressure on those who don’t fit into this ideal body type to correct the issue through unhealthy habits, leading to eating disorders. There’s also argument that genetic disposition impacts an individual’s risk of bulimia, with some research showing those with a family history of eating disorders are more susceptible to them.
No matter the causes for bulimia, Chapin & Russell Associates looks to help individuals battling this pervasive eating disorder. Through psychotherapy, a therapist helps transform an individual’s thoughts about food and weight. By developing healthier attitudes towards self-body image and eating, individuals can overcome eating disorders and pursue a better quality of life. Additionally, bulimia can be treated through the unique approach of neurofeedback treatment. By analyzing brainwave patterns causing emotional dysregulation, we can target dysregulation that may lead to the unhealthy thoughts and behavior patterns, and help “retrain” your brain for more positive thinking.
For help overcoming bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders, reach out to the mental health professionals at Chapin & Russell Associates today. Call us at
309-681-5850 to learn more about our general counseling services or to schedule your first session.
