What is Bulimia Nervosa? Types of Eating Disorders
Bulimia or Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder where you binge and purge food. Binging means to eat a large quantity of food, usually in a relatively short period of time. Purging means to get rid of the food in some way - either by self-induced vomiting, laxative use or diuretics. As with all eating disorders, the goal is to avoid dealing with emotions.
Stuffing down feelings
Think of it this way - stuffing food down is like stuffing down emotions (which can also be how you feel about yourself). When you purge, especially the act of vomiting, you are throwing the emotions up and flushing them down a toilet. Kind of gross to think about (if you're a loved one reading it), but that's the truth. When you purge by vomiting, you literally flush your emotions down the drain. That way you don't have to deal with them.
You also get a high from binging and purging - again, especially with vomiting. When it's all out, there is a lightheaded feeling you get. There is also a tremendous sense of satisfaction of feeling empty inside. But you've had the satisfaction of still being able to eat whatever you want.
How much does a bulimic eat?
Bulimics will typically binge on cakes, cookies, ice cream and other carbohydrate dense foods.
Binges can consist of thousands to tens of thousands of calories. If you binge on a consistent basis, your stomach stretches. So over time, you can fit more and more food without having to purge to make room. You can read more about signs and symptoms in that section.
Diagnostic Criteria
The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) lists diagnostic criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. Those criteria are as follows:
A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
(1) eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances.
(2) a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.
C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.
D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa.
Specify type: Purging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas Nonpurging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas
While Bulimia Nervosa consumes lives - of the person with the eating disorder and of those who love her, you can recover. Don't lose hope. Find help. It won't be like this forever.
Think of it this way - stuffing food down is like stuffing down emotions (which can also be how you feel about yourself). When you purge, especially the act of vomiting, you are throwing the emotions up and flushing them down a toilet. Kind of gross to think about (if you're a loved one reading it), but that's the truth. When you purge by vomiting, you literally flush your emotions down the drain. That way you don't have to deal with them.
