Bulimia signs can be difficult to detect because the ritual is so secretive. it can also be hard to tell if someone has symptoms of bulimia because the person is typically of normal weight, maybe slightly above normal or slightly below normal weight.
When you have bulemia and you get good at purging, the process can be almost silent, making it that much more difficult to detect.
General Bulimia Signs
As with anorexia, there are some general bulimia symptoms that sort of underlie the other symptoms of bulimia. Some of those general bulimia signs include feeling out of control, having low self esteem, a lack of self confidence, severe self criticism and feeling like a failure, needing approval from others, especially parents, perfectionistic tendencies, and sometimes depression and anxiety.
What it's really like
Many of us with bulimia nervosa (aka bulimics) started purging as a way to lose weight. Eventually, when you get good at it, you start eating more and more food [binging], because, after all, you can eat as much as you want and not gain any weight! There's this feeling of, "It's the best of both worlds ... I can eat anything I like, til my heart's content ... and I won't gain any weight like the rest of you will!!"
But over time, the binge-purge obsession takes over. It's like it develops a life of its own. And suddenly, you have no control anymore. You crave food, and you crave the high you get after purging. And there is a high ... I don't quite know how to explain it ... but it's like you're not in your body anymore. It's like for a moment in time, you don't have to be you. And that gets addictive. But it also makes you feel alone ... so very alone.
Then there's the feeling that food is your friend. Food will never let you down. It won't judge you. It won't yell at you. It won't hurt you ... physically anyway ... at least not in the moment it won't. Food comforts. It fills the void inside. And food won't ever leave you.
Then there's purging. When you throw up, you feel a release (aside from the high you get). It's like a literal and figurative cleaning out. You can stuff all your emotions down with the food. Then you literally throw them all up and flush them down the toilet. Then you don't have to deal with the emotions. The food deals with them. And the toilet takes them away. -a composite from various bulimic patients
It's very difficult to let go of bulimia nervosa because of all the reasons stated above. It's a long, hard process. But everyone can heal. Recovery is possible.
The following are bulimia signs that are common to many bulimics. Just because you see a sign listed, doesn't mean every bulimic will have that symptom. And just because you don't see something listed, doesn't mean you or someone you love is not bulimic.
Bulimia Signs
Appearance:
Frequent weight loss and weight gain, usually in a 10 - 15 pound range of weight fluctuation
Chipmunk Cheeks - the cheeks literally look like there is food stuffed in them; this is a result of chronic vomiting
Knuckles on one hand appear to have calluses or are torn up and scarred; this is from forced vomitting by sticking fingers down the throat
Skin is dry
Hair is dry
Lips are cracked or bleeding and appear very dry
Dehydrated - due to purging fluids
Hair may be falling out
Broken blood vessels under the eyes (as a result of forcing vomiting)
Whites of the eyes appear to be blood shot
Swollen glands in the neck (making the neck appear puffy or lumpy just below the jaw line)
Teeth are discolored - may look yellowish or grey
Teeth have horizontal stripes - this is from immediately brushing teeth after purging (because stomach acid is so corrosive, the force of the toothbrush bristles takes the enamel off the teeth)
Chronic swollen hands or feet
Person or the bathroom smells of vomit
Smells like mouthwash or perfume (to hide the smell of vomit)
Behavioral Bulimia Signs:
Obsessed with body weight - other people's weight, her own weight
Weight effects how the day will go - Lose Weight = Happy; Gain Weight or Stays the Same = Bad Mood
Can't stop thinking about food
Feels out of control while eating / bingeing
Eats so much she is over-full or feeling very uncomfortable
Afraid of gaining weight
Always dieting or eating non-fat foods (except while binging)
Binges on high calorie food - including ice cream, cake, cookies, chips, etc.
Spends a lot of time in the bathroom immediately following meals
May run water while in the bathroom to conceal the sound of vomiting
May drink large amounts of milk, soda or water to aid with purging
Is secretive about eating
Refuses to eat in public
Refuses to eat with others
Hoards food
Will eat a lot at meals or won't eat at all (all or nothing)
As with anorexia, there are some general bulimia symptoms that sort of underlie the other symptoms of bulimia. Some of those general bulimia signs include feeling out of control, having low self esteem, a lack of self confidence, severe self criticism and feeling like a failure, needing approval from others, especially parents, perfectionistic tendencies, and sometimes depression and anxiety.
But over time, the binge-purge obsession takes over. It's like it develops a life of its own. And suddenly, you have no control anymore. You crave food, and you crave the high you get after purging. And there is a high ... I don't quite know how to explain it ... but it's like you're not in your body anymore. It's like for a moment in time, you don't have to be you. And that gets addictive. But it also makes you feel alone ... so very alone.
