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804.415.7603Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a serious mental health disorder that requires comprehensive treatment at a bulimia treatment center. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the following symptoms are present in most diagnosed cases:
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by eating large amounts of food in a short period of time and and feeling a loss of control over eating behaviors
- Use of inappropriate, compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, laxative, or diuretic abuse, fasting, and/or obsessive exercise
- Binge eating and compensatory behaviors that occur at least once a week for three months
- Self-evaluation is inappropriately influenced by the person’s weight and shape
- The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia
Bulimia nervosa’s impact on health can be significant. However, recovery is possible, especially at a bulimia treatment center like Aster Springs that offers bulimia therapy.
Overview of Bulimia Nervosa
Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare’s AVP of Clinical Services, Kate Fisch, LCSW, discusses bulimia nervosa and how Aster Springs approaches treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia
Although signs vary by individual, bulimia symptoms can include the following:
- Evidence of binge eating
- Evidence of purging behaviors – frequent trips to the restroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics
- Skipping meals or eating small portions of food at regular meals
- Stealing or hoarding food in strange places
- Drinking excess amounts of water or non-caloric beverages
- Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area
- Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles
- Discoloration or staining of the teeth
- Creation of complex lifestyle schedules/rituals to allow time for binge eating and purging
- Withdrawal from friends, family, and/or activities
- Behaviors and attitudes indicating a preoccupation with the importance of weight loss, dieting, and control of food
- Binge eating and compensatory behaviors occur at least once a week for three months
- Self-evaluation is inappropriately influenced by the person’s weight and shape
Health Consequences of Bulimia
As the condition worsens, bulimia symptoms can eventually become more severe, especially if an individual doesn’t get treatment at a bulimia treatment center. Bulimia nervosa’s impact on health can include:
- Electrolyte imbalances, which can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death
- Inflammation and/or rupture of the esophagus
- Tooth decay and/or staining
- Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation
- Gastric rupture
- Pancreatitis
Our Individualized Bulimia Treatment
Our highly skilled and experienced clinicians at our bulimia rehab center in Richmond, VA work closely with each client to create an individualized treatment plan for bulimia nervosa to ensure the best chance at recovery. Clients play a vital role in helping to set realistic treatment goals that will address the underlying issues of their bulimia eating disorder.
Bulimia Therapy At Aster Springs
At our bulimia treatment center, we offer various treatment plans for bulimia nervosa based on each client’s needs. How to treat bulimia nervosa depends on several factors including any co-occurring mental health disorder diagnoses. Our evidence-based bulimia therapy modalities include:
REVIEWED BY
Kate Fisch, LCSW
Kate Fisch is the AVP of Clinical Services for Odyssey’s Eating Disorder Network. With 17 years of clinical leadership and direct client care experience in the eating disorders field, she has a history of innovation, clinical training, and resource development in a variety of eating disorder treatment settings supporting families, clients, and clinicians.
If you’d like to learn more about our bulimia rehab center, the compassionate team at Aster Springs is here to help.
