Tips For Recovering From Bulimia Nervosa: Twenty Two Tips on How to Recover from Bulimia Nervosa and Questions to Ask Yourself
* Write information about your binges. Write the time, place, and what thoughts and feelings may have contributed to the binge. This will help to identify triggers.
* Boredom is a common trigger for Binges so develop a plan for How to cope with feelings of Boredom. (Call a friend, listen to music, read, take a walk)
* See a Primary Care Doctor who is familiar with Eating Disorders and their medical complications. Make sure you see any appropriate specialists (such as a gastrointestinal specialist) make sure your dentist is informed of your Eating Disorder.
* Spend time with friends who are supportive of you.
* Consider meeting with a Nutritionist that specializes in Eating Disorders.
* Write in a journal so you always have a safe place to express your feelings.
* Do not underestimate the seriousness of Eating Disorders.
* Examine your attitudes about food, weight, and body Image.
* Make every attempt to Eat Breakfast (even when it’s hard)
* Try not to put foods in the category of good or bad.
* Watch all–or-nothing thinking (Black and White thinking)
* Try to establish a healthy Eating pattern. Consider eating small frequent meals throughout the day. Do not let more than four hours go by without eating.
* Remember that Fasting is often a set up for a Binge.
* If you abuse Laxatives or Diuretics, recognize that they have no actual affect on calorie absorption. The only weight changes are due to changes in Electrolytes and they do not indicate true weight loss. In addition, they are medically dangerous.
* Abusing laxatives can turn into laxative dependence.
* Remember that most of the calories of a binge are still absorbed regardless of vomiting or Laxative use.
* Think about joining a support group. This can be very helpful because it helps to combat the shame and secrecy of this disorder in a safe environment.
* Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal psychotherapy… These have both been shown to be effective for the treatment of Bulimia.
* If you are medically cleared to exercise than consider a regular routine of exercise such as walking, yoga, weightlifting, or Pilates)
* Work on your impulsivity. If you feel compelled to binge or purge and feel you cannot control it then begin by trying to at least delay it for 10 minutes by listening to music, calling a friend, or writing in your journal.
* Talk back to your Eating Disorder Voice
* Talk to your doctor or nutritionist (familiar with eating disorders) about how to cope with Acid reflux, indigestion, bloating, constipation, or stomach pain
Questions to ask yourself (tips to recovering from bulimia nervosa)
* Do you feel ashamed for having needs (love, nurturing? )
* Do you feel ashamed about the feeling of hunger? If you do feel ashamed about the feeling of hunger than why do you truly think people should feel guilty about being hungry?
* When you are eating outside of hunger, what do you think you are hungry for?
* Look at these common triggers for Binging and write down any you think may relate to you. (Boredom, tension, loneliness, Anger, Feeling deprived and that you need a reward for all your hard work).
Wanting to learn more? Call a counselor today and she can personalize the information so that they are just generic tips for recovering from bulimia nervosa, but something that actually applies to you! 267-324-9564. Center for Growth / Therapy in Philadelphia
