Bulimia is a serious, sometimes life-threatening, eating disorder where people alternate between periods of excessive overeating (binging) and vomiting (purging). Purging, or the act of expending a large amount of calories quickly, can also occur in the form of excessive exercise or misusing diet pills, laxatives or other stimulants. It is also important to note that purging may occur after something as small as a light snack, or a normal-sized meal.

If you binge and purge, you may notice the following:

Binging

• You only binge when you are alone
• You eat rapidly when you binge
• You do not disclose to others, or to very few people, that you binge eat
• You hide food or evidence of binges (packaging, receipts, details of your day etc.)
• You are preoccupied with planning binges or you think almost constantly about food
• You feel a loss of control around your eating
• You feel physically ill after a binge
• You eat when you are not hungry or when you feel full
• You eat food that is questionable (for example, stale, thrown away)
• You are overwhelmed with feelings of shame or depression after a binge

Purging

• You only purge when you are alone
• You choose food that you know will be easy to throw up
• You do not disclose to others that you purge
• You feel a sense of emotional relief after you purge
• You convince yourself that the amount of exercise you do is healthy, even if you suspect it is not

Other Signs

• You are preoccupied with your weight, body or food
• You have been on countless diets: you are on one more often than not
• You are terrified of gaining weight
• You weigh yourself frequently and ride the emotional roller-coaster of weight gain or loss
• You feel a lack of control over your eating
• You eat until you feel physically sick
• You may have damaged tooth enamel or gums
• You may have sores or callouses on the knuckles or hands

I believe that the cycle of binging and purging is a response to deep emotional pain or trauma. These behaviours can be a person’s best attempt to manage out-of-control feelings. Therapy can help and works best when people are also under the care of a physician and a dietician. Bulimia is a serious medical condition and counselling is not a substitute for medical care. I urge you to also connect with a physician and registered dietician, specialized in helping with eating disorders. If you are seeking treatment for the emotional, social and psychological effects of bulimia, I welcome the opportunity to meet with you.