While assessment is important in understanding and treating bulimia, it is quite difficult to successfully assess for various reasons. Many sufferers from bulimia are embarrassed and ashamed of the disease. These sufferers are afraid to expose themselves as appearing anything but perfect. Many sufferers hide their eating disorder and hide their disorder well.
Sufferers of bulimia have difficulty with social interactions as well as personal relationships. Given that sufferers of bulimia behave normally in public and display very few symptoms of the disease, it is sometimes difficult for an outsider to diagnose and recognize the severity. With this, assessment and identification is quite difficult, but obviously necessary for successful treatment.
Like anorexia and other eating disorders, assessments for bulimia uses structured interviewing and surveys to gather information. Self-reporting is the most prevalent form of assessment although it is not the most effective form of gathering information.
Like anorexia and other eating disorders, bulimia negatively affects the mind and body.
Medically speaking, there are many complications that often occur with bulimia, some include electrolyte and cardiovascular issues. Other complications include gastrointestinal, endocrine, dental and reproductive system issues. Bulimics typically suffer from brittle hair, nails, and skin which at times may be the only apparent signals that the person may be bulimic.
Psychologically speaking, when assessing for Bulimia, it may be common to discover an additional disorder is present. Such disorders include, but are not limited to- severe depression, anxiety or anxiety related disorders, obsessive compulsive behavior, and substance abuse.
There are various forms of treatment used with eating disorders such as bulimia. Successful treatment modalities for bulimia generally include antidepressants as well as cognitive behavioral therapy. While it appears as though there are effective treatment modalities, many sufferers do not recover or quite frequently relapse.
Research is exploring new treatment modalities for bulimia and exploring improving current treatments.
If you know someone who has one or several of these symptoms, please encourage them to seek help. If you would like more information on Bulimia, please visit http://www.therapeuticbenefits.com/ for resources and to schedule a free phone consultation.
2 comments:
I blame bulimia and all these eating disorders on society and the media's unreachable, unrealistic standards that have brainwashed girls and women all over the world. That in itself is a disease that needs to be cured.
Thank you David, I agree that media and our "skinny" culture plays a large role in our disordered thought processes.
Thank you for your comments!
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