It may come as a shock to some people to know the long-term and harmful effects of bulimia. Obsession on physical image, weight and self-esteem issues are some of the components that make up bulimia. If this goes unnoticed, then the person may suffer extreme damages to the health and may eventually lead to death. Then there are the psychological issues which more people are afraid of than the physical, because it is the psychological problems which make your life a misery and is the trigger for starting a bulimia recovery program.

Bulimia begins with an extreme need to focus on bodily appearance and weight problems that lead to habits that can help them maintain their proportions. These measures include throwing up after eating, taking diuretics and laxatives.

Doing these regularly and purposely may cause some serious harm in the body. The person suffering from bulimia may experience any of the following: ulcers, heart problems, digestive problems, bad breath and sore knuckles.

The psychological effects of this eating disorder include, prolonged depression and distorted view of oneself. There’s no saying what other effects the person is susceptible to if he or she does not surrender to a bulimia recovery program.

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The recommended non-medicated treatment for bulimia are psychological therapy and one on one counseling. Only in cases that are severe and with a patient’s non-response to the initial treatments is hospitalization necessary.

The most popular treatments for bulimia is cognitive behavioral therapy. Since studies have shown that this treatment is effective in over 50 percent of the cases, this is frequently the first treatment of choice. For learning coping skills and relapse prevention, nutrition counseling is included in cognitive behavioral therapy. You can also try interpersonal therapy treatment. This type of therapy deals with the emotional aspects like depression that influenced the eating disorder. If bulimia is caught early on, and the patient is still in relatively good health, support group therapy can help. Another treatment that might work is family therapy. Reports have been positive on this treatment compared to interpersonal therapy since a vital support mechanism such as the family is utilized and given support to as well.

Patients who have shown signs of depression have responded well to medications to treat their bulimia. It is advised by the experts, though, that CBT, a psychological therapy, is done in combination with drugs. Antidepressants are in the form of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Other drugs are also given to patients such as those that prevent vomiting. Occasional anti-epileptic drugs are prescribed since tests have reflected that they can help with periods of binging and purging. Bulimic patients are benefited by B vitamin drugs originally prescribed for depression and bipolar disorder.

There are other treatments for bulimia as well that have been explored. However more studies are to be conducted and the effectiveness of these treatments have yet to be proven for a wide number of cases. Hypnosis, light therapy, guided imagery and acupuncture are some of the less traditional treatments.

Hypnosis as a treatment is more effective on women patients with bulimia, but those patients that have developed anorexia are resistant to this treatment. When a patient’s bulimia is related to seasonal affective disorder then light therapy is used. However, the effectiveness of its use is more directed in the relief of depression rather than on correcting the binge-purge behavior of bulimic patients. Guided imagery on the other hand has been reported by studies to reduce the binge-purge behavior by almost 75%. In this method, the patient listens to audiotapes where images are evoked that will help in achieving treatment goals. In acupuncture, points in the stomach are selected so that the qi is balanced and proper circulation of oxygen and blood is maintained. This treatment is based on the idea that eating disorders are due to energy imbalances in the body. This therapeutic method allegedly causes endorphins to be emitted, minimizes stress, and boosts the digestive and endocrine functions.

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Bulimia nervosa is commonly treated in two ways: using powerful drugs to control the tendency (pharmacological), and through re-education, psychological evaluation, and CBT (psychotherapeutic). Still, it is important to remember that individuals are affected differently from one patient to the next. Different sufferers of bulimia nervosa will display different symptoms of the condition. This is also true when evaluating the severity and frequency of bingeing and purging episodes. This health issue is complicated even more because it can occur at any age. Serious bulimia strikes some individuals in early adolescence, with others suffering milder conditions in their late 20’s.

Like all mind-related illnesses, some treatments for bulimia options work for a small group of people while the greater number of people with this condition is still trying to find viable cures. It is accurate to state that a lot of folks suffering from bulimia have tried successive therapies, including combining some treatments in the hope of a faster cure. As long as the client participates fully in the treatments, health care providers can use a combination of conventional and alternative therapies. Hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and activities for releasing stress are a few of the known remedies that are alternative which show positive, but limited success.

Among the earliest types of alternative treatment is the use of acupuncture. This kind of treatment for bulimics has been known to provide relief from the constant need to binge and purge. In some cases, the person with bulimia nervosa feels less inclined to practice unhealthy eating habits due to the general feeling of well-being after each acupuncture session. But only a small percentage consent to and seek out alternative treatments like these, so their cooperation and willingness to believe in the therapy is the most important factor in the healing process.

Depression in many forms is usually treated with hypnotherapy or therapy under hypnosis. Generally it is believed that bulimia nervosa sufferers additionally present with anxiety disorders or depressive states. In some cases, hypnotherapy is included in psychotherapeutic treatments. Once more, only a slight percentage can be convinced to follow suggestions or undergo hypnosis to treat bulimia or depression.

Elderly patients, as well as mild sufferers of the disorder, may find stress relief through calming activities that reduce the effects of depression, which leads to a reduction in binging and purging. Low impact but relaxing workouts such as tai chi and yoga, as well as meditation and massage therapies may help the person develop a more positive outlook regarding his or her body. Most of the time, if a client is responsive to these non-medicated treatment for bulimia, medical nutrition therapy, also known as MNT, can be started. Here, patients relearn all they need about getting a proper diet for optimal health.

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