Can't stop eating? Check if you have bulimia - symptoms and signs.

A lot of people in our culture are interested in their look. But in bulimia there is a direct connection between accepting your body and respecting yourself. People suffering from bulimia can be great in many spheres of life but if they don’t like themselves in physical way (they’re not slim enough) their successes means almost nothing to them.

Bulimia is characterized by binge eating episodes, when the amount of consumed food exceeds several times typical amounts. During the attack bulimics eat mostly carbohydrates and fats, can’t control what and how many they’re eating. After that for the moment they feel relief, self-induced vomiting.

Family of a bulimic is characterized by lack of rules and support, overprotectiveness and high tension. Roles of family members are not kept. Children growing in such families can be overstretched with responsibility and may have difficulties with lack of self-esteem and gaining autonomy.

Which symptoms can indicate bulimia?

• binge eating - bulimics can’t stop eating, only physical pain caused by surfeit can stop them
• consuming portions disproportionately big in relation to someone’s look and body mass
• unsettled eating - bulimics either eat too much or starve
• long visits in a bathroom after meals - self-induced vomiting
• using laxatives 
• over-exercising

How you can find out that someone suffers from bulimia?

• fluctuations of weight
• teeth discoloration (caused by tooth enamel damage as a result of frequent contact with gastric acid)
• bad hair and nails condition, grey complexion, swollen cheeks
• discoloration of skin on wrists caused by self-induced vomiting. 

It’s important for you to know that it’s really hard to control bulimia by yourself. Pharmacotherapy and constant psychotherapeutic support are necessary.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.