Bulimia Nervosa

When is it time to seek help?

Bulimia nervosa is a very serious disorder that can, and has, lead to death if not treated. People with eating disorders often try to conceal their behaviours. For example, they may wear baggy clothes to hide their weight loss, or because they fear they are overweight (when they’re not). People suffering from bulimia will make frequent trips to the bathroom – especially after meals (to induce vomiting). They may eat small amounts in front of others then binge in private. If you suspect someone to have an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia, you should encourage them to seek help as soon as possible. If you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of bulimia or suspect someone you know is – it’s important to seek support as soon as possible.

Bulimia nervosa treatment methods

The exact treatments depend on the person with anorexia nervosa, and an assessment will be completed before those treatments can be chosen. Some treatments that have been successful in treating anorexia nervosa include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to treatment that focuses on how people’s thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence their behaviour and how they perceive themselves.
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a treatment method that’s similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) but emphasizes building skills to manage stress, emotional response and regulation, mental health issues, and the psycho-social aspects of relationship building.
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is defined by EMDR Canada as an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and many other mental health problems that utilized bilateral eye stimulation or somatic responding.