Binge Eating & Bulimia

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia nervosa, also simply known as bulimia, is an eating disorder and complex mental health condition. It’s most often associated with what's known as the cycle of “bingeing” and “purging”. This cycle involves a period of eating lots of food (“bingeing”) followed by trying to get rid of the excess calories (“purging”).  Someone with bulimia might feel like parts of their life are out of control and use the purging to get that feeling of control back. 

It’s essential to recognise that while a lot of information talks about the association between bulimia and vomiting, purging isn’t always about being sick. Sometimes, people with bulimia will purge by excessively exercising, fasting, or taking diuretics and laxatives.

The long-term effects of bulimia can be dangerous and life-threatening. Nutritional deficiencies and other physical conditions are common in people with bulimia. While food and body image are very much part of bulimia, there are often deeper emotional issues involved. With dedicated and compassionate support, many people make a full recovery from bulimia.

Signs of Bulimia

Physical symptoms

• Bulimia face: Facial swelling as a result of inflamed salivary glands from frequent vomiting. This is sometimes referred to as “bulimia cheeks” too.
• Weight changes: People with bulimia may show frequent changes in weight. However, some people do not experience weight changes.
• Bulimia teeth: Recurrent vomiting can affect oral health and lead to acid erosion, tooth decay, and dry mouth conditions.
• Tiredness: A common symptom among those who are suffering from bulimia is frequent feelings of lethargy and tiredness.
• Bulimia hands: Known as “Russel’s sign” this symptom is a key indicator of bulimia. Russel’s sign will show as a pattern of calluses on the knuckles or back of the hand. This is caused by repeated contact with the teeth when fingers are used to trigger the gag reflex. The term “bulimia knuckles" also refers to this symptom too.
• Changes in menstruation: People with periods who are going through bulimia may experience changes in menstruation. In some cases, periods may stop completely.
• Gut issues: Constipation, bloating and stomach pains are common in people with bulimia.

Emotional symptoms

• Guilt: Commonly reported feelings include guilt and shame, especially after bingeing. 
• Stuck in a cycle: Feeling trapped in a cycle of losing control and trying to regain it.
• Mood issues: Feeling prone to mood swings and irritability
• Anxiety and depression: Many people who experience bulimia are also dealing with issues related to anxiety and depression. 
• Body image issues: Feeling as if your body is a different size or shape than what it actually is.
• Low self-esteem: Suffering from bulimia can harm your confidence.
• Numbness: Some people have reported feeling numb and unable to connect to their emotions.

Bulimia Treatment

We understand that overcoming bulimia is a process that takes time, compassion and empathy. We’re here with you every step of the way. Our dedicated team has years of experience successfully helping those who have bulimia to make a full recovery. We combine evidence-based treatments with highly personalised care and specialist knowledge.

We recognise that finding the right help and support is essential. At the London Psychiatry Clinic, we have highly trained specialists to help you identify and deal with the underlying reasons behind the problems you’re facing.  

Here’s what our treatment approach looks like:

• Creating a friendly and inviting environment is our top priority at the clinic. We want you to feel secure enough to talk about any difficulties.
• We'll pair you with the most appropriate expert whose education and expertise complement your unique requirements.
• Before arranging an appointment, we provide a free initial phone conversation. You can determine whether you feel comfortable chatting with your specialist after understanding what to expect.
• Your specialist will carry out a thorough assessment following the latest clinical guidelines.
• If your specialist diagnoses bulimia, they will work with you to create a customised treatment plan. They'll talk over every treatment approach available to determine the best course of action. 

Following your assessment, some of the treatment options we offer include:

Psychological education

Our specialists will provide information about bulimia in a clear way that is easy to grasp. Developing a deeper understanding of what you are going through can make it easier to manage symptoms. For instance, we might discuss particular triggers that give you a sense of being out of control. We'll go over practical coping strategies for handling tension and worry. We'll also provide advice on how to keep up a positive relationship with food and your body. Every piece of information we offer is customised to fit your particular needs and experiences. 

Talking Therapy For Bulimia

Talking therapy provides a safe space for you to talk freely about how you’re feeling with a qualified specialist. Safely and compassionately looking at your issues with food, weight and body image is vital for your healing journey. Types of talking therapy include:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E): A specialised type of CBT therapy that can help you understand and challenge your thoughts around food, body image, control and self-esteem. Some types of CBT-E for bulimia involve small tasks such as keeping a food diary or making slight dietary changes. Your specialist will work with you to make sure your approach feels collaborative and not dictated. It’s your healing journey, and we’ll take it at your pace.
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT): This involves discussions around your relationships with other people. Rebuilding or creating healthy relationships may help you to curb the desire to turn to food for emotional support.
• Family-based treatment (FBT): Family therapy involves talking to a therapist about how bulimia is affecting you and how your family can support you on your journey to recovery. This can involve both group sessions with the family and sessions on your own.
• Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT): During this type of therapy you’ll find ways to better tolerate stress, manage your emotions, be more mindful and learn ways to develop healthy relationships.

Medication For Bulimia

While there isn’t a medication used specifically for bulimia, we understand that there are often underlying emotional issues contributing to the problem. Sometimes we might recommend medications like antidepressants alongside other therapies to help while we explore those deeper challenges. Whatever the approach, we will always discuss every available treatment pathway with you.

Nutrition & Lifestyle Interventions

If you have bulimia, it’s likely you aren’t getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function at its best. We will work with expert dieticians and nutritionists who can help you develop a healthy eating plan and create a healthy relationship with food.

From experience, we know that having support at home can be extremely valuable on your path to healing. If it’s something that feels right for you, we’ll speak with family, carers or those you live with about your diet so they can help too.

How to Help Someone with Bulimia

• Let them know you are there: Just knowing you are there and available to support them can help a person with bulimia feel less isolated and alone. Let them know they are safe with you and that if they are concerned or worried about anything, you’ll be there to listen.
• Don’t judge: Often, people who are suffering from bulimia experience strong feelings of guilt and shame. Judgement can make these feelings worse and push a person further away. Try to stay compassionate and mindful that they are experiencing something incredibly distressing and confusing.
• Don’t focus on weight or appearance: Try not to make comments about weight and appearance. Instead, focus on the inner qualities of kindness, compassion and courage to help build self-esteem. 
• Be patient: Recovery from eating disorders takes time and lots of gentle encouragement. You cannot force someone to eat differently, and doing so might cause them to withdraw further. Make sure to recognise and celebrate the small wins. 
• Encourage them to seek professional help: It can take some time for a person to recognise that they have issues around food. You can help them by providing good sources of information and places they can seek help.

Private Bulimia Treatment London & UK

The warm and welcoming atmosphere at the London Psychiatry Clinic gives you the space and time you need to understand and manage your eating disorder. We are with you every step of the way.  Book a Consultation with one of our experienced specialists today.

Find the best kind of treatment for Bulimia

Reaching out for help can often be the hardest step on the path to healing and you’ve come so far already. You are only one phone call away from someone who will understand, empathise and help you with what you are going through. So pick up, dial in and call us now, we are ready to listen and support.