Symptoms

The main and most known symptoms of bulimia are systematic overeating and subsequent catharsis.

Overeating

Overeating when bulimia is repeated consumption of food in quantities much greater than necessary. It may begin as an attempt to cope with emotional problems, but it soon becomes obsessive necessity and out of control patient.

A man in a very short period of time can eat so much food that later will feel stomach discomfort. When bulimia it happens at least twice a week. If this happens only once or twice, it's probably not bulimia.

The attacks are spontaneous overeating when people just eat whatever is in his reach at the moment. Sometimes, there are planned "holiday belly" - in these cases the patient in advance to buy food, and it clearly exceeds the amount which he would eat normally.

Cleansing

Catharsis - is the reaction of the patient to overeating. Sometimes it just feels physical discomfort, but more often it is accompanied by a sense of guilt, hostility to him, regret and fear of getting fat strong. The most common way that patients choose to get rid of the food - it is artificial vomiting. Some also use diuretics and / or laxatives. There are some patients who, after binge begin to train hard or very severely restrict your diet, until the complete rejection of it. Acceptance of illicit drugs, such as amphetamines, for some patients, too, can be a means to get rid of the consequences of overeating.

A vicious circle of guilt

Bulimia is often a vicious circle. A person suffering from bulimia will probably also low self-esteem. Moreover, these patients often feel that they are overweight, even if the weight is in the normal range. Because of this, they often sit on a diet, a lot of sports, and to adhere to such a regime, of course, difficult. Sometimes they break, overeat and then suffer guilt. Once they realize that the consequences of overeating can be quite easy to get rid of, and the first time in my life cause vomiting. It also causes a feeling of guilt, because it is clear that such behavior is neither normal nor healthy. Another bout of guilt leads to stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis With which the person is trying to cope with the help of over-eating, and it again reinforces the feeling of guilt. And so on.

Other symptoms of bulimia

• Periodic changes in weight
• Obsessive relationship with food
• Spending large amounts of money for food
• Wounds and scars on the joints of the fingers (from frequent contact with the teeth when a person makes himself vomit)
• Depression and anxiety disorders
• Representations about their weight and body that do not correspond to reality
• Removal from the surrounding people, even those closest to

In contrast, patients with anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa - symptoms and effects on the body , Victims of bulimia can not immediately know the crowd, focusing on excessive thinness and refusal of food. Typically, patients with bulimia weight approximately correct, although each case is different bulimia, and are not excluded significant deviations from normal weight.

Patients with bulimia are often ashamed of their uncontrollable appetite and try to hide the symptoms of this disease. Often they secretly plenty gorge, and then induce vomiting to get rid of eaten, and people eat in moderation, did not differ from healthy people, or even to limit food intake.

Typically, patients with bulimia are very particular about their weight and shape, so often or occasionally try dieting. The system of self-weight and the figure is occupied almost the first place. Often, this is what factors determine their attitude towards him.

Specific symptoms of bulimia

It is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent cases of binge eating that occur at least twice a month for three months. During these attacks insatiable appetite when sick sweep away everything, there is the following:

• Overeating, i.e. consumption in a short time (e.g., within two hours) in an amount of food that most people are unable to eat for the same time and under the same circumstances.
• The feeling of losing control during this attack (eg, a feeling that you can not abstain or impossible to control the amount of food eaten).

Victims bulimia often try to control food intake, or at least prevent weight gain. To do this, they cause forced vomiting; abusing laxatives, diuretics, enemas or other similar means to prevent digestion; They refuse to eat (hunger); or actively involved in sports.

It is a digestive disorder can be diagnosed only in the event that it can not be explained by anorexia.

Signs

The reason for concern are the following features:

• Loved one keeps saying that it is too thick
• Always or often eat more than they need, especially fatty and sugary foods
• Man does not want to eat in public places or even in front of others
• Receiving various dietary supplements and drugs
• Overly intense exercise
• Use of laxatives or diuretics

Noticing some or all of these symptoms, immediately ask the person directly about his problem. Do not force it, let them know that you care about him and want to help anyway take it for what it is. Condemnation here will not help.

The main features of

The most common symptoms of bulimia:

• Feelings of lack of control over their eating habits
• The patient has to until not feel discomfort or pain in the abdomen
• The amount of food intake is much higher than normal
• Vomiting after eating
• Overly intense and frequent participation in sports
• Abuse of laxatives, diuretics and enemas
• Concerns about their weight
• Distorted too negative image of your body
• Going to the toilet, after or during meals
• Faulty bowel
• Damage to teeth and gums
• Swollen salivary glands
• Sores in the mouth and throat
• Dehydration
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Wounds, scars or calluses on the joints of the hands
• Menstrual irregularities Menstrual cycle and its characteristics   or the complete absence of menstruation (amenorrhea)
• Depression
• Increased anxiety Anxiety - how to distinguish normal from disease?

Most patients with bulimia cause vomiting only after overeating. Some, however, do this after a normal meal, or even quite a bit of bite.

Overeating is the use of more food than most people would eat under the same circumstances and at the same time. For example, if you have bulimia, you can eat the whole pie instead of a couple of pieces. And you can continue to eat until the feeling of satiety not turn into a painful sensation.

Most people overeat alone. After that they go to the bathroom to get rid of that just ate. Because people with bulimia usually have normal or even excess weight, others may not be aware that with them that something is wrong.

When you need to see a doctor

If any symptoms of bulimia as soon as possible, seek medical help. Typically, bulimia does not pass by itself, eventually becoming worse and can subdue your life, if you do not treat the disease.

If you notice signs of bulimia have a loved one, and he does not want to seek help (often people simply deny the existence of the problem), do everything to convince him to go to the doctor. For example, tell him about all the possible consequences of bulimia - they really are very dangerous.