3 Things to Know About Bulimia

The topic of mental health is a complicated and complex one that can be difficult to discuss. Thankfully, society has come a long way in regard to how mental health is discussed and approached in general. While there was once a time when the subject was all but off-limits, it is now understood just how difficult mental health issues can be to cope with, as well as what the nature of such conditions entails.

The same goes for mental health conditions that are classified as eating disorders. While it was once common to view eating disorders simply as physical conditions, it is now known just how complex an issue bulimia can be from a mental perspective. This is why talking to an eating disorder counselor can be so beneficial for some.

That being said, there is still so much that the general population doesn’t know or understand about bulimia. This can make it difficult for those who suffer from the condition to know where to seek help and to feel comfortable talking about their condition in the first place.

With that in mind, here are three things about bulimia that are worth knowing in case someone you know, and love might be struggling with the condition.

1. It is a Mental Health Disorder

First and foremost, it is important to understand the fact that bulimia is, in fact, a mental disorder. Although most people only view this condition from the physical side of things, those physical actions are prompted by mental factors that are at play.

Oftentimes, bulimia stems from a disordered sense of how a person views themselves physically. They might think that they need to look a certain way in order to be accepted or to find fulfillment in life. This leads to the self-harming practices that are involved with bulimia.

You can learn more about the mental health aspect of bulimia by checking out edentreatment.com.

2. It Affects Men Too

When most people think of eating disorders, the association with female body image is often made. While conditions like bulimia do, in fact, affect far more women than men, it is important to know that about 15% of those who are diagnosed and treated for this condition are male.

Men face societal pressures to look a certain way, just as women do. Young men, in particular, can feel these pressures more deeply and take extreme measures in order to attempt to fit a certain archetype. Some people recognize that they have an issue and seek help from a specialist with an Eating Disorder Certification Online or elsewhere. The majority, on the other hand, pay little attention to any of these and continue to be impacted by these disorders.

3. Someone With Bulimia Isn’t Necessarily Excessively Thin

Another misconception that many people have about bulimia is that someone who is a normal body weight isn’t likely to suffer from the condition. However, unlike anorexia which involves an extreme calorie and nutrient deficit in the diet, bulimia actually involves the consumption of a large number of calories.

This process of binging is then followed by the expulsion of the calories via vomiting or other methods. This is done to maintain control over bodyweight as opposed to getting rid of weight altogether. Therefore, someone with bulimia might not actually be excessively thin.

Kelly Tate

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