Bulimia nervosa: When food becomes a refuge for anxiety Bulimia or bulimia is one of the eating disorders that has a high prevalence among teenagers and young people today, especially in modern societies. This disorder is associated with frequent periods of overeating and attempts to compensate for it through cleansing, which in the long run can cause serious damage to a person's physical and mental health. Several factors, including psychological issues and social pressures, play a role in bulimia. People with this disorder are caught in an unhealthy cycle of overeating and compensatory behaviors, which not only harms their physical health, but also affects their quality of life. A better understanding of this disorder, familiarity with its symptoms and knowledge of treatment methods can help affected people to start the path of recovery. In this article from the Pirouzi Psychology Clinic website, we will examine the signs and symptoms and treatment solutions of bulimia nervosa, so stay with us.

What is bulimia nervosa? In bulimia we see a cycle of disturbing events. At first, the person eats a lot of food in a short period of time (bulemia) and then in another period he tries to remove all the food he has eaten from his body (purge). Purging can be through forced vomiting, laxatives or diuretics, enemas, excessive exercise, fasting, or very strict diets for the next few days. Bulimia nervosa may also cause obsessions about weight and body shape, and these obsessions can become worse and more severe, leading to depression, severe anxiety, and worsening of bulimia nervosa. Classification of types of bulimia nervosa 1. ### type with cleanup behavior Patients with this type do actions such as intentional vomiting, abuse of laxatives or diuretics. These patients are exposed to serious complications such as hypokalemia (due to the abuse of laxatives and vomiting) and hypokalemic acidosis. Patients who vomit a lot may have ruptured esophagus and stomach. 2. ### type without purging behavior (overeating patients) This group uses strict diet, exercise and fasting and is prone to obesity. Characteristics of people with bulimia nervosa ### Eating large amounts of food during times of heightened emotions When people are faced with the peak of negative emotions such as stress or anxiety, they eat a large amount of food and hope that in this way the aforementioned emotions will decrease. ### Choosing high-calorie foods Foods such as fatty, sweet and generally high-calorie foods are eaten while concentration is low. People tend to eat while doing activities such as watching TV or working, that is, times when they pay less attention to the amount and type of food consumed. ### Feeling of regret after eating After consuming large amounts of food, people feel remorse and blame themselves. The prevalence of bulimia nervosa Bulimia usually affects women more than men and often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, but it can occur at any age. About 1 to 2 percent of people experience bulimia nervosa every year. This disorder can affect people of any gender, age, race, ethnicity, or body type. Treatment of bulimia nervosa Various approaches may be used to treat patients with eating disorders. The use of psychotherapy is necessary to reconcile the affected person with emotional and underlying factors. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be beneficial for changing abnormal thoughts and behaviors. Group therapy is also often recommended because people can help each other through their own experiences, and finally, family therapy, especially if the person lives in a family and is a teenager, will be very important and beneficial. (National Association, 2005) summary Binge eating, sometimes known as "emotional eating", is a type of compensatory behavior that people use to cope with unpleasant feelings. In the treatment of this disorder, psychological solutions play an essential role, and various techniques help people to have more control over their nutritional pattern. In addition, in cases where there are underlying problems such as depression, drug therapy may also be used as part of the treatment process. The psychologists present at Pirouzi Psychology Center, having hundreds of successful experiences in this field, will help people with bulimia nervosa.

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