Eating Disorder: Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa

Gabriella Rockwell

November 25, 2018

The idea of what a person's body should look like has been altered to fit one body type. Since we are all real humans, we cannot meet the Barbie or Ken doll expectations. The fact that society and the media believe men and women should look a certain way, leads to eating disorders. Eating disorders are very prevalent in today’s society. Men and women want to fit in and be accepted so badly, that they are willing to do anying. This includes ruining their healthy and even ending their lives.

Bulimia Nervosa is one of the most severe and life threatening eating disorders one can develop. Bulimia Nervosa is a binge and purging process. A person with this disorder will eat what they want, but within two hours, self- induced vomiting will occur. The person may feel guilty after eating because they ate too much, or maybe they just did not pick a healthy option. Bulimia Nervosa is diagnosed after 3 months of continuous self- induced vomiting. Bulimia can cause tooth decay, heart failure, major organ failure, osteoporosis, amenorrhea, dehydration, intestinal distress, and esophagus rupture. The list for health complications spans a mile long.

Signs of Bulimia Nervosa may take a few weeks to notice, but they are there and should be talked about immediately. Loss of skin tone, excessive loss of weight, loss of energy, loss of voice, bad breath, and isolation can all be signs that someone is suffering from Either Bulimia Nervosa or a different eating disorder.

There are many ways to get help if you are suffering from Bulimia Nervosa or any other eating disorder. The most important outlet to use while trying to get help, is confiding in someone you love and trust. Second, counselors are a great source to help get through problems. Journaling has also been knowing to help a person vent without the fear or talking to someone face to face.

 Unfortunately, when I was younger, my older sister suffered from this disorder. She struggled many years with her weight, but found a quick solution. My sister who was close to 180 pounds transformed into a 90 pound skeleton. The problem here, was everyone kept complimenting her on her weight loss, so she knew her unhealthy habit was working the way she wanted it to. My sister ended up hospitalized for several days and now goes to counseling religiously. Once I noticed her weight loss was happening too quickly, I talked to her about it and she opened up to me about her disorder. You could tell she just wanted someone to talk to. I thought we could work through it together, but her problem kept worsening. When I realized she would need more than me to change her habits, I spoke to an adult and got her some real help. I am thankful everyday that my sister told me what she was going through. If she didn’t, she may not still be here right now raising two beautiful boys. Whatever your situation may be, find a way to express your feelings in a healthy way. There are so many people out there for you, you just have to open your eyes.