Appetite Disturbances: Treating Bulimia

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Appetite Disturbances: Treating Bulimia

Appetite Disturbances, either experiencing loss of appetite, or having

difficulty controlling it, several alternative therapies can help. If

you experience a notable change in appetite, you should first consult a

physician, to rule out any illness or nutritional deficiencies. Whether

you want to stimulate your appetite or control it, changing the way you

eat may help.

Appetite loss is the body's defense against ingesting anything that

could slow the healing process. Almost any infection can cause a loss

of appetite. A passing cold or flu virus could be responsible. So could

more serious things like tuberculosis, low thyroid function, diseases

of the heart or lungs or liver problems.

Bulimia is an illness characterized by uncontrolled episodes of

overeating usually followed by self-induced vomiting. Eating binges may

occur as often as several times a day. Induced vomiting known as

purging allows the eating to continue until interrupted by sleep,

abdominal pain, or the presence of another person. The person is

usually aware that their eating pattern is abnormal and may experience

fear or guilt associated with the binge-purge episodes. The behavior is

usually secretive, although clues to this disorder include

overactivity, peculiar eating habits, eating rituals, and frequent

weighing. Body weight is usually normal or low, although the person may

perceive themselves as overweight.

The exact cause of bulimia is unknown, but factors thought to

contribute to its development are family problems, maladaptive

behavior, self-identity conflict, and cultural overemphasis on physical

appearance. Bulimia may be associated with depression. The disorder is

usually not associated with any underlying physical problem although

the behavior may be associated with neurological or endocrine diseases.

The disorder occurs most often in females of adolescent or young adult

age. The incidence is 2 in 10,000 people.

Bulimia is a bit different from anorexia because the person with

bulimia doesn't avoid eating. Instead, he or she eats a large amount of

food then gets rid of it quickly by vomiting or taking laxatives. This

is commonly known as "binge and purge" behavior.

Best Balancing Tips

1. Recognize the problem: People with an appetite disturbance often do

not recognize or admit that they have a problem. A trusted family

members or other individual you believe in can be helpful in making

sure that needed care or rehabilitation are received.

2. Determining your needs: Appetite disturbances, eating disorders,

depression and anxiety all require a comprehensive diagnosis, in which,

the clinician will determine whether the person is in immediate danger

and/or requires hospitalization. Nutritional counseling, psychosocial

interventions, monitoring, as well as medical care maybe appropriate.

3. Talk Therapies: Individual psychotherapy (especially

cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy), group

psychotherapy that uses a cognitive-behavioral approach and family or

marital therapy can be very effective. Overcome low self-esteem and

addressing distorted thought patterns and behaviors are crucial.

Families are sometimes included in the therapeutic process.

4. Severe weight loss: requires an inpatient hospital stay, where

proper nourishment is given and the person's medical needs are met. In

some cases, intravenous feeding is appropriate.

5. Moderate exercise is crucial: for those suffering from anorexia and

bulimia. Not only does it help burn excess calories, but by increasing

your physical activity you can modify the way your brain regulates

hunger, making you less susceptible to food cravings and can increase

hormones in order to stabilize mood or anxiety disorders. If exercise

is done excessively, in the case of anorexia and bulimia, encouragement

of healthy but not excessive exercise is the specific goal in this

strategy.

6. The primary goal of treatment for bulimia: is to reduce or eliminate binge eating and purging behavior.

7. Vitamin Therapy: is a good way to help your body regulate what you

may not be getting through your diet or what you are losing through

purging and abuse. A good daily multivitamin is the best start.

8. Control blood sugar levels: this is a good way to balance your system by eating 5 small high protein meals a day.

9. Believe: Your belief system has everything to do with the mental and

spiritual aspects of any eating disorder. Fight anxiety with relaxation

exercises rather than food. Utilize meditation, yoga, stretching. By

creating healthy eating habits and regular exercise, you are sure to

lose weight without depriving yourself of nourishing food. And if you

continue those good habits after you reach your goal, you will have an

excellent chance of maintaining your desired weight and see it more as

maintaining a lifestyle as opposed to a diet.

10. Sleep Well: Good quality sleep is important, especially when you

are trying to recover from bulimia. It is most important to go to sleep

with a "Quiet Mind". Sleep rejuvenates, detoxes and regulates the body.

11. Overcome Fear: Fear can be an underlining problem in many cases.

There are many ways to quiet the mind. Doing 15 to 30 minutes of

meditation or yoga can be very helpful. You must allow yourself to be

distracted or get into your meditation or yoga and "let go" of the days

thoughts. Address your fears or phobias by journaling.

Supplements To Consider

Try eating small meals. Practice good nutrition. One should not view

food as an enemy. Eating a balanced, proper diet won't make you fat. It

will make you healthy. If you eat right and exercise sensibly, this

will stimulate appetite and serve as energy.

Supplements in a multivitamin/mineral that provides 100 percent of the

Daily Values of all essential nutrients while people are relearning to

eat real foods is recommended. Supplements of certain individual

nutrients, particularly potassium, calcium (1500 mg in divided doses

with 200 mg Vitamin D and 500 - 1000 mg magnesium), chromium (200 mcg),

iron, zinc, vitamin E (200-400 IU) and the B vitamin comples (25 mg of

each B vitamin). Experts warn that supplements cannot take the place of

food. The body will not properly absorb and use vitamins and minerals

without also receiving adequate calories.

Emotional Aspect: What Is Eating At You!

There is an emotional aspect to every illness. Often times, it is the

emotional thoughts or "excess emotions" that will lead to illness.

Bulimia is often caused by "poor body image", stress, anxiety or social habits or social pressures to be thin.

Inner Controversy - Family problems, maladaptive behavior, self-identity conflict can all be a cause of appetite problems.

How do I look ? Cultural overemphasis on physical appearance and social

attitudes towards body appearance seem to promote food aversions.

What I have learned at home... family factors play a role in our mental development about food and how we eat.

We can then train ourselves to... distinguish and continue to reproduce a non-compulsive state.

Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/appetite_disturbance.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit