Eating Disorders - Bulimia Nervosa Treatment
In this article we're going to cover treatments for Bulimia
Nervosa. These treatments actually apply to most eating
disorders as they are more or less caused by the same emotional
problems.
While eating disorders stem from emotional issues in a person's
life they are nevertheless still serious health conditions that
can do great physical harm to the person as well as the
emotional harm that has come before it and will continue long
after. Early diagnosis gives a person suffering from an eating
disorder a better chance for recovery. Eating disorders can
become chronic, debilitating, and even life-threatening. Early
treatment is critical.
The only really effective and long lasting treatment for an
eating disorder like Bulimia Nervosa is some kind of
psychotherapy or counseling. This along with attention to both
medical and nutritional treatments proves effective in getting a
person through this terrible disease. Of course the treatment is
going to vary from individual to individual because of the
emotional nature of the disease and the severity to which each
person is suffering.
Treatment usually involves some form of psychological counseling
where the therapist must not only address the eating disorder
itself but the underlying reasons for why the person is behaving
in this manner. This behavior is usually caused by
psychological, interpersonal, and cultural influences and
forces. Peer pressure is one of the most common causes of this
kind of behavior; the feeling that one has to be thin to fit in
with the crowd. That is why this disease targets mostly young
girls. The person performing the actual counseling can be a
psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, nutritionist or even
a primary care physician. However in extreme cases a
psychiatrist will most likely be needed. Whoever does provide
the care should be experienced with treating eating disorders or
greater harm than good can be done.
Nutritional counseling is also needed to make sure that the
person suffering from this disease is getting a well balanced
diet and that the person's progress is monitored such as weekly
weighing. Charts should be kept to make sure the person does not
backslide.
Many people with eating disorders respond very well to
outpatient therapy where they are allowed to go home after each
session. This gives them a feeling of security being in a home
environment for most of their treatment. Of course with this
type of program it is important that the family carefully
monitor the person while they are at home to make sure there is
no bingeing and purging. Knowing what to look out for now, this
becomes a lot easier.
However, in extreme cases inpatient therapy is required. This is
usually necessary when the person is in the later stages of the
disease and is already showing serious physical symptoms that
are on the verge of becoming life threatening or when the
psychological factor has become so strong that the person can no
longer rationally function in a home environment. Inpatient
therapy usually needs to be followed by a period of outpatient
therapy as well until the person is able to function on their
own.
Just like with alcoholism and drug addiction there is no cure.
It is a daily battle fighting an eating disorder like Bulimia
Nervosa. But with early detection and proper care and person can
go on to lead a normal and healthy life.