Bulimia Facts
A Few Important Bulimia Facts
Some bulimia facts are well known, as the medical and psychiatric communities have pinpointed key factors of potential victims, but the cause for bulimia is as difficult to peg down as alcoholism is. You can tell an alcoholic that they have all the signs and warnings of being a helpless drunk, but you can’t keep them away from the beer and liquor. Bulimia runs on the same premise as other chemical and substance addictions, it is ultimately left to the fate and luck whether or not they are devastated by the disease.
Most bulimics actually acquire the addiction by accident. An individual coming off of a highly restrictive diet, or perhaps an extremely stressful situation, will eat for the comfort that the food provides. Shortly afterwards, a sense of guilt or panic will cause the individual to induce vomiting, in an attempt to rectify the indiscretion. The act of vomiting causes the release of the human feel good chemical known as endorphins. These natural chemical rushes give an immediate feeling of comfort and bliss. Should the individual be receptive to this feeling, the induced vomiting can become a daily routine, ever increasing in frequency until the health of the individual is called into question.
The most heart breaking bulimia facts are the health issues suffered, and the great risk of permanent medical damage and even death that are a part of this disease. Those with a history of substance abuse are prone to bulimia, as the statistics state that 1 in 4 bulimics were or are addicted to substances or alcohol. This poses an additional challenge when it comes to treatment, as the usually antidepressant medications given to assist bulimics with their recoveries are not recommended for substance abusers.
This disease is both a psychological and chemical disorder, where the victim has become dependent upon a chemical which is readily available within their own bodies all the time. This is an horrifyingly difficult situation, especially when this rush seems the only outlet to the malnourishment ravaging the body.
Increased risk factors are numerous, and include anyone with immediate family or personal history of social disorders such as agoraphobia, panic attacks, and depression. Those who suffer borderline personality and obsessive compulsive disorders are also at heightened risk. The most prominent personality type effected by the disease are those with a perfectionist trait. These types often seem independent and confident on the outside, but tend to beat up on themselves for not being exactly what they feel they should. Of course, any person with a diagnosis of eating disorders is a natural candidate, and research continues in an attempt to pull the plug on these detrimental triggers.