Bulimia Treatment
A Guide To Bulimia Treatments
A careful balance needs to be achieved when administering bulimia treatment. Depending on the severity and the length of time that the victim has suffered the disease, the physical damages can be a determining factor in the first leg of treatment. Psychiatric treatment is initialized immediately and, depending on any other pre-existing psychological conditions, it is not uncommon for a mild to moderate dosage of antidepressant medication, such as Prozac.
Medical conditions can be numerous, and a patient undergoing bulimia treatment will be cared for according to the severity of their dehydration and malnourishment issues. The chemical rush that victims of bulimia nervosa become dependent upon is a strong, neurological addiction. A decision to purge due to stress or guilt can quickly advance into an uncontrollable urge, no matter the cost to the body. This disease, though most publicized in regard to young girls and women who have a poor body image, can strike many personality types and lifestyles.
Pre-existing psychological disorders or a history of depression present in a patient will help to determine the most favorable and beneficial bulimia treatment for that particular person. Those who have abused substances, either as an additional symptom of the bulimia diagnosis or prior to being found bulimic, will need a more careful treatment plan, as antidepressant drugs are not always a good choice for chemical and substance abusers. A more diligent psychiatric plan will most likely be administered to these sensitive cases.
Long term physical damage often comes into play, depending on the severity and length of the illness. Dehydration can be overcome easily enough, with the administering of intravenous fluids if needed. Malnourishment takes longer to overcome, as the body loses muscle mass which takes quite some time to build back up. The most pressing concern for doctors when planning bulimia treatment is the inflated risk of suicide attempts in recovering bulimics. The pressure and a reported sense of failure and guilt are often a reasons for relapse and for this more threatening side effect.
It is very rare that a recovering bulimic will be able to break the purge and binge cycle “cold turkey.” Ongoing and long reaching treatment helps to curb the symptoms, the goal set at eventual loss of dependence on the urges and the rush factor. Cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal therapy, and nutritional counseling have been proven quite effective in the recovery of those suffering bulimia. The treatment is thought to be a permanent, ongoing process, designed to encourage health of both the mind and body in unison. Informational techniques help the recovering victim to accomplish a sense of control and knowledge, thereby empowering them to make educated decisions imperative to their own welfare.