Can I Overcome Binge Eating or Bulimia Quickly?

Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen Oct 29, 2009

On my Overcoming Binge Eating and Bulimia article, a woman asked for help with overcoming her eating disorder, which is binging and purging. She'll be going to grad school soon, has to share a bathroom, and needs to overcome her bulimia quickly.

Here are a few thoughts about quickly overcoming binge eating, bulimia, or any eating disorder:

Overcoming eating disorders takes time and effort. This isn't easy to say, my friend, but I don't think you can overcome binge eating or builimia quickly. I think it's like alcoholism: many people with eating disorders are always "recovering." They're not necessarily "recovered" -- and if they do call themselves recovered, it doesn't often happen quickly.

Discuss a major life change with your counselor. Graduate studies is a remarkable achievement! Congratulations on being accepted and having the motivation to pursue grad work. You mentioned that you'll have to share a bathroom, which is why you want to overcome builimia quickly....I encourage you to talk to your eating disorders specialist before you embark on this major life change. I'm not saying you shouldn't go to grad school. But, grad work is stressful...and eating disorders like bulimia or binging are sometimes triggered by stress and anxiety. I think you should talk to your counselor before starting grad school.

Identify your triggers. What compels you to binge and purge? Be very specific about how you feel when you're struggling with an attack of bulimia. What happened to create the urge? What event, what person, what situation makes you want to soothe yourself by eating? Knowing your triggers will help you cope with and overcome the urge to binge eat and purge.

Put your support system in place. If you are embarking on a major life change, such as grad school, I encourage you to set yourself up for success! Take control of your eating disorder by scheduling regular appointments with your eating disorders specialist or a school counselor. Tell a friend or two about your struggles with bulimia, and ask them to help you by letting you talk through your anxieties, fears -- whatever your triggers are. Start journaling about your bulimia and the feelings that lead to it. Learn other ways to "self-soothe", such as calling your mom or best friend, getting a massage from a loved one, watching your favorite movie, or listening to music you love.

I wish I could help you overcome bulimia or any eating disorder quickly, but I can't. I also encourage you to read up about eating disorders -- I'm reading Feeding the Starving Mind by Doreen Samelson -- it's an excellent resource for people who are overcoming anorexia, bulimia, and other obsessive compulsive tendencies.

Articles About Eating Disorders: Binge Eating, Builimia, and Anorexia

How Do I Overcome the Urge to Binge and Purge? - is a Psychology blog post that answers a 16 year old's question about overcoming bulimia.

Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder - describes body dysmorphic disorder, and offers suggestions for coping with it.

How Do I Overcome Emotional Eating? - another Psychology blog, which offers two ways to overcome the urge to binge. One you figure out why you're compelled to binge and purge, you're more likely to overcome it.

Articles About Eating Disorders - offers a long list of articles about anorexia, bulimia, emotional eating, and sleep eating disorders.

If you have any questions or thoughts on overcoming binge eating or bulimia, please comment below...