Jul 14, 2009

Q: How do I Overcome the Urge to Binge and Purge?

Bulimia is an eating disorder that overcomes one's thoughts, feelings, and actions. This compulsion to binge and purge -- and it feels unstoppable and uncontrollable.

A 16 year old reader shared how binging and purging makes him feel on my Overcoming Bulimia and Binge Eating article. His struggle is exactly what many people with bulimia deal with -- both how it starts, and how it continues.

Here are a few extra things to remember about overcoming the urge to binge and purge:

Figure out what your bulimia is about. On the surface, it's about weight loss...but the real cause is about lack of control, unexpressed feelings, or struggles with perfectionism. To overcome bulimia, you need to figure out where it's coming from.

Find the treatment that works for you. Some people need to resolve their childhood issues; others need to change their lifestyle habits. To figure out how to overcome bulimia for you, you need to try different possible solutions.

Remember that it's not a lifelong battle. You won't always struggle with the urge to binge and purge! Like quitting smoking or any destructive habit, once you figure out the cause and learn better ways of coping with life, then the urge will fade and eventually disappear.

Remember that a hamburger, french fries, and ice cream won't make you fat. It takes 3,500 calories to make a pound of fat! If you eat normal, healthy meals, you won't get fat. One way to overcome bulimia is to learn how we gain weight, how our metabolism works, how exercise impacts our food intake, and so on.

For more help with binging and purging, read Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder or Getting Psychological Help. And, I welcome your comments or questions below.