Without the proper treatment, a person battling an eating disorder can relapse just as quickly as someone with a substance use disorder. At our bulimia treatment center at Crossroads, we provide a safe space for women to receive the treatment they need to overcome an eating disorder like bulimia. Our treatment team works with each individual to treat the symptoms of bulimia and address the underlying conditions that lead to the condition. We believe in treating women as a whole to support their social, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. A reliable support system is an integral part of treatment to avoid a relapse and achieve lifelong recovery. To find out more about how Crossroads can help you or a loved one with bulimia treatment, contact us today at 877.978.1667.
What Is Bulimia?
Bulimia Nervosa is an emotional disorder that involves episodes of binge eating, followed by symptoms such as:
- Severe depression
- Purging
- Fasting
- Excessive exercise
This distortion of body image and obsession with weight is a serious disorder that can have severe consequences if the individual doesn’t seek treatment from qualified professionals. The intense feelings of guilt or shame over body image and the individual’s actions to meet a self-imposed body ideal leave a severe mental and physical strain. A bulimia treatment center can help guide those struggling with bulimia to overcome the complicated behaviors of the disorder. They can also address the misperceptions and stigmas associated with it.
Bulimia Triggers
The triggers associated with bulimia, or any eating disorder, can be what causes the disorder and what leads to a relapse. They can be different for each person struggling. Identifying these triggers and developing a plan to address them is an integral part of an eating disorder’s treatment and recovery process.
Eating Too Much
It might seem obvious, but sometimes people don’t even realize they are doing it. Overindulging can be one of the biggest triggers for those trying to recover from bulimia. It leads to feeling guilty about overeating and then fixing it through purging and restricting food intake. Being aware of this trigger is the trick. Making a conscious effort to eat healthier and not beating yourself up if you do overindulge can help manage this trigger from leading to a relapse.
Social Norms
It’s sadly no secret that the fashion and beauty industry, advertisers, social media, and society glamorize an unhealthy body image. Even though these are false ideals, individuals measure themselves against these standards. If they don’t meet the criteria, they feel that they have to do anything possible to measure up to what they consider an acceptable norm that society has pushed on them. The constant comparisons can lead to unhealthy diet habits and a poor relationship with food and body image. It is critical to identify this trigger and focus on being healthy and the best version of yourself.
What Surrounds You
The people, places, and things that were a big part of your life when you struggled with an eating disorder will easily trigger you to relapse. It won’t be easy, but distancing yourself from all of these familiar things will help you focus on your health and recovery. The friends worth keeping will understand, and you can always change the location or decorative features of a space you spend time in.
A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Stress situations and traumas in life can bring on many emotions. They can also be triggers for an eating disorder. These challenges can include a break up in a relationship, a change in employment, a health issue, family situation, and more. Unfortunately, many women may choose to use bulimia as an outlet for these life stresses. A bulimia treatment program will help constructively channel these negative emotions. You can then avoid the path to an eating disorder.
Negative Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem is an easy segway to bulimia. Feeling badly about yourself and the way you look can cause an obsession with your weight. Unfortunately, instead of making you feel better about yourself, relapsing into an eating disorder may make you feel worse. Being sick, miserable, and feeling weak and unhealthy will foster low self-esteem. Getting treatment will help to focus on healthy practices that make you feel good about yourself.
Contact the Crossroads Team to Learn More
Seeking treatment and recovering from an eating disorder like bulimia is a big step. It takes commitment and knowing that you will do what is needed to avoid a relapse. Learning to recognize the triggers that could lead you back down the wrong path is key to recovery. However, recovery doesn’t look the same for everyone. For instance, it can happen quickly for some and take longer for others. The risk of relapse exists for anyone, and getting help at bulimia treatment centers like Crossroads can help. Reach out to the team at our bulimia treatment center today at 877.978.1667 or through our convenient online form.
