How to help a person with bulimia: 6 tips for giving support

A series of tips and recommendations on how to help people with this disorder.

Generally, people with bulimia try to hide their symptoms, and contrary to popular belief, their physical appearance is often not extremely thin. However, by paying attention to the details we can notice the presence of this disorder and provide them with the necessary attention and support.

In this article we are going to see how to help a person with bulimia through various techniques based on psychological support, and we will also give an overview of how to help a person with bulimia.We will also review the concept of bulimia and its main causes, as well as the associated disorders.

What is bulimia?

In order to properly establish how to help a person with bulimia, it is important to know what this disorder consists of.

Bulimia is an eating disorder in which the sufferer feels the irrational need to binge eat. the irrational need to binge eat large amounts of food.. These excesses occur in a short period of time, and subsequently the feeling of guilt of having eaten in this way leads the subject to practice induced vomiting (may be by manual techniques or by consumption of laxatives) or other forms of purging or attempts to lose weight.

Obviously, bulimia has repercussions on the individual, leading to significant distress, both physical (vomiting and harmful eating patterns) and mental (anxiety and inability to regulate binge eating behavior). Intense states of anxiety as mealtimes approach are characteristic of people with bulimia. are characteristic of people with bulimia.

Causes of this eating disorder

The origin of this disorder depends on various social, psychological and Biological factors.. People who are more prone to bulimia are usually constantly worried about their weight, even if it is within normal parameters.

Subjects with obesity problems or those who do not feel satisfied with their physical state and present a marked rejection towards their own body or a particular characteristic of it, usually their weight (body dysmorphia), present a higher risk of developing bulimia.

Another circumstance that promotes the origin of this disorder is the need to meet beauty standards promoted by some brands promoted by some brands through the dissemination of their marketing and advertising pieces.

Low self-esteem and personal insecurities are some of the most common psychological factors that can lead people to develop bulimia.

How to help a person with bulimia?

In the following lines we are going to see a list of tips on how to help a person with bulimia, explained so that they are easier to apply.

1. Avoid criticizing their weight

People with bulimia have a negative pattern of thinking about their own body.. That is why any criticism, even if it is constructive and with good intentions, will trigger significant discomfort in them. Ideally, do not emphasize their physical appearance during conversations.

2. Help them understand that they have a problem

The first step for the person to initiate a significant change in their dysfunctional eating habits is to understanding that their behavior is causing them serious health problems.

It is important to talk to the person and make him/her see that physique is not everything, and that physical and mental health are important, as well as showing him/her that giving oneself a hard time is a habit that should be corrected with therapy.

3. Accompany him/her to therapy

It is not enough just to provide support, it is necessary to make the person understand that the best source of help comes from a psychologist. the best source of help comes from a behavioral specialist.. Psychotherapy allows people to stabilize and decrease binge eating and purging, as well as the other symptoms associated with it.

The therapist will be able to determine what the exact triggers for these behaviors might be and begin a treatment plan that specifically addresses the subject's thoughts that need to be restructured.

4. Accompanying without overwhelming

The accompaniment, complementary to therapy, must be carefully carried out by the person providing the support, taking into account that subjects with bulimia are very anxious and anxious..

It is necessary to be patient and gradually lead the subject to the restitution of their eating habits in a gradual way, making them see why they should eat properly.

5. Accompanying the nutritionist

Once our accompaniment and therapy begins to bear fruit and the person understands by himself that he must change his eating habits, it is time to suggest that he attends the nutritionist, who will be able to tell him what is the best diet for him. who will be able to tell him/her what is the best diet to stay healthy beyond binge eating. beyond binge eating.

6. Helping to improve self-concept

If we get the person to achieve a better self-concept, we are taking giant steps in winning the battle against bulimia, we must make the subject understand that we are more than our physical appearance; helping them to discover what their main virtues and strengths are helps a lot.

Bibliographical references:

• Bulik, C.M.; Marcus, M.D.; Zerwas, S.; Levine, M.D.; La Via, M. (2012). The changing "weightscape" of bulimia nervosa. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 169 (10): 1031-6
• Palmer R. (2004). Bulimia nervosa: 25 years on. The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science 185 (6): 447-8.