Winter Blues, Chaotic Bulimia & Your 7 Day Bulimia Stabilizer challenge

 Dear Recovery Hopeful, 

Hope this growing colder weather finds you well and in good form ?  

It is usual to see a dip in our blood Endorphin & Serotonin, that makes us all feel depressed around the darkening days..but with added challenge of binging & purging of bulimia or over exercising to keep ahead of weight gain , your challenge becomes that much harder. 

Knowing this, I have decided to run the 7 Day Bulimia Stabilizer Challenge using the  BULIMIA HOPE facebook page, I created not long ago. This behavioral and cognitive  challenge was a great success the 1st time around back in September, so I want to help you gain some control back again at a time, most sufferers could do with that extra help, support, and therapeutic guidance if you are still needing it ? Especially from someone who's been treating bulimia sufferers world over for the past 10 years, may reassure you, knowing you are in good hands! 

Please visit : Bulimia Hope FB Page to pick up your daily challenge and instructions over the next 7 days and beyond!

Challenge Start  Date : Wednesday 31st of October  although you can start from any time you wish - my recommendation IS to follow with me to gain some momentum and support with the relevant daily tasks and challenges. 

You can always mail me any specific question or dilemma at : Vathani@bulimiahope.com Or connect to me via my new Twitter account : @VathanisWords. 

* To get you thinking about you, just work out what it would take to own this statement away from hours lost to current bulimic trends

In the mean time do jot me a line and let me know how you are doing, and if there's anything I can do to help you progress along..please get in touch :-)

Here's wishing you well always 

With warmest wishes

Vathani

Vathani Navasothy

Bulimia Specialist, Counsellor, Group/ Workshop facilitator, Self-help Author, Webinarian , Motivational Speaker

www.BulimiaHope.com

Useful Bulimia You Tube videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/BulimiaHope

0208 653 7177 (Dial +00 44 if calling from outside of UK)

BULIMIA STABILIZER - Your 7 Day Challenge - Starts NOW!!!

Hello Lovely Bulimia Beaters!

Hope the summer has been fruitful and your bulimia recovery is flowering beautifully with vibrant hope and happy moments?

If the summer so far has left you feeling disillusioned, despairing and darn right disgusted with your self and your progress..then this free 7 Day quest  called BULIMIA STABILIZER CHALLENGE may be the kick you are looking for, in order to stabilize your chaotic ways, bring down the binging and purging, boost up the sense of peace away from anxiety and make you be on your way to a "Bulimia STABLE start" in time for the 1st of September!

Curious? Then visit my Bulimia Hope page on Face Book TODAY..join the community and grab your Orientation Instructions NOW !

Start Date of the 7 Day Bulimia Stabilizer Challenge : 24th of August 2012

Daily Quest with specific therapeutic tasks, will be given on this Community page forum..so you can take action against your Bulimia.

Mike Melville once said : “ What you want to do, and what you CAN do, is limited only by what you can dream”. . .  If you have ever dreamed of a better place in your life bulimia free.. then take the chance.. take the challenge and start changing for the better NOW! 

See you on the other side !

with much love & warm wishes 

Vathani 

Vathani Navasothy
www.BulimiaHope.com 

www.facebook.com/BulimiaHope
You Tube: Bulimia Hope 

In What Way Can Bulimia Harm You?

People suffering from bulimia may suffer even more with long-term effects. Obsession on physical image, weight and self-esteem issues are some of the components that make up bulimia. If not recognized or treated immediately, it could lead to even more dangerous effects like physical and psychological damages or even death. Why do you think most sufferers seek out a counselor instead of a doctor for their bulimia recovery, it is because the emotional trauma is a lot more painful than the physical effects.

Bulimic patients often start by obsessing on their weight that later on urges them to take extreme measures in order to avoid weight-gain. Taking laxatives and diuretics as well as purging after binge eating is rampant in cases of bulimia.

Doing these regularly and purposely may cause some serious harm in the body. The person suffering from bulimia may experience any of the following: ulcers, heart problems, digestive problems, bad breath and sore knuckles.

Psychologically, the bulimic patient may eventually suffer from depression as well as extremely low self-esteem. There’s no saying what other effects the person is susceptible to if he or she does not surrender to a bulimia recovery program.

What Are The Optional Therapies For Bulimics?

Two of the most accepted treatments for bulimia nervosa include pharmacological treatments (the use of powerful drugs to curb the bulimic tendencies) and psychotherapeutic treatments (psychological evaluation, re-education and cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT.) But it is important to remember that different people are affected differently by this medical condition. There are many individual variations in the signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa. This is likewise the case in terms of the severity and incidence rate of both binging and purging instances. The problem is further compounded by the fact that this condition takes hold at different ages. In some instances, serious cases of bulimia strike patients at the onset of adolescence, while at other times it occurs in a person's late 20's.

Following the majority rule for mind-related ailments, some bulimia treatment options are successful for a small percentage, while the rest with this condition are still looking for cures. It is accurate to state that a lot of folks suffering from bulimia have tried successive therapies, including combining some treatments in the hope of a faster cure. Both traditional and alternative treatments can be prescribed singly or together - with the strict and full cooperation of the patient to the treatments. Hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and activities for releasing stress are a few of the known remedies that are alternative which show positive, but limited success.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries as an accepted form of practice in alternative therapy. This type of treatment for bulimics has proven effective in relieving the continual urge to binge and purge. In some cases, the person with bulimia nervosa feels less inclined to practice unhealthy eating habits due to the general feeling of well-being after each acupuncture session. However, only a small number of people are naturally predisposed to sought this kind of treatment and the patient’s cooperation (and willingness to believe) in the remedy plays the most crucial role in the healing process.

Hypnotherapy is generally utilized in cases where patients are experiencing some type of depression. It is an accepted theory that people with bulimia nervosa also suffer from anticipated disorders like anxiety disorders and depression. Sometimes hypnotherapy is used as part of a psychotherapy course of treatment. Again, very few people can actually be placed under hypnosis or follow suggested actions to overcome both bulimia and depression.

Elderly patients, as well as mild sufferers of the disorder, may find stress relief through calming activities that reduce the effects of depression, which leads to a reduction in binging and purging. Calming exercise such as yoga, or tai chi, along with meditation and massage therapy, can be useful to a person in connecting with their body in a positive manner. Typically, MNT or dietary therapies will be added once the patient responds to this type of bulimia treatments. This involves re-educating the patient regarding a proper diet for optimal health.

Dangers in Bulimia

Many bulimia sufferers do not understand the dangers in bulimia and the consequences of binging and purging. They think it is something they can do which has no detrimental consequences to their body. It is not until after a while they start noticing that they are harming their body. Swollen glands are a major concern because it makes the bulimics face look fat and therefore is having the opposite desired effect. There are many dangers associated with bulimia; watch this video to learn about them or visit here to find a bulimia treatment.

Bulimia and Swollen Glands

Bulimia sufferers tend to notice that they get swollen glands after a binge and purge episode but don't really understand what it is happening and why they get it. Often they panic and think they are getting fatter when they see a chubby face in the mirror and will purge some more to try and reduce the puffiness. This obviously is not a solution as it only aggravates the situation and can increase the length of time the swollen glands persist. If you are unable to stop binging and purging by yourself then it is worth seeking some form of bulimia treatment.

What Is The Best Treatment for Bulimia?

The best approach in the treatment of bulimia is actually a balanced combination of all the treatments that will match closely a particular patient’s profile and circumstances. In this multidisciplinary approach, the patient’s doctor, psychiatrist, and dietitian are involved. In some cases where complications from the eating disorder have arisen, a surgeon or endocrinologist may have to render their services. Lastly, the help of a dentist can also contribute in the detection and ongoing treatment of bulimia.

This multidisciplinary bulimia treatment plan should have the following goals:

• Treatment of physical complications
• Treatment of psychiatric conditions, including changing of the patient’s thoughts, attitudes, and feelings related to and causing bulimia
• Elimination of binge eating and purging
• Providing of education on nutrition
• Motivating the patient to practice healthy eating patterns and attitudes
• Getting the family to support the treatment as well as also providing the family with counseling, and
• Preventing the patient from going to relapse

The psychiatric aspect of the treatment includes all or a combination of the following psychological methods:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Interpersonal therapy
• Nutritional rehabilitation and counseling
• Family therapy
• Couple therapy
• Support groups and guided self-help
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy
• Bright light therapy

During psychiatric treatment, it is important that diet and nutrition is not just discussed but actually implemented. The role of the counselor in this aspect is important as the patient will be required to follow a structured meal plan. This will promote proper nutritional intake and reduces the urges to binge and purge.

The medical aspect of the treatment includes all or a combination of inpatient care, surgical care, and medication.

Inpatient care is given in cases of medical complications and infections, incapacity of the patient to function in daily life, absence of a support structure, failure of outpatient bulimia treatment methods, or risk of suicide. Surgical care is required when patients develop gastric dilatation, which is severe and uncontrollable vomiting that happens right after food consumption. This condition is one major cause of bulimia-related deaths. Surgical treatment is also required if the patient develops esophageal tear.

Medication for the treatment of bulimia is often in the form of antidepressants. These are helpful for patients who have symptoms of depression and anxiety. Medication is used to complement ongoing psychological treatment. Antidepressants that have proven effectiveness in most cases and have fewer negative side effects are SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.

Other medications that have been tried in treating mood disorders associated with bulimia are tricyclic antidepressants, topiramate, lithium, valproic acid, ondansetron, baclofen, and methylphenidate. In prescribing medication, doctors must present and discuss the benefits and risks related to antidepressant treatment with the patients and their families. The importance of making this decision can hardly be overemphasized for young patients such as children and adolescents.