Yes.

Bulimia nervosa is often characterized by an unhealthy obsession with food and an even unhealthier obsession to be rid of it. Aside from the conventional symptoms of binge eating and purging, some of the dire effects of this medical condition include having affective disorders like depression, anxiety / panic attacks or a combination of both. Although these affective disorders may be caused by the thought of simply being having an eating disorder, one triggering factor may be due to the telltale physical signs bulimia. Examples of evident physical effects of this medical condition include: erosion of tooth enamel, severe caries and swollen salivary glands due to frequent contact between gastric acid and teeth. Sometimes, people with bulimia also have calluses or scars at the back of the hands; oral trauma (e.g. lacerations in the lining of the mouth or throat caused by repetitive self-induced vomiting); and swollen glands in the neck or under the jaw line.

As such, bulimia nervosa is often considered as a mental condition: an imbalance of perception where the person feels the need to look thin despite being at his or her proper weight or even being underweight. Although there are pharmacological treatments available, many health care providers believe that the best way of curing this condition is by literally getting into the heart of things. This means addressing the issue as to why people who suffer from bulimia feel that their weight is one issue that they need to "control". Psychotherapy helps patients cope with the underlying factors that may be causing their weight control issues.

However, in order for that individual to regain his or her place back in society, CBT is often recommended as well. CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy is both a re-education process and healing process that allow the person to evolve gradually to a healthier lifestyle. Most cases of bulimia take hold in people early on in life. In some cases, bulimia starts at the age of 13. Undiagnosed and untreated cases can go on uninterrupted for years. Naturally, once this "routine" takes hold of the person's life, it can be very difficult to undo.

CBT is often done under the supervision of a trained psychiatrist, and often begins with psychotherapy and re-education. Here, the person is taught that certain beliefs (especially those concerning distorted ideas on weight gain / loss) are corrected. The person is often taught alternative measures to weight control that are not detrimental to health. At the same time, the person is slowly introduced to scenarios that allow him or her to either co-mingle with people who have the same medical condition and other social setups.

Part of the success of CBT lies in the fact that cases are streamlined to meet the demands and needs of one person. Although there are group therapies involved, treatment usually progresses at a speed that the patient is most comfortable with. However, to ensure the ultimate success of such treatment option, the person must also provide his or her full cooperation.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vathani_Navasothy

If you binge eat, overeat and can't help yourself you are not alone. Lots of people binge, overeat, put on weight and feel endlessly guilty about it. They can't understand why they don't have control, so hopefully this article will give you some insight.

Compulsive overeating is food addiction. Compulsive overeaters rely on food to comfort them in times of stress, depression and helplessness. It is often rooted in low self esteem and feelings can be so overwhelming that the compulsion to overeat is unstoppable.

The issue lies in the compulsive overeater's inability to deal with emotion. When you have learnt to cope with life by eating, it can be very hard to break out of that habit.

Our society is all about repression of feelings. We hide behind masks because we don't want others to know we are upset. Wee use food in celebration and mourning. It is just what we know. It seems harmless but when it consumes us on a daily basis then we need to take drastic action.

Most compulsive overeaters are overweight and are only aware they have an issue with food because of the extremity in which food is part of their everyday life. The only problem is, they do not know how to change this issue and do not know how to cope with emotions in a more beneficial way.

What makes compulsive overeating harder to manage is that it usually comes with a lot of shame and guilt. People who suffer from this usually have low self esteem and do not feel good enough, which makes the eating worse (it is a vicious circle). Food is how compulsive overeaters deal with their need for acceptance and love.

When we overeat to such a large extent it is because our emotional needs are not being met. In order to overcome compulsive overeating we need to take a good hard look ourselves and learn how to face our emotions.

The first step to any recovery plan is to nourish the body properly to eradicate physical cravings. This can allow us to focus on the emotional issues surrounding food. Usually with compulsive overeaters, journaling and support from friends may not be enough and professional help may be necessary. There is a great 12 week intensive online program for emotional eating that can be beneficial if direct one on one counselling isn't possible and relying on journaling and friends isn't enough for you to be able to overcome your eating issues.

It is hard; you should not beat yourself up over this. Emotional eating is something that you have to learn how to deal with by allowing yourself to feel. Once you begin feeling, you will find that feeling isn't as scary as you thought. The initial process may be overwhelming (because your body has old bottled up feelings to release on top of the new present ones) but will make you feel great afterwards - satisfied and calm. This is something food will never be able to do for you.

Love yourself and stop loving the comfort food because comfort food will never love you the way you love it.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Aziz

Overeating and cravings are common in the Western world and are often not given the proper attention they deserve. They are seen as something that individuals really should be able to control and if you can't control them then apparently you don't have enough willpower and are weak.

Overeating can stem from two things cravings and emotional eating.

The word "craving" seems harmless and is just a nicer way, in most cases, to say addiction. Craving is almost an acceptable addiction because we don't place much importance on its seriousness and we find it harmless. But cravings are not harmless - they are a symptom of underlying issues and can result in you overeating on foods you really wish you wouldn't!

Most people think addiction is a strong word to use but that is in most cases what the issue is when it comes to cravings and overeating.

So in order to overcome overeating we must address the physical addictiveness of food or our cravings. Cravings are a sign of physical addiction, emotional addiction and also can be a result of not getting enough of a certain nutrient possibly.

The first step to eliminate physical cravings is to supply the body with the nutrients it requires. Most people don't do this, don't know what is right for adequate nutrition and just accept cravings as part and parcel of life. They don't have to be! When you provide your body with the right nutrients you can eliminate physical cravings completely.

Second one needs to address any emotional relationship they have with food. Do you crave when you are bored, stressed or feeling? Take a day out to be completely self aware and note down when you crave and whether it's as a result of having skipped a meal or because of an emotional need.

Self-awareness in general is very helpful to you and good to continue to do as much as possible. Being in the present moment and practising being in the moment (as opposed to daydreaming or thinking about the past etc) will allow you to overcome your overeating triggers.

If your overeating is more emotionally related then the best thing can be to get support for from a friend or familiy member who can almost take the place of the food in comforting you. Who can allow you to feel your emotions with them if its too difficult for you to do alone. There is also a great step by step intensive program online you can follow over 12 weeks, if becoming self aware and facing your emotional demons is too difficult.

So provide your body with the right nutrition and face your emotions. This is the only way to truly overcome the overeating that is ruining your weight loss goals and life!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Aziz