Bulimia's Hidden Dangers & How Bulimia Therapy Can Help You Heal

Health dangers of Bulimia and how Bulimia therapy can help

What are the long-term effects of Bulimia?

If you think that you’re struggling with Bulimia, it can be easy to dismiss the risks that you are taking with not only your mental health, but your physical health as well.  It can be tempting to believe that you won’t suffer with any of the health issues that Bulimia can cause. This is debatable, but in my experience as a Bulimia therapist, I believe that Bulimia is the most dangerous of all the eating disorders. 

Health Risks of Bulimia & How Bulimia Therapy can Help

First things first and this may sound blunt, but no-one is staying steady in Bulimia - if you are not actively working on recovery, your Bulimia is getting worse and with each time you engage in Bulimic behaviors, you are increasing your risk of both short and long-term health issues, some reversible and some not.

It’s important to know that the long-term effects (as well as short-term for that matter) of Bulimia can vary drastically from one person to another. Some factors that can cause this variation include;

• Genetics

• Length of time the person has suffered

• Severity of the behaviors and disorder

• Individual health

Since we are all different in so many ways, we can’t predict exactly what health issues we are at risk of and when. With that being said, just because someone may have certain health issues as a result of their Bulimia doesn’t mean anything about how Bulimia is affecting you. Anorexia and Bulimia tend to be highly competitive disorders and as such, people tend to compare their disorders, and the eating disorder itself can cause a person to start thinking that they aren’t “sick enough” because someone else is seemingly suffering more. One person’s Bulimia has nothing to do with another person’s. 

The health consequences of Bulimia may show up very quickly while other health consequences may not be seen for a while into their disorder. 

Here are some of the potential impacts that someone suffering from Bulimia may develop. Beware that this is NOT an all-inclusive list:

• Electrolyte imbalances

• Certain vitamin deficiencies in your blood 

• Hormonal imbalances

• Dehydration

• Chronic sore throat

• Dental issues especially if inducing vomiting is the primary method of purging - this can include tooth sensitivity, tooth decay and bad breath.

• Spontaneous esophageal rupture if inducing vomiting is the person’s method of purging: this means what it sounds like - rupture of your esophagus. Esophageal rupture is a risk for anyone when vomiting, however, when a person vomits regularly, there is more risk of course due to the law of probability - the more we do something, the more we risk whatever consequences come with it. The thing with esophageal rupture is that there are no warning signs, it just happens (aka - spontaneous).

• Digestive issues such as bloating and constipation

• Stomach ulcers

• Gastro-intestinal issues: disruptions to a person’s digestive system which can vary from discomfort in the stomach whenever eating to acid reflux to involuntary vomiting all the way to no longer being able to produce bowel movements on their own (described more in the following point)

• Inability to produce bowel movements: If laxative-use is their primary method of purging, they can lose the ability to produce bowel movements on their own without the use of laxatives. In the most extreme cases, (and not as uncommon as you’d like to think) the person may become completely unable to produce bowel movements and has to rely entirely on the assistance of what is essentially a poop bag, similar to a catheter. You must always wear this bag and poop bypasses your bowels and moves right to the poop-bag.

• Amenorrhea: loss of regular menstrual cycles.

• Muscle weakness and fatigue

As a result of some of the health issues listed above, some other long-term health issues that are possible include:

• Kidney issues and disease which can result from dehydration and electrolyte imbalances 

• Heart complications including irregular heartbeats or cardiomyopathy (this means the heart struggles pumping blood throughout your body)

• Bone density loss which can lead to weak bones or bone disease including Osteoporosis or Osteopenia

• Endocrine issues: long term hormone issues that can affect various parts of your life and health

• Infertility

• Death: Bulimia poses some serious risks which can lead to death…this is not to be taken lightly.

While Bulimia is clearly incredibly dangerous to your physical health, it also can wreak havoc (and will if left untreated) on your mental health. As I said earlier in this post, if you are not getting better, you are getting worse and this stands true from both a physical and a mental standpoint. Bulimia can cause/contribute to:

• Increased anxiety and depression

• Obsessiveness around food, exercise and one’s body

• Body image issues and potentially Body Dysmorphic Disorder 

• Isolation and increased loneliness

• Inability to concentrate

• Self-esteem issues

• Higher risk of substance abuse and other reckless behaviors

• Decreased self-efficacy meaning decreasing belief in one’s own abilities 

• And many more struggles!

No-one is immune to developing health issues as a result of their Bulimia. If you have Bulimia, any of these can happen to you and chances are, the longer you struggle, the risks increase. 

Want to minimize your risk? It’s time to reach out to a Bulimia Therapist today!

The prognosis for Bulimia is very good when caught early and treated properly by a qualified professional. If caught early enough, some health issues may be completely reversible. If you’ve struggled for a while, there is still hope! Reach out today and let’s get you on the path to recovery and to feeling better, both mentally and physically.

Getting Bulimia Therapy will begin your treatment journey and a qualified Bulimia Therapist will make recommendations to get a treatment team in place for you. As a Bulimia Therapist, I have worked diligently to find other professionals who are qualified and experienced in treating Bulimia so that I can make the best recommendations to you. We will work together to figure out what qualified professionals we may need to get on your team whether that be a dietitian, physician, gastroenterologist or another professional based on your needs, I will help connect you with those experienced professionals who can help you. Once we have a treatment team in place, I will work alongside them to help coordinate the best care for you to get you on your path to recovery as quickly and effectively as possible!

Don’t wait until you already are struggling with health issues to get Bulimia Therapy.  It’s time to reach out to a Bulimia Therapist or help. If you are ready to start your recovery journey, click here to submit a contact form in order to set up your free 15-minute phone consultation call with me, a Bulimia Therapist, to see how I can help you recover from Bulimia.

*Disclaimer* - I am not a medical doctor and this post does not constitute as medical advice. This post is derived from my experience working with clients who struggle with Bulimia, research and collaborating with medical professionals.