Should I tell my kids I have an eating disorder?

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Psychologists recommend keeping the discussions brief and matterof-fact, while also giving the child a chance to express his/her emotions and concerns about their family member or friend. Children may have questions about eating disorders, just like adults do.

Should I confront my daughter about bulimia?

The first step should always be to talk to your daughter. It’s counterproductive to go snooping through her room for hidden stashes of food or boxes of empty laxative pills; accusatory or guilt-inducing confrontations are more likely to accelerate the feelings of guilt, shame, and self-loathing she may be having.

What are 3 warning signs of bulimia?

  • Episodes of binge eating.
  • Self-induced vomiting.
  • Smelling like vomit.
  • Misuse of laxatives and diuretics.
  • Complaining about body image.
  • Expressing guilt or shame about eating.
  • Depression.
  • Irritability.

How does bulimia affect emotional development?

Mental and emotional health The feelings of guilt, shame, lack of control, and distorted body image that many people with bulimia experience seem to fuel the binge-purge cycle. The burden of keeping the condition secret may also cause a person to feel additional stress and anxiety.

Is bulimia a mental disease?

Bulimia nervosa (commonly known as bulimia) is an eating disorder and serious mental health problem. Someone with bulimia might feel parts of their lives are out of control and use purging to give them a sense of control. Bulimia is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage, but help is available.

When should I worry about bulimia?

Going to the bathroom immediately after meals. Spending a lot of time in the bathroom. Exercising excessively or using diet pills or laxatives. A sore throat, sore knuckles, discolored teeth and poor enamel.

What age does bulimia usually start?

The eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, respectively, affect 0.5 percent and 2-3 percent of women over their lifetime. The most common age of onset is between 12-25.

How do you approach a child with bulimia?

While it is important to be open and honest when discussing the issue if bulimia nervosa with your child, being angry or directly confrontational is not recommended. Approach your child in a compassionate, non-judgmental way, assuring them that you will provide your unconditional love and support no matter what.

How can I tell if my daughter is purging?

  • Preoccupation with food and weight.
  • Distorted body image.
  • Long periods of time spent in the bathroom—sometimes with the faucet running, to mask the sound of vomiting.
  • Depression.
  • Anxious about eating, especially dining out in public.
  • Abuse of laxatives, enemas, emetics, diuretics.

What is bulimia face?

When a person has been engaging in self-induced vomiting regularly and they suddenly stop engaging in the behaviour, their salivary glands in front of their ears (cheeks) may begin to swell. This makes their cheeks look swollen.

What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia?

What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia? The person is close to her ideal body weight. Bulimia nervosa is more prevalent than anorexia nervosa in both women and men. What is not a risk of being underweight?

What are the emotional signs of bulimia?

  • Depression, anxiety.
  • Extreme fear of gaining weight.
  • Low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with one’s appearance.
  • Social withdrawal.
  • A lack of self-control.
  • Denial of binging, purging and other harmful behavior.

Does bulimia cause anger?

Anger and aggressive behaviours, especially those self-directed, are frequent in subjects suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

How does bulimia affect you socially?

Having a social life can be difficult for people with an eating disorder. When people develop eating disorders they can become more distant and start to spend more time alone. This can make their harmful thoughts or low self-esteem worse.

How do bulimics make themselves sick?

Symptoms of bulimia making yourself vomit, using laxatives, or doing an extreme amount of exercise after a binge to avoid putting on weight – this is called purging.

Does bulimia ever go away?

² Roughly 50% of women will recover from bulimia within ten years of their diagnosis, but an estimated 30% of these women will experience a relapse of the disorder. ³ These behaviors can wreak havoc on the body both in the short-term and the long-term.

Can you get disability for bulimia?

Qualifying for Disability Benefits. When anorexia, bulimia, or a combination of the two begins to affect your ability to function or maintain a job, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits.

Can bulimia cause bipolar?

The Bipolar and Eating Disorder Connection According to the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration, studies show that from 30 to 50% of those with bipolar will also develop a substance use disorder. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder can also co-occur with bipolar disorder.

Where does bulimia stem from?

Causes and risk factors It may stem from a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral factors. What is clear is that bulimia nervosa is a mental health condition — the person’s behaviors are a way of coping with emotional stress.

Does purging get rid of any calories?

Purging isn’t effective at getting rid of calories, which is why most people suffering with bulimia end up gaining weight over time. Vomiting immediately after eating won’t eliminate more than 50% of the calories consumed— usually much less.

Which type of eating disorder is most likely to be life threatening?

Bulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) nervosa — commonly called bulimia — is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. When you have bulimia, you have episodes of bingeing and purging that involve feeling a lack of control over your eating.

Are there two types of bulimia?

Specifically, there are two types of bulimia: Purging Type – When the binge episode is followed by self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives or diuretics. This is the most common form of bulimia. Non-Purging Type – When the binge episode is followed by excessive exercise or fasting.

Why is anorexia harder than bulimia?

Unlike anorexia nervosa, which is easily discernible given low body weight, the variance in weight presentation among bulimics makes this condition more difficult to diagnose.

What kind of people get bulimia?

What Kind of Person Tends to Get Bulimia Nervosa? The typical profile of a person with bulimia nervosa is an adolescent to young adult female who is impulsive, perfectionistic, hard-working, introverted, resistant to change and self-critical. They also tend to have low self-esteem based on body image distortion.

How do you talk to kids about eating?

  1. Focus on health, not weight.
  2. Let them dictate portion sizes.
  3. Don’t label foods “good” or “bad”
  4. Give them options.
  5. Get them involved.
  6. Do take “no” for an answer.
  7. Don’t reward them with sweets.
  8. Don’t talk about “forbidden” foods.
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