1. Stay Positive
Being diagnosed with a mental illness can be hard on your self-esteem. In the case of bulimia, these feelings can be compounded if there is pre-existing low self-esteem. Work on building up your self-esteem. Learn to forgive yourself when you feel you've screwed up. Instead, focus on the positives in your life. Give yourself unqualified credit for the things you accomplished, and encourage yourself when you take on a project. As part of your quest to improve your self-esteem, learn to be less harsh on yourself about your body shape. Stay off scales, and avoid constantly examining your body in mirrors until you or your therapist feel you're emotionally ready to take that step. Checking yourself before you're ready can result in a relapse of binging and purging behavior.
2. Get to the Bottom of the Disorder
One of the best defenses against bulimia is knowledge. Learn about the causes of bulimia, its symptoms and the harm that binging and purging can do to your body. By studying the disorder, you will become more aware of what it can do to you. You may also gain a better idea of the thought processes that led you to become bulimic.
3. Stay On the Treatment Wagon
One of the pitfalls of treatment for a mental disorder is the temptation to abandon the treatment when its effects become noticeable, or if aspects of the treatment start to make you uncomfortable. Make an effort to stay with your treatment. If you start to feel uncomfortable about the therapy, the antidepressants or the meal plan your dietician constructed for you, talk with your therapist about it. He may offer you some good reasons to stay with your current plan, or he might work with you to change the parts of the treatment you're unhappy with.
4. Reach Out to Other People
Like any other mental disorder, bulimia can take an emotional and psychological toll on you. Don't be afraid to reach out to other people for help if you need it. Set up a support system with your family and friends in order to get the encouragement you need. You may also want to think about joining a support group. If you do so, you'll realize you're not alone in fighting the disorder. You'll also add many new people to your support system, and get thoughts and advice from people who have lived with the disorder for a while.
