1. Stabilize Your Health
The first step in treating bulimia nervosa is to make sure you are healthy enough to be treated. Bulimia can cause several medical problems, such as dehydration and anemia. In addition, you might have low electrolytes and serious heart problems, such as arrhythmia or potential heart failure. You may be placed in the hospital and fed intravenously until your health has stabilized enough to start treatment.
2. Therapy Makes You More Aware
Psychiatrists generally use cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy to treat bulimia. Cognitive behavior therapy is based on the premise that you alone determine what you say and do. Therapists talk with you through the course of several sessions, identifying any unhealthy attitudes and beliefs you hold. They then suggest new beliefs and attitudes for you to use until they become habit. Interpersonal therapy deals with how you relate to other people. A therapist will help you to reevaluate the way you interact with your family and friends and help you to correct any problems you may have in dealing with other people. This is useful for bulimics, who often have trouble expressing anger and other negative emotions.
3. Use Antidepressants to Remove the Edge
The final key in treating bulimia is using antidepressants. The Food and Drug Administration has approved prescribing Prozac to reduce the number of times you binge and purge. However, doctors may recommend similar antidepressants that block serotonin reuptake to help you cope with the disorders that tend to accompany bulimia nervosa, such as anxiety and depression.
4. Eat Well
A nutritionist can help you relearn how to eat healthy foods that will help replenish your body after the abuse inflicted upon it by bulimia. A nutritionist can also help you to formulate a diet plan that will attain an appropriate weight.
