3 Ways to Prevent Bulimia Relapse

1. A Very Sensitive Trigger

Eating disorders can wreak havoc on an individual's life. During the course of anorexia or bulimia, an individual can not only ruin their physical health but their emotional and psychological wellness as well. Recovery is a long and often continuous process with many potential pitfalls. Relapse is a common occurrence in eating disorder recovery. Learning to recognize the triggers that cause relapse is the first step in preventing it. Sit down with a knowledgeable counselor or health professional to identify what specific triggers are for a person. Writing down triggers and the physical and emotional response to them in a journal will help to clarify which situations should be avoided or closely monitored. It will curb relapse frequency and seriousness.

2. Bulimia Remission Means Trouble

Bulimia sufferers have a tendency to return to bulimic behaviors soon after they go into remission. Typically the bulimic will not even recognize the change in mindset. Often a desire to please and a need for inner and outer perfection will cause self soothing symptoms to set in. These symptoms can include: prolonged periods of exercise (as with exercise bulimia), binge eating, fasting, obsessive fixation on body weight, or the use of laxatives or vomiting to eliminate feelings of shame toward the body or their emotional experience. Depression is common during remission periods, as well as anxiety about weight gain or lack of control over one's eating or impulses. The subconscious and unconscious mind can summon harsh thoughts. Listening to negative self talk and curbing behaviors from that talk must become a priority for recovering bulimics. If you have a safe person to contact when you relapse you will increase your accountability for the bulimia.

3. Every Day, A New Choice

A relapse does not make someone a bad person or mean that you have done something wrong. Finding a gentle kindness about bulimia and letting go of perfect expectations is important in maintaining a realistic and positive outlook. It is important to not feel shameful or worthless when bulimic behaviors or thoughts occur. However, stopping the symptoms of relapse is about conscious awareness. Recovery is a choice to live a healthy and happy life not controlled by the eating disorder. Therefore weighing the options of relapse can provide some perspective. When feeling anxiety or shame about negative behaviors or thoughts, writing in a journal or talking to a friend or sponsor about your desire and the consequence of indulging in the relapse behavior can provide a healthy alternative to indulging in the behavior itself. Steer clear of obvious triggers, and work on self love and patience. Recovery from any kind of addiction or negative lifestyle must be taken one day at a time.