Finding Peace with Food in Bulimia Recovery

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

Bulimia is a mental illness that is often characterized by a sense of chaos with both food and body. While the factors that influence bulimia are varied and include multiple aspects, such as genetics, neurobiology, and environmental issues, the symptoms of bulimia resemble a cycle of binging and purging.

Purging is an attempt to compensate for the binging behavior and include many type of behaviors, including self-induced vomiting, excessive laxative use, excessive diuretic use, and excessive exercise.

When food is repeatedly binged and purged, there is often a sense of fear that revolves around eating. Many individuals who struggle with bulimia may fear that eating certain foods will trigger a binge and purge and so will avoid them completely.

Others may find that they have many negative associations with foods, classifying things as either “good” or “bad”. Whatever the situation might be, recovery from bulimia often involves a process that encourages a person to make peace with food and their bodies.

Find a Professional

Learning to make peace with food in bulimia recovery is something that happens gradually over time. It is important to begin by assessing what type of treatment may be most appropriate for managing symptoms and medical care.

A person who is dealing with severe bulimia will have higher priority needs that learning how to renegotiate behaviors with food. This process is always best assisted by a professional, such as a Registered Dietitian and Therapist who specialize in eating disorder recovery.

If you or someone you love has been struggling with bulimia and feeling as though your food behaviors are out of control, know that there is hope through your recovery journey. Seeking out help with professionals can make this process much more manageable.

For example, a registered dietitian can help you identify what types of foods are most difficult for you to eat normally as well as recommend a meal plan that can help you gradually incorporate these foods into your diet. By having regular exposure to these foods and subside binging and purging behaviors, you will feel more empowered to nourish your body and make peace with food.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

If you have recovered from bulimia, what aspects of your journey have helped you learn to make peace with food?

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Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

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The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 17, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com