How can I purge?

Question

How can I find courage to purge?

How should I do it?

Does anyone have any tips for a beginner?

Answer 1

Don't even start doing it. Once you start, you won't stop. There are better ways to lose weight trust me. I have a friend that is bulemic and she's ALWAYS in the hospital now, and she's come close to dying more than once. It's not worth it, you'll never be happy with yourself losing weight that way. Just start to exercise, a little bit of exercise is better than none. And way better than purging.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I have a tip just for YOU! Life-NOT death! Seriously, you are venturing into deadly waters and once you get deep enough, nobody (not even yourself) will be able to help. Why start off the new year with such a dreary idea? Think enough of yourself to get healthy, stay healthy, eat right and be the intelligent young woman you are! Just sit back a minute and think, "hmm...do I really want to start myself on a deadly, fast downward spiral or can I be all the things I dream of being?" Trust me, if you start doing such a thing as purging, you won't be able to be all the things you have to look forward to today! Love yourself, really LOVE YOURSELF! Nobody can do it better than you!

Answer 4

Don't purge. If you do it once, you'll be addicted to doing it. It slows down your metabolism and eventually, can cause you to have a throat surgery. Not worth it.

Answer 5

Purging is for mental / social losers . . .
As they end up in the hospital due to organ shutdown and whatnot (they are so gross and nasty when admitted)
You should really check your health insurance as the stays are lengthy and all those nasty procedures to cope with your body malfunctioning are expensive.
Do not know which batch of dumbo bimbos you picked this up from , but ask yourself . . .
Are you really that type dumbo bimbo / no brains at all ?
Please say no and go hang with some winners . . .

Answer 6

2

Answer 7

Honey, please don't. First of all, as you already know, it can cause severe issues with your health for many different reasons, cause your teeth to decay, internal bleeding, kidney failure, eventually even lead to death. Also, it will not give you the results that you think it will. It WILL, however, cause your hair to fall out, your lymph nodes to swell, giving you the appearance of having a bloated face, bloodshot eyes, etc. Please, PLEASE don't go down that path, darling. Feel free to contact me through my avatar if you want to.

*hugs*

Answer 8

Look, first off, don't do it. You've probably heard a bunch of people say its bad, but trust me, you'll end gaining more weight if you start.

Answer 9

stick ur finger in your throught and keep trying till u purge.... funny u had to ask... i see it more of reaction than u wanting to do it... but if u do good luck.

Answer 10

Bulimia often starts when a young woman hears others at school talking about an "easy" way to control weight: you can eat anything you want, as much as you want, but never gain a pound! It sounds too good to be true … and, unfortunately, it is.

What is bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by overeating (bingeing) and then purging to get rid of the calories consumed. A person with bulimia fears gaining weight, yet has an uncontrollable compulsion to binge on foods. After bingeing, the person employs unhealthy methods to rid the body of the calories: vomiting; frequent use of laxatives, water pills, or enemas; fasting; or extreme exercise. Purging after bingeing begins as a means of weight-control, but the bingeing and purging behaviors paradoxically become habitual and out of control.

What are the signs and symptoms of bulimia?
People who have bulimia are very secretive about their bingeing and purging, so others may not notice the signs and symptoms of the eating disorder. Some symptoms of bulimia are so subtle that only a medical professional would notice them. Surprisingly, being underweight is not a characteristic sign of bulimia, even though people with bulimia are afraid of being too fat. Individuals with bulimia often are of normal weight or overweight because they eat a lot.
The warning signs and symptoms of bulimia include:

Secrecy surrounding eating and the time period after eating, to allow for bingeing and then purging. Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, evidence of laxatives or diuretics. Going to the kitchen after everyone else has gone to bed to binge. Going for unexpected walks or drives at night. Excessive desire for privacy in the bedroom or bathroom.
Odd eating behaviors, such as avoidance of eating with others; unpredictable and sudden dietary likes and dislikes; skipping of meals; taking very small portions when eating with others; consuming a lot of water or diet soda (to make vomiting easier); cutting food into very small bites; chewing food excessively; separating different types of food on the plate; strange pairings of foods.
Eating unusually large amounts of food, with no apparent change in weight. The disappearance of large amounts of food, or numerous empty wrappers or containers in the garbage.
Excessive, rigid exercise regimen – However, it is difficult to distinguish a serious athlete from an athlete with bulimia. Both may train excessively and not eat enough to compensate for the caloric usage
Complex lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions. Typical behaviors are using mints or gum to cover up the smell of vomit, running water in the bathroom to conceal the sound of vomiting, or always going to the bathroom after meals.
Poor body image; preoccupation with body weight, weight loss, dieting, and control of food – Wearing of baggy clothes to hide the body. A distorted body perception. Avoidance of looking in mirrors.
Discolored or callused finger joints or backs of the hands – Jamming the fingers down the throat to induce vomiting may damage the outer surfaces of the hands.
Tooth and mouth problems, such as discolored and decalcified teeth, and sensitive, swollen, and bleeding cheeks and gums. These are caused by vitamin deficiencies and by the stomach acid that comes up with vomit.
Stomach pain and intestinal irregularities, such as constipation and diarrhea.
Irregular or nonexistent menstrual periods (in females).
What are the types of bulimia?
There are two types of bulimia, based on how the person with bulimia compensates for the binge eating:

Purging type of bulimia - The person induces vomiting or uses a diuretic, laxative, or enema to purge food from the body, as a compensation for bingeing.
Nonpurging type of bulimia - The person with bulimia does not purge food from the body, but instead fasts or engages in excessive exercise to use up calories.

What are the effects of bulimia?
Bulimia causes serious physical and emotional effects. Some of the major effects of bulimia include:

an imbalance in electrolytes;
inflammation of the esophagus, salivary glands, and jaw;
problems with teeth, gums, and lips;
chronic irregular bowel movements due to abusive laxatives;
feelings of shame and guilt;
depression;
low self-esteem; and
damaged family and social relationships.
The following diagram, from WomensHealth.gov, shows the physical effects of bulimia, as well as some of the emotional effects (see Brain in the diagram).

What are the causes and risk factors for bulimia?
As with all eating disorders, the causes of bulimia are not well-defined. Some suspected causes (contributing factors or triggers) for bulimia are:

Poor body image, resulting from a culture that equates thinness with attractiveness and that puts social pressure on people to emulate that ideal
Psychological – depression, anxiety, perfectionism, substance abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), difficulty controlling impulses and anger, or another mood disorder or mental illness
Trauma or other major stressful life event – such as physical or sexual abuse, or rape
Biological predisposition – some people may be genetically predisposed or may have a problem with brain chemicals that regulate food intake
Dieting – the rigors of dieting can trigger binge eating
See the Mayo Clinic’s causes and risk factors for more about contributing factors for bulimia.

How is bulimia diagnosed?
You can take a brief screening quiz to help you determine whether or not to seek professional help. Try one of these online tests:

SCOFF questions for eating disorders(St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London)
Are You at Risk for an Eating Disorder? (
When you consult a doctor for a possible diagnosis of bulimia, the doctor performs a number of tests and asks you questions. These include:

a physical exam, including a physical history;
laboratory tests, such as a blood test and urinalysis;
other specialized tests, such as an electrocardiogram and an x-ray; and
a psychological evaluation, which may include self-assessments and questionnaires.
The U.S. National Eating Disorders Association provides a list of recommended laboratory tests.

The medical profession has created the following criteria (paraphrased here) for the diagnosis of bulimia:

Bingeing: eating within a short period of time an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat
Purging: recurrent, inappropriate compensation for the amount of food consumed during binges (self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas; fasting; or excessive exercise)
Bingeing and purging occur at least twice a week for three months (on average)
Inaccurate perception of a normal weight for one’s height and age; fear of weight gain; self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight


What are the common treatments for bulimia?
Regardless of how long you have had bulimia, recovery is possible. To recover, you must:

begin and continue treatment,
make the necessary lifestyle changes, and
resolve the underlying psychological and emotional issues that led to your bulimia.
Psychotherapy as treatment for bulimia
Because poor body image and low self-esteem underlie bulimia, psychotherapy is an important aspect of treatment for bulimia. Many people with bulimia feel isolated and shamed by their bingeing and purging, and therapists can help.

Individual psychotherapy addresses the emotional underpinnings of bulimia. Therapy helps you to identify concerns, solve problems, overcome fears, and test new skills. Each kind of therapist approaches discussions about bulimia differently, according to specialty.

Cognitive behavior therapy focuses on the thoughts that envelop food and eating. One of the main goals is for you to become more self-aware of your relationship to food. Your therapist may ask you to keep a food diary or a journal of your thought processes about food.
Behavior therapy uses rewards and repercussions to change the behaviors of bingeing and purging. The behavior therapist teaches you to recognize triggers for bingeing and purging and to interrupt the “rituals” of bulimic episodes by substituting relaxation and other coping strategies.
Other types of psychotherapy focus on social and emotional conditions in your life that can lead to low self-esteem, which may in turn contribute to your bulimia. Therapists may include massage or relaxation exercises in your mental health treatment.
Family therapy looks at the family dynamics that may contribute to your bulimia and often includes some therapy sessions without you. Family therapy may be the solution when the person with bulimia denies the eating disorder.

Marital therapy, or couples therapy, helps to strengthen the relationship between life partners and helps to resolve communication problems. The partner can then provide better support for recovery from bulimia.

Group therapy led by a psychotherapist allows you to talk in a supervised setting with other people who have bulimia. Group therapy helps to reduce the isolation you may feel about your eating disorder, and group members can support each other in their quest for wellness.

Support groups are led by trained volunteers or health professionals. To decide if a self-help support group will be effective in your bulimia treatment plan, see What about self-help groups?, from the National Eating Disorders Association. For help in finding a support group, refer to Eating Disorders Help and Support.

Medical care and monitoring for treatment of bulimia
A medical doctor assesses the physical effects of bulimia on your body, helps you to regain physical health, and monitors physical health during the course of the treatment program for bulimia.

Nutritional counseling for treatment of bulimia
A dietician helps you to develop and follow through on maintaining a healthy diet. To restore physical health, the dietician designs balanced meal plans that include the number of calories and kinds of nutrients that you need.

Medications as treatment for bulimia
It is generally agreed that medication alone is not effective as a treatment for bulimia, but a medical doctor or psychiatrist may prescribe drugs to help reduce the binging and purging of bulimia. Antidepressant drugs treat the depression and anxiety that often accompany (or cause) bulimia . Be sure to read Medications for Treating Depression and Anxiety: Making Informed Choices for a discussion of antidepressant risks.

Inpatient treatment centers for bulimia
If the physical effects of bulimia become life-threatening, or the psychological problems are severe, your mental health practitioner or medical doctor may recommend residential, inpatient treatment for bulimia. This may be in a hospital or in an eating disorders treatment center. After the initial, urgent care in a residential center, you will continue bulimia treatment on an outpatient basis.

Where can I find online referrals to bulimia treatment providers?
It can be scary and embarrassing to seek help for an eating disorder. But help is available! Treatment providers who specialize in eating disorders are available all over the world. You can search online, in private, for a referral to an bulimia treatment provider.

Each of the following organizations provides online referrals to help you to find treatment for bulimia (and treatment for other kinds of eating disorders).

National Eating Disorders Association (USA & Canada)
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center (USA; some in Australia, Canada, Germany, Scotland, & UK)
Pale Reflections Eating disorders community Treatment finder (worldwide)
Eating Disorders Association (UK)
For more resources for bulimia, see What other help and support for bulimia can I find?, below.

Once you choose your bulimia treatment provider, you might use the guidelines from the U.S. National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) for questions to ask your treatment provider. In this same article, NEDA also provides questions for parents or family members to ask about bulimia treatment if they are overseeing the treatment of a child or teenager.

What other help and support for bulimia can I find?
Bulimia is difficult to overcome without the support of others. Helpguide has assembled additional resources to help you or a family member to recover from bulimia. These sources of help and support for bulimia include:

telephone hotlines and helplines for eating disorders
self-help tips for bulimia
how to help a family member or friend with bulimia
support groups for people with eating disorders
support groups for families of people with eating disorders
Be sure to check out Eating Disorders: Help and Support to make recovery easier.

References and resources for bulimia
Bulimia Nervosa Resource Guide – Guide to all aspects of bulimia nervosa. (ECRI, formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute) See especially:

Bulimia Nervosa Resource Guide for Family and Friends – The online version of a comprehensive 75-page booklet, in question-and-answer format.
Summary of Bulimia Resource Guide for Family and Friends – Summary of the booklet, online, in question-and-answer format.
Checklists and Tip Charts – Checklists for family members, doctors, and dentists to recognize bulimia symptoms. Tips for teachers to discuss a suspected eating disorder with a student. Tips for family members in discussions with treatment providers. Health insurance tips, and more.
Bulimia Nervosa – Comprehensive article. See especially Complementary and Alternative Therapies. (University of Maryland Medical Center)

Bulimia nervosa – Comprehensive article. See especially the sections on Causes; Risk factors; and Coping skills. (Mayo Clinic)

Bulimia – Easy to Read – Information for women with bulimia, but also very helpful for men. (WomensHealth.gov, National Women’s Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health)

Eating Disorders: Anorexia and Bulimia – An easy-to-understand article, written for teens. The article discusses symptoms, causes, effects, and treatment. (Nemours Foundation, TeensHealth)

Online referrals to bulimia treatment providers
National Eating Disorders Association (USA & Canada)
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center (USA; some in Australia, Canada, Germany, Scotland, & UK)
Pale Reflections Eating disorders community Treatment finder (worldwide)
Eating Disorders Association (UK)
Treatment of bulimia
Treatment for Bulimia (Jim Haggerty) and Bulimia Nervosa Treatment (John M. Grohol) – General treatment guidelines for bulimia, including psychotherapy, medications, and self-help resources. (Psych Central)

Treatment and recovery – An honest and encouraging look at the treatment and recovery process for an eating disorder. (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED))

Prevention of bulimia
Fifty Ways to Lose the "3Ds": Dieting, Drive for Thinness, and Body Dissatisfaction – Prevention tips for people who work with young people; for men and fathers; and for mental health professionals. (National Eating Disorders Association)
Personal stories about having bulimia

Share Your Story – Personal stories about having an eating disorder and about the road to recovery. (PBS.org)

Q & A Archive: Bulimia – Frank questions from people who have bulimia, and helpful answers. See especially the answer to the question “Bright but Bulimic.” (The Renfrew Center)

This Child: Men, Women and Children – A personal story of the evolution of an eating disorder. (Amy Medina, Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders)

Validate – Many brief stories of suffering and recovery from eating disorders. (Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders)

Miscellaneous resources on bulimia
Dying to be Thin: Watch the Program – A set of videos about eating disorders. For a seven-minute video about one woman’s road to recovery from bulimia, scroll down to Bulimia Nervosa and click on one of the two ways to watch the video. (PBS.org)

Informacion en Español – Spanish-language version of some information on eating disorders (Trastorno de la Conducta Alimentaria). (National Eating Disorders Association)

Delving deeper into bulimia
Eating Disorders Survival Guide – In-depth advice on how to negotiate with your health insurance company for treatment of your eating disorder; how to find treatment if you have little or no money; becoming involved in clinical trials or research studies; and how to assess a self-help group to figure out if it will be effective for you. (National Eating Disorders Association)

Female Athlete Triad – Describes a triad of symptoms that are common in females who are trying to improve their performance in sports. Disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis are the three elements of Female Athlete Triad. The article discusses signs, symptoms, and treatment, as well as what the individual and others can do to halt and remedy the disorder. (Nemours Foundation TeensHealth)

The Many Causes of Eating Disorders? – Discussion of the various causes of eating disorders, including physical or sexual abuse or trauma, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, depression, and anxiety. Includes links to several related online videos. (HealthyPlace.com Eating Disorders Community)

The SCOFF questionnaire: assessment of a new screening tool for eating disorders – A simple, reliable instrument for determining if someone might have an eating disorder. Subsequent research has confirmed the validity of this simple test for anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. (John F. Morgan, Fiona Reid, and J. Hubert Lacey, 1999. British Medical Journal 319:1467-1468 (4 December))

Maximizing Health Insurance Benefits to Pay for Care – How to navigate getting insurance coverage for the mental health aspects of bulimia, plus more. (ECRI, formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute)

Executive Summary of the Evidence Report (PDF) – Results of research that compared treatment plans for bulimia: CBT, medications, and psychotherapy. (ECRI, formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute)

A Contemporary Analysis of Bulimia Nervosa (Word document) – In-depth narrative on bulimia and its causes, symptoms, and treatment. (The National Centre for Eating Disorders, UK)

Minority Women: The Untold Story – Discussion of the rise in bulimia and other eating disorders in minority women, the lack of previous studies on eating disorders in minority women, and how minority women are assimilating into the culture that values thinness. (Marian Fitzgibbon and Melinda Stolley, PBS.org)

Cultural Factors and Eating Disorders – Discussion about eating disorders in minorities and people of color. Includes research on the topic, as well as a discussion of prevention. (National Eating Disorders Association)



This is dangerous, and you could die. If you want to lose weight quickly, eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water. You will not have a lot of energy. If you cheat, go right back on it. Exercise when you can. Do not overdo it. The pounds will drop. The great part about it, is that you can eat at much as you want without the guilt. Please reconsider purging. it is not worth your life.