Almost three months ago I noticed my
daughter (14)was looking at websites
dealing with anorexia. I confronted her
about it and she told me that she was
bulimic and had been off and on for the
past two years. She said that she would
go months without purging, but would
occasionally purge a few times a week. My
wife and I have been going to counseling
with my daughter ever since. She saw a
nutritionist and saw a doctor about this.
Now, literally a month ago her boyfriend
asked her to stop and she has. She has
now gone 3.5 weeks without purging and is
feeling a lot better. My wife and I
monitor nearly every meal and we make sure
she is eating enough. From what we have
seen she is not purging. My question is,
can a person just stop the purging
behaviors? Can a person just "try" being
bulimic and then decide to just stop? Is
it like drinking where a person can have a
drink and not become an alcoholic? Can a
person purge and then not become a
bulimic?
My opinion is this:
If she has had bulimia for two years i
find it hard to beleive that she would
just snap out of it and stop just because
her boyfriend told her too, chances are
she is hiding it alot better , people with
eating disorders are very good at hiding
things, she could very well still be
purging, just finding better ways to hide
the fact that she is doing it, i recommend
keeping her in therapy and every once in a
while getting her blood checked, they can
look for electrolyte imbalances and such
and tell you if she is still purging.
Purging for two years is definately
bulimic. I would suggest keeping a secret
eye on her. You can always hope for the
best but always gotta think of the worst
and stay on top of it, hope ihelped ya
some.
Diane
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breeanna
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 79
Posted: 08-07-07 01:36am
well, she might not be purging but that
doesnt mean shes suffering.
congratulations on being able to do family
therapy, it has proven to be one of the
most effective treatments in sufferers.
but i think it is really important that
she gets individual therapy too. although
shes not purging now, unless you
absolutely address the issues with her, on
she does it with a therapist, about the
reasons why she has been behaving like
this and such things she will continue to
struggle. she might not throw up but she
may just be feeling forever dissatisfied
with herself, thus leading to a reduced
quality of life. im sure you do not want
this for your daughter.
it is my belief that finding out the
origins of the eating disorder is so
important because i am anorexic now, with
purging. there were times when i went a
few days or weeks without throwing up, but
i was always struggling. my anorexia has
gotten to a point that i was in hospital,
i had to break away from my final year of
school and i was once at a point where i
was only living to self destruct.
please do not let your daughter follow
this path. well done on being so aware and
caring, you are doing a wonderful,
wonderful job.
