BULIMIA - TREATMENT

What can be done about it?

• Bulimia Nervosa is curable in some cases and very manageable in other cases, so that a quality of life becomes much better and the relationship with food is healed
• It responds to a psychological intervention called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which helps you to develop new automatic behaviours around food and which addresses the dysfunctional thoughts about food and weight which affect your behaviour. Treatment will also involve helping you to recognise and cope with the emotions which are being managed by bulimic events
• CBT is a learning therapy - not a "find out what is wrong with you" therapy. So the success of treatment will depend upon the commitment and motivation of the individual. Efficacy of therapy also depends on factors such as age, and how easy it is to purge
• Medication for bulimia (usually SSRIs) can help reduce the symptoms and are usually offered routinely by GPs. They have a place in therapy for some people only, but they are just a short term panacea. Proper therapy can give much better and longer lasting results
• We recognise that many people are reluctant to give up bulimia for many reasons, and we can work motivationally to help you wish to change and move on
• We also believe that alternative approaches such as acupuncture, hypnosis, aromatherapy etc. may aid relaxation and can complement a treatment programme but will not cure or effectively manage bulimia nervosa

The NCFED offers a gentle, personalised treatment programme for bulimia nervosa. We have 20 years experience of working with bulimia and have guided thousands of people into recovery and a normal, happy life. For more information on the National Centre For Eating Disorders' unique treatment programme click here. To book an assessment with one of our counsellors click here. If you prefer the self help approach click here to try our online self help recovery programme.