REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT

For many opening up about their intensely private struggle means facing anxieties and fears and telling someone that they have bulimia requires enormous courage and can be scary.

They fear that the person they’ve chosen to tell will be uncomfortable if they knew the truth, when in fact, if they’re living with the person, they probably have an inkling.

When you’re ready to open up and share your deepest secrets, it can feel very intimidating to begin with, but you’ll feel incredibly empowered afterward.

Think about if your friend came to you to tell you a deep dark secret, how would you react? Would you feel burdened by their issue? NO, you would be very compassionate and do whatever you could to support them.

Statistics show the vast majority of people with eating disorders either never seek formal treatment or are never formally diagnosed.

People with bulimia are often of ‘normal’ weight

Yes, people with bulimia are frequently of ‘normal’ weight, compared with anorexics who are usually underweight. Which can cause difficulties in its own right as:

• When they are ready to reach out for help, sometimes they are not believed. I know this is shocking, but it's true. But if this may be the case, they weren't the right person to tell; but stay focused and find someone else!
• It makes it easier to successfully hide their bulimic problem; therefore, loved ones may be less aware of their difficulties.

Statistics show that approximately 80% of people with an eating disorder are not underweight.

How to tell someone you have bulimia

Who in your life, friend or family member, do you fully trust and can 100% rely on?

Four main points to focus on when telling your chosen friend or family member about your bulimia:

•          Tell them in private when they’re not distracted.

•          Be honest with them and yourself.

•          Be understanding of their reaction, although it’s more than likely to be compassion. Most of my clients find that sharing their secrets and reaching for help brings them much closer to that individual than they have ever been.

•          Explain to them how they can support you.

The more people you have to support you during your recovery, the more positive you’ll feel, and the more relaxed your recovery will be.

Bulimia can be painfully lonely, so come and join us on our Facebook page, “Bulimia Sucks!” at https://www.facebook.com/groups/BulimiaSuck/. It can be encouraging to connect with others who are going through the same experiences as you and to hear how they’ve overcome specific problems in their recovery.

“IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHERE YOU STAND AS IN

WHAT DIRECTION YOU ARE MOVING IN”