Bulimia- What do you wish people understood more about this disease.

What I wish people understood more about it is this -

1. Its a complex condition thats just as serious as anorexia but often doesnt get as much recogntion {this is in no way meant in a derogotary way to people who suffer with anorexia but due to more people with bulima being able to maintain a average or above average weight its not as easily detected}

2 It can be a shameful and embarrasing condition which people can find very difficult to talk about

3. It can come with a whole list of health problems including mood swings irritation dizziness cardiac problems etc

4 It does not help the person to remind them of these health conditions or make statements about what they eat dont eat the harmful affects of the disorder - this can just scare people and cause people to engage in the harmful behaviours more

5. Its not all about weight! although if you speak to someone with a eating disorder it may come accross that everything is focussed on weight shape food etc it often hides more complex issues that the person needs support with it can be a coping mechanisim to deal with other things and even though its a negitive one the person can come to really rely on it I connected with a listener tonight who refused to help me unless i gave my weight and height this really upset me as my weight is something that makes me feel ashamed and upset im sure the listener asked this with the best of intentions but I could not give it out and it resulted in me being turned away without any support i do not believe this is a appropriate way to support someone with the disorder

6. I dont mean to be ackward stubborn angry when confronted about my disorder people with eating disorders can genuinley be very frightened and get very stressed anxious agitated and upset when working towards recovery or talking about the disorder

7. No one will ever understand the small steps the steps people without an eating disorder take forgranted going out for a meal with familly eating with colleauges at work not thinking about food or calories or weight for a few hours

8 Dont forget about me dont see me as a disorder sometimes bulima makes people want to hide away stop engaging in activites or with people dont let them keep inviting them to things and keep spending time with the person

Listen to the person

Respect the person

Trust the person - when you have a eating disorder it can often feel no one trusts you around food showing someone you do trust them can mean a lot

Sorry for the long post its something im quite passionate about and have found it quite difficult to find listeners on seven cups who I feel understand what im struggling with so thanks for this !

i wish people understood that whilst bulimics aren't always underweight and don't look as unwell as most anorexia sufferers, bulimia is just as serious and damaging mentally and physically

What I would love for people to understand is that I can go a week or two without actually purging. My ex accused me of not having an ED simply because it started getting better and slowly it became less that I would binge and purge Or do anything related to my ED. As soon as she and her new gf accused me of not having one I relapsed hard. And now I'm back in the same vicious cycle I was in 2 years ago when it was triggered by abuse. 2 years of self help and slowly telling close friends and getting better. All wiped away.

"Name one person that's actually SEEN you throw up after eating and I'll believe you"

Bulimia. For me. Is a very secret thing. Quietly purging. Trying not to eat at all. Going from barely able to eat anything to eating too much to the point of sickness. There has been people who have witnessed me being sick after eating. But even so. If there wasn't. That doesn't immediately erase that I have an ED. That doesn't make my struggles invalid. And I don't have to prove myself to you.

I want people to understand that you don't have to SEE someone with Bulimia be sick to be sure they have it. It isn't all about being sick after eating. I want people to understand that they don't know what's going on in someone's head. They can't accuse them of faking an ED. It's horrible and can make someone a lot worse. Because they'll feel the need to prove they have one. By getting worse.

My exes new girlfriend said she could never lose weight the way i do because she has too much self respect. I wish people understood that i do it because I'm stressed. It makes me feel more in control. Over all I'm trying to stop, It's not about self respect it's about the feeling of relief i get after purging.