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Eating disorders

Bulimia Nervosa Treatment Center

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Our bulimia nervosa treatment programmes are holistic and multidisciplinary. We can help you overcome your eating disorder in beautiful surroundings with tailor-made treatment. Our priority is to help you overcome the symptoms, understand your triggers and address any underlying factors that are contributing to the eating disorder.

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One Client at a Time

Unparalleled staff to patient ratio of 15:1

How we treat bulimia

4-Weeks Residential Treatment

A day at Paracelsus Recovery

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Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is a highly complex and potentially life-threatening eating disorder. Bulimia is characterised by binge eating large amounts of food and then purging in an attempt to rid the body of the excess calories accumulated in the binge.

We understand that bulimia nervosa can feel relentless. The binge/purge cycle can be all-consuming and lead to many adverse consequences. While seeking help may seem frightening, we, at Paracelsus Recovery, know that recovery is possible.

Our bulimia treatment programmes are specifically tailored to your unique set of needs. A thorough assessment is carried out on arrival to determine the exact underlying root causes for the development of bulimia, whether these are other mental health issues, physical or biological issues. Based on this assessment, our specialist team will determine the treatment plan and therapies required. A live-in therapist will also stay in a self-contained section of your chosen residence. The live-in therapist will be available for emotional and therapeutic support around the clock.

We provide treatment for bulimia nervosa at our treatment centre in Zurich and in London.

Roxanne Gay, Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
“It is a powerful lie to equote thinness with self-worth."

360° Treatment Approach - The most extensive and comprehensive treatment worldwide.

Medical Check-ups
& Treatments
Addiction
Counseling
Extensive
Psychotherapy
Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing
Family
Therapy
Psycho-Education
Neurofeedback
Interval Hypoxic
Hyperoxic Treatment
Bio-chemical
Restoration
Probiotic Therapies
& Psychonutrition
Lifestyle &
Nutritional Counseling
Bio Feedback
& Bio Resonance
Yoga
Reflexology
& Accupuncture
Massages
Personal training
eating disorder rehabilitation

Focus areas

Bulimia will take a huge toll on a person’s physical and mental health. Risks include:

  • Kidney failure
  • Dehydration
  • Heart problems
  • Severe tooth decay or gum disease
  • Absent or irregular periods in females
  • Digestive problems
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Misuse of alcohol or drugs
  • Self-harm
  • Suicidal ideation

Bulimia regularly occurs with other eating disorders and mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, personality disorder, depression, anxiety, binge eating disorder and substance abuse issues.

 
It is not uncommon for a person’s initial struggle with anorexia or binge eating to evolve into bulimia.

Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia:

  • Obsessing over binges and purging – only feeling ‘calm’ after a period of purging.
  • Depression, irritability and withdrawal from friends or family.
  • An increase in the amount of time spent binging and purging.
  • Feeling a complete loss of control during periods of binge eating.
  • Using diuretics, dietary supplements, enemas or laxatives after eating in an attempt to lose weight.
  • Restricting calories, fasting or avoiding certain foods altogether between binges.
  • Repeatedly eating excessive quantities of food in one sitting, especially foods the person denies themselves in between binges.
  • Excessive exercise in an attempt to lose weight.
  • Having a distorted and increasingly negative body image.

Understanding Bulimia Nervosa

People suffering from bulimia lack control over both the binge eating and the purging. Like all addictions and mental health conditions, symptoms can rapidly escalate. The intervals between periods of binging and purging shortening and the time spent engaging in these behaviours increasing.

Purging can take many forms including vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, fasting or excessive exercise. Purging is almost always done in secret, and as a person suffering from bulimia rarely exhibits the same signs of malnutrition that someone suffering from anorexia might, it can be very hard to spot. The tell-tale signs are usually puffy cheeks, tooth discolouration, weight fluctuation, blood-shot eyes and calluses on the knuckles from induced vomiting.

People suffering from bulimia often exhibit personality traits such as neuroticism, obsessiveness and perfectionism. Low self-esteem, unresolved trauma, a harsh inner critic, genetics and learnt behaviour (from a parent, sibling or caregiver during childhood) can also contribute to the development of bulimia.

FAQs

Bulimia is a highly complex eating disorder. People with bulimia secretly binge - which means they eat large amounts of food and lose control over their eating habits - and then ‘purge’ the body of this food either by vomiting, taking laxatives, exercising or fasting.

Certain antidepressants can help reduce the symptoms of bulimia when used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one such psychotherapeutic technique that is proven to be particularly effective in treating bulimia. CBT refers to a type of therapy that helps identify and change distorted thinking patterns. In the case of bulimia, this means a psychotherapist will help the client to address all of the negative thought patterns that underlie their eating disorder. CBT also aims to create long-term behavioural changes, such as helping clients find healthier ways to cope with stress, anxiety or pain.

At Paracelsus Recovery, our treatment for bulimia provides a holistic, multidisciplinary and individually tailored programme. We will include varying degrees of psychiatry, psychotherapy, functional medicine, biochemical restoration and nutrition and lifestyle counselling into these programmes, depending on your specific needs. Complementary therapies also play an important role in our bulimia treatment programmes.

Symptoms of bulimia include episodes of binge eating, self-induced vomiting, body image issues, guilt or shame about eating, depression, substance abuse and irritability.

Because we are all unique, the causes of an eating disorder will depend on the specifics of each person's life. We know that biological factors such as traits we genetically inherit, developmental factors such as childhood trauma and psychological factors including undiagnosed co-occurring mental illness all contribute to the development of bulimia. Some studies also emphasise that factors such as diet, culture and the idolisation of thinness can lead to the development of eating disorders.