Report On a mental illness
BULIMIA NERVOSA

Bulimia nervosa causes, SYMPTOMS and common co-morbidities
Bulimia Nervosa is a very serious eating disorder that can potentially cause death it is characterized by bingeing and purging. Bulimia affects both men and women, but is more common in women and tends to develop in teenagers and young adult.
The symptoms include:
Eating binges which consists large consumptions of calorie high foods, in this stage a person feels the loss the personal control and disgust in themselves.
With the restricted diet and excessive exercise, this control of weight dominates the individual’s life. Low-Esteem and the desire to be thin are common. Depression and the continuous thinking and worrying about their weight are often part of the Mental Illness. Bulimia and other forms of eating disorder tend to co-occur with other disorders such as Panic disorder, OCD and dangerous substance abuse. It is still unclear on what causes bulimia nervosa. The cause could probably be related to a collaboration of factors, such as genetics, environment, culture, trauma, and psychological and family issues. Research shows that people who diet frequently are five times more likely to develop an eating disorder then those who don’t diet, however those who dieted frequently were eighteen times more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who did not diet

Psychological and emotional Symptoms
Difficulties in achieving activities with food involved
Loneliness due to self-isolation and reluctance to develop a personal relationship
Changes in personality, Mood Swings and Emotional Outbursts
Depression and Anxiety
Fear of being disapproved of by others if illness becomes known
Self-Harm and Suicide attempts
Highly sensitive to comments or references made about weight/appearance

Physical Symptoms
Tooth Decay and erosion of the enamel
Bowel Problems
Abdominal pains and Cramps
Stomach and intestinal Problems
Swollen Salivary Glands
Sore Throat and thirst
Irregular heart beat or Heart failure
Harm to the Kidney
Seizures, muscle spasms or Cramps

Behavioural symptoms
Frequent Bathroom Visit
Food Avoid and Dieting Behaviour
Fluctuations in weight
Erratic Behaviour
Mood Swing
Forcing yourself to vomit or exercise too much
Misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas after eating
Using dietary supplements or herbal products for weight loss
Co-morbidities
People that suffer from Bulimia Nervosa may present with other conditions or illnesses such as:
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
PTSD ( Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)
OCD ( Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Sleep Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder

Eating Disorder Diagnostic Criteria from the dsm-iv-tr
307.51 Bulimia Nervosa
Recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by both:
1. Eating, in a discrete period of time ( e.g within a 2 hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances
2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode, ( such as a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one eating).

Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.
1. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.
2. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
3. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa.
Specify type: Purging Type: During the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas Non-purging Type: During the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has used other inappropriate