Elia Miller / Scroll Photo Illustration
Bulimia is often misunderstood, as an eating disorder, but help can be found.

Student’s struggles with bulimia turn to hope

Johnathan Gagnon GAG01002@BYUI.EDU News Assistant Editor

Editor’s Note: the names in the following article have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

Chloe, a female student at BYU-Idaho, is a normal and active college student. She enjoys hanging out with friends, watching movies and spending time with Mother Nature’s beauties. She has friends around her, she excels in school and she has a boyfriend whom she loves.

Chloe’s story isn’t a story readily shared, though. Chloe has suffered, for some time now, from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa.

Bulimia, a serious condition predominately unnoticed by the general public, is often masked or hidden by those suffering from it. Bulimia involves repeated episodes of binge eating, then finding ways to purge the body of the food — craving the desire to eat without the accompanying weight gain. Purging the body of food can be done, among other ways, through laxatives or self-induced vomiting.

Very often, people suffering from bulimia can have a normal weight, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Bulimia can be triggered from a number of varied situations in one’s life, not always just a desire to become thin.

Chloe’s history with the disorder began in the ninth grade.

“I was 15 years old when my problem started, though I didn’t think it started out too badly. I remember talking to a friend of mine who had talked or joked about purging … that’s when the idea first came into my head,” Chloe said.

Underlying problems, aside from the physical ramifications of bulimia, such as a volatile family situation at home, lack of self-esteem and feelings of self-doubt were contributing factors to Chloe’s behavior.

“My dad had recently moved back in our house after being gone for a while, so my parents were always fighting. It wasn’t just little arguments here and there, either. It often times would keep me up when I tried to go to sleep,” Chloe said. “It was a very tumultuous period of my life.”

Chloe said that she, during the worst of it, didn’t really care to receive any help. It was an outlet for her — a way to expel the worries of deeper matters. It wasn’t until the emotional baggage from binging and purging frequently lead her toward depression and thoughts of suicide, that she saw the need for change.

Eventually, after many years, Chloe let some people in on her potentially devastating secret, including her mother, close friends and eventually professional counselors.

Help was on the way.

“My mom started noticing changes in me and asked me about it. I couldn’t lie to her, so I told her the truth. When I got back up to school, we decided it was time for me to see a counselor,” Chloe said.

Previous counselors belittled her and made her feel as though her problems were on account of her unrighteousness, but a change brought hope, Chloe said.

“He really made me feel welcome. He told me that he’d never leave me and that he’d never judge me — the thing you need to be able to trust someone. I had some difficulty trusting people. He helped me to see the hope and potential my life had,” Chloe said.

As Chloe felt more comfortable in her surroundings and with who she was, the friends she had drawn herself away from began to encircle her with warmth of friendship.

“One friend wrote me a letter one day expressing her love for me and telling me of my Heavenly Father’s love for me. I realized how much [I was really cared for],” Chloe said.

To be rid of an eating disorder like bulimia is a difficult task, but it’s possible and progress can be made.

“I started praying a lot with real intent. I drew closer to the Lord in that aspect. It wasn’t, and isn’t, a final solution But it’s part of what I did. I feel a lot happier now. My life is a lot more complete. I have a lot more control over the problem. It doesn’t come all at once, but gradually,” Chloe said.

Chloe said that what’s important is to stay on the track, and get up when you fall off.

“It’s a battle everyday, but there is always hope for an end. It’s possible.”

Dealing with Eating Disorders
• See your doctor regularly: Discuss any concerns about proper nutrition and weight

• Kick up your self-esteem: Get involved in activities that will interest you and are rewarding. Develop your talents through school, the arts, sports or in Church activities

• Improve relationships: Try to improve the atmosphere of your relationships with friends and family. Low self-esteem can trigger bulimia, so surround yourself with those who will lift you up

Source: www.mayoclinic.com