Did You Know... MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

* ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER or (ADHD)
* CONDUCT DISORDER & OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER or (ODD)
* BIPOLAR DISORDER
* ANXIETY DISORDERS
* AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS or (ASD)
* BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER or (BPD)
* SCHIZOPHRENIA
* DEPRESSION
* DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
* POSTNATAL DEPRESSION
* STRESS
* ANOREXIA NERVOSA
* BULIMIA NERVOSA
* AGORAPHOBIA
* ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
* BODY DYSMORPHIA DISORDER or (BDD)
* DEMENTIA
* MUNCHAUSEN’S SYNDROME
* SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER or (SAD)
*SHOCK
* HEALTH BULLETINS
* NYC YOUTH VITAL SIGNS

BULIMIA NERVOSA - Bulimia is a private disease, wrapped up in shame and low self-image. Typically, bulimia involves alternating episodes of bingeing and purging large amounts of food in order to feel better. Getting rid of excess calories may involve self-induced vomiting, laxatives, or exercising excessively. Symptoms can be both physical and emotional. People with bulimia regularly engage in episodes of binge eating followed by attempts to prevent weight gain. A binge is considered eating a larger amount of food than most people would eat under similar situations. For instance, someone with bulimia may eat an entire cake, rather than a slice or two. And he or she may continue eating until painfully full. Snacking throughout the day isn't considered a binge. However, sometimes people with bulimia will feel a need to purge after eating only a small or normal-size meal or portion. Binges often occur in private. People may be home alone where they raid the cupboards for food, for instance. Or they may make the rounds of numerous fast-food restaurants, eating meals at each one. Once the binge episode ends, the purging begins. That may mean heading to the bathroom to vomit or hitting the treadmill for hours of exercise. Someone may also take numerous laxatives or fast. Some people use their fingers or a toothbrush to induce vomiting by gagging. As the illness progresses, some people become so adept at self-induced vomiting that they can do it at will.
Technically, bulimia is categorized in two ways:

• Purging - People regularly engage in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics and enemas to compensate for binges.
• Nonpurging- People use other methods to rid themselves of calories and prevent weight gain, such as over-exercising or fasting.

The attempt to rid one's self of extra calories is usually referred to as purging, no matter what the method actually is. Indeed, the lines between the two types of bulimia often blur or overlap. And in either case, signs and symptoms are similar.

Physical indications
Physical signs and symptoms of bulimia include:

• Abnormal bowel functioning
• Damaged teeth and gums
• Swollen salivary glands in the cheeks
• Sores in the throat and mouth
• Bloating
• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Irregular heartbeat
• Sores, scars or calluses on the knuckles or hands
• Menstrual irregularities or loss of menstruation (amenorrhea)

People with bulimia tend to be at normal weight or overweight.
Emotional and behavioral indications
Emotional and behavioral characteristics associated with bulimia may include:

• Constant dieting
• Recurrent episodes of binge eating
• Feeling that you can't control your eating behavior
• Eating until the point of discomfort or pain
• Eating much more food in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack
• Following a binge with efforts to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or other medications, fasting or excessive exercise
• Unhealthy focus on your body shape and weight
• Having a distorted, excessively negative body image
• Going to the bathroom after eating or during meals
• Hoarding food
• Depression or anxiety