- Calls to this hotline are currently being directed to Within Health, Fay or Eating Disorder Solutions
- Representatives are standing by 24/7 to help answer your questions
- All calls are confidential and HIPAA compliant
- There is no obligation or cost to call
- Eating Disorder Hope does not receive any commissions or fees dependent upon which provider you select
- Additional treatment providers are located on our directory or samhsa.gov
Top Motivators for Women to Overcome Bulimia
“Just do it!” is a common mantra heard all over the exercise world to motivate people to get in shape and conquer the threat of becoming a couch potato. But this type of motivation doesn’t work when the battle is an eating disorder. In fact, it may hinder more than it will ever help individuals in their fight to overcome bulimia.
The complexity of bulimia runs deep, as those struggling with it judge themselves harshly for any perceived flaw. They become trapped in an addictive relationship with food that can further the development of serious emotional and mental distortions.
Many of these experiences are captured in stories and blogs of those battling bulimia. Spend a little time in the world of a bulimic and you get a glimpse of the challenges bulimia poses. For example, screen names such as “Suicide at 5 mph” are clear indications of how severe and painful this condition can be for those trying to battle and overcome its grip. In the midst of the agony however, these stories and blogs have an underlying message that’s clear: those with bulimia have a strong desire to beat this monster and fight this disorder.
Although men struggle with bulimia, more often women come forward to share their personal experiences with the disorder and why they are determined to overcome it. Often these stories reveal how women want to feel happy again and how they desire to have healthy relationships with family, friends and loved ones. They want bodies healthy and strong enough to bear children.
Many of these women are motivated by the isolation they feel and the fact that they are missing out on their own lives. Just wanting to feel genuine, and not having to fake a “public” persona while hiding what is really happening on the inside, is the sense of hope embedded in their stories and personal journeys.
When you set out to fight an addiction so powerfully living within your own body, saying “Just do it” isn’t enough. The idea of “doing it for me,” however, plays a much more significant role in motivating women toward fighting this disorder and seeking the help they need. The ties that connect women to family, friends or relationships serve to further motivate women to fight for their lives and the relationships they valued.
Bulimia is a disorder that feeds on the self-hatred, depression, pain and fear inside of individuals and causes them to use food as a coping mechanism. Learning to love oneself again – or for the first time – has a profound effect on the healing process. It can ease the grip and control this disorder has on an individual. Women have voiced this over and over again as one of the strongest motivators for overcoming bulimia.
If you are struggling with bulimia, what will be your motivation to overcoming this disorder?
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
