Re: Beth, What's the difference between Anorexia and Bulimia....and can you..
04/26/06 06:27 PM
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renee21
Reged: 06/02/05
Posts: 486
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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I think it helps to think of the anorexia/bulimia split like IBS-C and -D: it's a very basic way of categorizing. Not everyone with an ED will fall neatly into one category, but basically, anorexics restrict calories, while bulimics will ingest calories - and may ingest a huge amount in a small period of time, called a "binge" - and then "purge" those unwanted calories through induced vomiting, zealous exercise, or laxative use.
I have also now heard of a third category - "bulimarexia'. This might be equivalent to the IBS-A category! It's where a person exhibits symptoms of both anorexia and bulimia at the same time. So, for example, someone who eats extremely little or nothing at all for several days, then breaks the fast with a large binge of several thousand calories, which is subsequently purged.
All of these disorders are, of course, about far more than attempts to control one's weight. They are maladaptive mechanisms for coping with life, much like addictions. The classic expression about EDs is they begin as a means of feeling in control, and they end up controlling you. At least, that's my experience of it.
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IBS-C, lots of spasm and trapped gas.
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