Bulimia is a serious eating disorder that affects many females as young as eleven and as mature as 60, and some men too. It is estimated that about 4 percent of the population suffers from Bulimia and are keeping their conditions a secret. Of this percentage, 9 out of 10 are women who are overly conscious about their self-image or emotionally negative about their body image. Bulimia recovery is possible but it takes time, determination, and outside help to break the vicious cycle of bingeing and purging.

This binge and purge cycle that characterizes Bulimia is vicious and destructive. Several factors could cause bulimia:

Weight history (self or family member)

Low self-esteem

Genetic predisposition

Childhood trauma or abuse (e.g.: sex abuse, bulling)

Personality traits (e.g.: perfectionism, OCD, depression)

Onset of early menarche or menstrual cycle

Poor management of life's stressors

Bulimia sufferers often feel unable to control how much food they are eating. They eat as much food as they can, and then they feel guilty or ashamed of themselves for this behavior. What follows is a compensatory behaviour of one form or another such as purging, abusing laxatives or diuretics, engaging in excessive exercising or extreme dieting. Trapped in a cycle of dilemma one minute over eating makes them feel happy and allows to forget or cope with their anxieties, but the next minute deep desire to rid of the calories consumed due to the possible consequences on weight, shape or size takes over.

Bulimia is a secretive disorder, and many lies are fabricated to sustain this illusion of normality, or avoidance behaviour. Bulimic sufferer is often normal weight, with no apparent signs of psychological hang-ups or worried on the surface. The sufferer could be anyone among the cross section of any population: successful career woman, ordinary teenage girl, busy mum of three, academic college student, a jolly, happy-go-lucky relative or a friend. Since bulimics do their best to keep their loved ones in the dark about the illness, nobody really knows how terrified they are about so many basic things in life such as going shopping, eating out, being seen in ladies changing room that others take for granted. Bulimic sufferers mask their depressions or anxieties towards their routines when purging, and often look for quick escapism in life to not focus on the real issues, in order to bring back a sense of normality and control.

The cause varies from person to person. Each of the sufferers has different reasons why they choose to go through the danger of bingeing and purging. The sad fact about Bulimia is that about 10 percent of them will die from dehydration or heart ailments because they were not treated. There are treatments and there are ways to get help if one is keen in giving up Bulimia. But, first they have to recognize and admit to themselves that they are sick and they should tell somebody about it. If they continue to isolate themselves from people who can help them, they will just get worse and Bulimia will really take its toll on their health and rob any quality of life, they have left.

Those who are asking themselves if they are ready to face recovery, yet still having doubts about their next moves, can find some help online. Many reputable sites do exist and they offer explanations about Bulimia, and extends their services in helping one recover from Bulimia. Self help options can be a good starting point - a big step for those suffering from this eating disorder, but are still having apprehensions on approaching their loved ones or professionals for help.

The desire to live and enjoy life to the full potential, starts with the willingness to push beyond some unhelpful and limiting boundaries and learning to expand one's comfort zones. This is never truer, for bulimia sufferers.