Why Do People Become Bulimic..and Purge?
This is not an easily answered question.Every person is an individual and each has their own emotional baggage yet similarities certainly exist which makes for purging behavior. Purging (bulimia) is basically a psychological disorder stemming from emotional disturbance within. This often coexists with another psychiatric disorder . Often depression and stress related.
Some studies show that bulimia is akin to major affective disorder, (Johnson, 1987) and therefore onset often by heredity, and chemical imbalances in the body. Occasionally medication can alleviate the binge-purge behavior, assisting at times in recovery. Yet some other studies have linked lowered brain serotonin function to bulimia . There often are many reasons given such as low self esteem, depression and cultural reasons also. Fitting in (as in with peers) also has teens in particular purging. Purgers become addicted to this "pattern behavior." Thus it assists them to avoid painful emotions, feeling of rejection and so forth. Sounds incredible I know, yet at the time it does.

More often than not these feelings stem from early childhood. Emotional problem sin reference to feeling unloved, ugly, insignificant,afraid, fearful or confused. Other emotional turmoil or depressed feelings, often come from the pressure to conform or to be accepted by peers. (Low self esteem being the more crucial.) Many feel worthless and that their lives are useless. They feel they never will be fully happy. Purging actually has the doer with raised self esteem at the onset of this due to feeling successful at something for a change. (Bewildering indeed!)
Often people turn to purging when all attempts at dieting have failed. They feel they must achieve weight loss at any cost. (Unfortunately purging being so detrimental to the inner body organs.)
Why bulimia is chosen is a major question that may never be fully answered. Yet these are few reasons given by many rehabilitated purgers. All of these characteristics of course not apply to everyone, but certainly some will.
Most bulimics come from families where their needs are not fully met emotionally, or physically In many cases emotions are withheld due to tradition or race.Religion and so forth. Leaving the person yearning for attention. Thus they attempt to escape from reality. Instead of drug use..purging! Bulimia expresses so much, yet many do not hear it's voice!

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