How can I help my child?

1. Stop the Binge-Purge Cycle

1. Stop Restricting Your Food.
2. Learn Your Triggers.
3. Make a Plan to Overcome Bulimia.
4. Explore Intuitive Eating in Recovery.
5. Find Bulimia Treatment That Works for You.
6. Distract Yourself From Your Anxiety.
7. Embrace Health at Every Size™
8. Break Up With Your Scale.

A behavioral treatment supported by empirical evidence for treatment of binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. DBT assumes that the most effective place to begin treatment is with changing behaviors. Treatment focuses on developing skills to replace maladaptive eating disorder behaviors.

1. Listen. Listen to the words your child uses. He or she may express shame, depression or fear.
2. Observe. Their eye contact may waver when they discuss eating. They may look defeated, hopeless or that their life is out of control.
3. Talk. If you suspect there may be a problem, talk to your child.

Talking directly about your feelings and what you have been noticing is helpful. DO: Choose “concern focused” comments rather than “condemning focused” comments. Example: Say, I’m concerned about some of the behaviors you are engaging in. Rather than, “You are hurting yourself by bingeing”.

Common recognisable symptoms of Muscle Dysmorphia include:

• Preoccupation with body image in particular the wish to look muscular.
• Intense fear of losing weight and ‘withering away’
• Excessive exercise with the aim of ‘bulking-up’
• Planning and often neglecting other life activities around exercise.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) SSRIs are a type of antidepressant. There are a number of different SSRIs, but fluoxetine is most commonly used to treat BDD. It may take up to 12 weeks for SSRIs to have an effect on your BDD symptoms.

Body dysmorphia is more than feeling insecure about your appearance. Most people have things about their appearance they feel insecure about or wish they could change, and it’s totally normal to have days where you’re not thrilled with what you see in the mirror.

Some people with BDD feel so bad about their looks they don’t want to be seen. They may stay home, keep to themselves, or use makeup, hats, or clothes to cover up. Some people with BDD avoid looking in mirrors because it is so stressful. Have a false image of their looks.