Bulimia
Most people associate Bulimia with vomiting after eating. While is is certainly typical of bulimia, those that struggle with it will tell you that it is actually much more than that. The behaviour is actually considered an addiction and is driven by emotional factors. The addiction is in essence the need to purge. Purging can occur in different formats; it can be through vomiting, by excessive exercise or with the use of laxatives. Many people who struggle with bulimia engage in a combination of these methods of purging, or move from one to another. This need is often driven by an exaggerated need to be slim, distorted perception of body shape or fear of putting on weight.
People who suffer from Bulimia often tend to binge eat. The binge eating will usually result in guilt and anxiety which drives the need to purge. After purging, there can be some relief, but often a feeling of tiredness and even depression results. The bulimic behaviour is usually kept a secret, resulting in feelings of shame and isolation.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is essentially excessive restricting of one's eating. In all cases, unresolved emotions lay at the base of such behaviours. Clients need such emotions to be processed and released. Their awareness of these unresolved emotions, however, is usually hindered by feelings of depression, numbness or an excessive need to be slim. The unresolved emotions can also distort thoughts and perceptions, which also drive the excessive restricting.
How hypnotherapy can help
With addictions, the ability to choose to change ones behaviour is very difficult. This is because unresolved emotions lock distorted behaviours and thoughts in place. This is no different with eating addictions. However, once the unresolved emotions in the unconscious mind are resolved and released, then you are free to choose once more. Your distorted thoughts relax, and then you are able to take on different ways of thinking. In fact, you are likely to spontaneously begin to think in a much more healthy way, particularly around food and body image.