Are you struggling with Bulimia Nervosa? We can help.
Led by one of the nation’s most prominent psychiatrists for eating disorders, Kimberly Dennis, MD, CEDS, SunCloud Health has become a top bulimia nervosa treatment center in the Chicago area.
What makes SunCloud Health unique?
Unlike all other eating disorder treatment centers, we do not believe that daily consumption of ultra-processed foods is necessary for all forms of recovery. This is just one example of how our individualized treatment model is different from other traditional eating disorder programs that prescribe one generic approach for everyone regardless of their unique disease set.
Bulimia Nervosa: Did you know?
At least 30 million people of all ages and gender suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S.
More American women suffer from bulimia nervosa than anorexia (1.5% vs. 0.9%, respectively).
Nearly half of bulimia patients have a co-occurring mood disorder, while more than half have a co-occurring anxiety disorder.
Nearly 1 in 10 bulimia patients have a co-occurring substance use disorder (usually alcohol use).
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
13% of women over 50 engage in disordered eating behaviors.
Genetics, environmental factors, and personality traits all combine to create risk for an eating disorder.
50% to 80% of the risk for anorexia and bulimia is genetic.
What is Bulimia? The Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
There are many people out there using the term “bulimic” to define individuals with eating disorders, so what is bulimia? Bulimia nervosa is simply defined as a disease that triggers the sufferer to consume very large amounts of food (binge) and then engage in behaviors to rid themselves of excess calories (purge).
People with bulimia have a fear of gaining weight. Some are overweight or obese, while others may be underweight. They attempt to use purging to manage their weight or prevent additional weight gain. As a whole, signs and symptoms of bulimia center around a preoccupation with body weight and/or shape. Guilt and shame are core symptoms of bulimia. Someone who is bulimic, similar to a person suffering from anorexia and other mental health conditions like binge eating disorder, judges him- or herself harshly for any perceived flaw.
Behaviors associated with bulimia nervosa may include:
Regular binge and purge episodes to lose weight
Obsession with body weight and shape
Live in secrecy and shame
Hyper-focused on food
Preoccupation with weight loss
Inability to practice healthy eating habits
Inability to stop eating once started
Normal/healthy weight, overweight, or underweight
Bulimia nervosa is a serious mental illness that can cause serious health complications and requires intensive treatment. Getting help for your bulimia nervosa from a mental health professional gives you the best chance to overcome this eating disorder.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Help is one click or call away (866) 729-1012
Or click here to send a secure message to a mental health professional about how we can help diagnose bulimia nervosa or binge eating, create customized treatment plan, and help develop healthy eating patterns.
How Do You Diagnose Bulimia Nervosa? What to Look for When a Loved One May Be Bulimic.
Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia nervosa overeat (rather than restrict) and then attempt to rid their body of the calories they ingested. As such, this type of binge eating disorder looks very different from other forms.
Binging behaviors
Eating until the point of physical discomfort or pain and/or blacking out
Eating large amounts of food when binging
Once binge eating starts, stopping feels beyond one’s control
Hiding or secretly hoarding food
Making excuses for missing food, or money taken to pay for binge foods
Purging behaviors
After a binge ends, feelings of shame and self-loathing arise, followed by the compulsion to engage in some method of purging to rid the body of the extra calories for rapid weight loss. These methods may include one or more of the following to lose weight: vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, periods of starving, or over-exercising.
The most well-known method of purging is self-induced vomiting, which is the most prevalent form of purging. This is characterized by:
Leaving the room during a meal
Going to the bathroom immediately after eating
Damaged teeth and gums or other dental issues
Injuries or scarring on hands caused by self-induced vomiting
Scratchy or raspy voice when speaking, often caused by stomach acid
Misuse of ipecac syrup to induce vomiting and/or laxatives, diuretics, or enemas
Addictive or excessive exercise
Bulimia Nervosa Recovery – Simple Steps to Getting Help
To recover from bulimia nervosa, you need 4 things:
The motivation to recover
A recovery plan to treat bulimia by qualified professionals
Medical intervention and monitoring
Support for when things get tough
Do not underestimate pain—it’s a very powerful—and often necessary—motivator. Many of our patients talk about “hitting bottom” and experience potentially life-threatening and serious health problems before deciding to engage in treatment for bulimia nervosa.
VIDEO: DR. KIM, RECOVERY IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING THINGS BUT RATHER IT’S ABOUT EXPANDING YOUR LIFE AND YOUR HEALTH.
Dr. Kim, MD, CEDS Chief Medical Officer, CEO and Co-founder, SunCloud Health explains, recovery is not about stopping things but rather it’s about expanding your life and your health.
How Is Bulimia Nervosa Treated at SunCloud Health?
Seeking help for an eating disorder from a healthcare professional can be a daunting challenge. Treatment for people with bulimia nervosa is appropriate for a variety of persons suffering from the disease, and not just the “classic” or “full blown” cases.
For some people with bulimia, treatment is a difficult process, but after a person is able to recognize they have a problem, binge eating and bulimia nervosa recovery goes smoother and quicker. Fortunately, SunCloud Health’s bulimia outpatient and residential treatment is well-equipped with experienced clinicians and medical professionals specifically trained to provide treatment while maintaining the client’s dignity and respect, and helping them develop healthy attitudes toward eating through nutrition education, talk therapy, and more customized approaches that, together, create a successful treatment program. With multiple locations in greater Chicago, SunCloud Health provides bulimia nervosa treatment by certified eating disorder experts in a caring setting.
LET’S GET STARTED
Experiencing symptoms of bulimia or know someone who is? Find effective treatment by a qualified mental health professional near you able to treat bulimia for lifelong recovery. (866) 729-1012
Or click here to send a secure message.
SunCloud’s Individualized Approach to Bulimia Treatment
Dr. Kim and the clinical professionals at SunCloud Health have treated thousands of people with bulimia, binge eating, anorexia nervosa, or other eating disorders. Our caring team recognizes that no two people are alike, and it is important to meet the person where they’re at. As such, we design a customized care plan designed to meet each of our patients’ needs while working to uncover the trauma and other mental health conditions behind the binge and purge behaviors.
No one fits in to a neat little box and, therefore, neither should your bulimia nervosa treatment options. Though we recognize that every primary diagnosis requires specific attention, we do not have separate tracks for our patients. Instead, we focus on getting to the root of the pain that we believe is causing the self-destructive behavior leading to harmful eating habits, and so it is beneficial to eliminate the customary separate track system. We find that our patients who so often don’t feel as though they fit in anywhere, thrive in this environment as they find common ground with people who may look different from them but who in fact are struggling with and facing very similar issues.
Addressing the medical complications that many eating disorders generally have, including dental issues caused by stomach acid and more physical health problems, is extremely important and is always one of the first aspects of the diseases we discuss during bulimia recovery. Our medical team works seamlessly with our therapists to support people in the lifelong journey of recovery that encompasses physical, emotional, psycho-social, and spiritual growth for a positive body image and approach to eating.
VIDEO: WHY SUNCLOUD HEALTH?
Hear from Kim Dennis, MD, CEDS, on why SunCloud Health can be the right treatment program for you or a loved one.
A Holistic Approach to Bulimia Recovery
At SunCloud Health, we treat our patients and their families first and foremost as human beings who courageously come to us in pain seeking help and support. We believe our patients and their families deserve compassion and expertise in the care they receive.
Our program is successful in treating eating disorders because we understand that true, long-lasting, and sustainable recovery is about more than just restoring weight, overcoming issues with body image, or helping someone stop purging. It is about addressing the underlying cause(s) of what is leading to the disorder. Recognizing that the self-destructive behavior is not a choice but rather a disease, and that the behavior is generally a symptom of some underlying cause, is critical.
At SunCloud Health, we don’t separate the mind from the body, nor do we separate the individual from their environment. We recognize that eating disorders can be complex illnesses, which require a holistic and integrated approach taking in to account and addressing all aspects of one’s life. We also know that if we do not treat the underlying cause of the eating disorder, that while we may help one become abstinent from one addiction, another self-destructive behavior may manifest down the road. Our objective is to target the source of the pain with love and compassion, using the experience of our trained experts, many of whom are in recovery themselves.
We are also well versed in diagnosing and effectively treating other aspects of our patient’s mental health that often make it that much more difficult to recover from the eating disorder, otherwise known as co-occurring mental disorders.
VIDEO: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PTSD AND BULIMIA
Dr. Timothy Brewerton, MD, DLFAPA, FAED, DFAACAP, CEDS-S, delves into findings from the national comorbidity survey. Discover the significant connection between PTSD and Bulimia Nervosa, highlighting that individuals with PTSD are at a staggering 10.2 times higher risk of developing Bulimia.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Find Bulimia Nervosa Treatment Near You (866) 729-1012
Or click here to send a secure message to speak with a mental health professional able to diagnose bulimia and create a treatment plan.
SunCloud’s Integrated Approach to Treatment
Our treatment plans are truly integrated and can be customized to fit each person’s unique needs. We employ specific evidence-based approaches that have been proven to help people manage their emotions, identify unhealthy habits or binge and purge behaviors, practice healthy eating patterns, and develop the tools necessary to recover from eating disorders. Specific examples include:
Expressive and experiential therapy
Skills-based therapy such:
DBT – Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Twelve Step support groups
Education about the disease and its effects on you, your mind, your soul, and your body
Group sessions to teach and practice healthy interpersonal skills and relationship management
Nutritious meals planned according to your treatment program and needs
Meal support and nutritional counseling with dietary staff, as needed
Regular psychiatric consultations and assistance with medication, as needed
Family-based treatment (including family therapy and participation, if appropriate)
Yoga, body image, and body shape therapy
We believe the whole family system is a critical component of treatment. Our aim is to help our patients feel supported in all contexts of their lives and this starts with their familial relationships. Family therapy engages all family members in a healing process rather than just focusing on the identified patient. We counsel parents and partners, offer important nutrition education, and provide psycho-education to strengthen families and foster a nurturing home environment.
What to Expect After Completing Bulimia Nervosa Treatment with SunCloud Health
As an outpatient and residential treatment center, we continue to support you for as long as we all feel our services are useful. With multiple levels of outpatient care, you may decide to continue to stay connected through one of our aftercare groups or, in some cases, you may want to continue to see a healthcare professional or therapist indefinitely for ongoing nutrition counseling and therapy to maintain positive mental and physical health. Though we understand fully that our patients want more health and not necessarily more treatment, we also understand people with bulimia often require a life-long commitment to sustainable recovery.
Wherever you may be, once we have helped you regain things that tend to get lost in the throes of an eating disorder—such as balance, honesty, health (physical, emotional, and spiritual) and most importantly yourself—we will work with you to provide a care plan that you can take with you forever, wherever you may go.
IS THERE HOPE FOR MY RECOVERY?
Dr. Marcia Nickow, Psy.D., CADC, CGP shares her thoughts on hope for recovery at SunCloud Health.
Why SunCloud Health for Bulimia Nervosa Treatment?
SunCloud Health is led by one of the nation’s most highly respected psychiatrists in the country and a trusted healthcare professional who specializes in treating binge eating, bulimia nervosa, anorexia, substance use disorders, and related mood or other mental disorders. Kim Dennis, MD, has successfully treated thousands of people with bulimia nervosa and other mental health diseases using an approach that integrates her training and experience as a doctor along with her passion for deep and honest therapy.
Some of our therapists are in recovery in one form or another and this comes from the top. Dr. Kim struggled with both an eating disorder and an alcohol use disorder while studying at The University of Chicago. Her handpicked team has personal knowledge of what it is like to lose control in the disease and we bring that personal knowledge and experience to our evidence-based work every day.
Treatment at SCH is really different. I have been to several so I know… Most treatment centers are focused on normalizing eating behaviors, weight restoration (or loss) and that is pretty much it. At SunCloud this stuff all matters but treatment is much deeper and so much more! I have been encouraged to look at what drive me to the disordered eating behaviors in the first place. I have looked at early childhood trauma, I have looked at dysfunctional and unhealthy relationships in my family, I have learned skills to help me respond differently to my thoughts and feelings and most importantly I have learned that I am not alone in my journey. Dr. Kim and her team genuinely care. This place is special. Thank you! I suggest seeking treatment at SunCloud!!!!
~ SCH patient
Get Help Now
Thinking about seeking help to treat bulimia or know someone who needs help? Click below to have a healthcare professional contact you. We’re here to help reduce binge eating and purging behaviors for a happier, healthier future.
Explaining SunCloud’s Integrated Model Why is an integrated treatment model
essential to successfully treating patients?
Dr. Kim Dennis, Co-Founder and Medical Director at SunCloud Health, discusses the vital role the integrated model (that she is pioneering at SunCloud Health) plays in the success of treating patients with co-occurring disorders and underlying trauma. How does SunCloud create an authentic culture of patient support?
Accreditations, Certifications & Licensing
The Joint Commission signifies that all people always experience the safest, highest quality, best-value health care across all settings with a devotion to patient safety. The Gold Seal, is a symbol to the community and patients we serve that SunCloud Health has placed an emphasis on quality of care.
