To best understand bulimia one has to let go of some of the orthodox ideas about eating disorders, and illness generally. The first thing to keep in mind is that the bingeing and purging are only symptoms of a much more deeply embedded disease.

Controlling the binge/purge cycle is important, but any treatment that focuses purely on this aspect is fundamentally flawed and shows a lack of understanding of the disease.  Instead we have to recognize a deeper illness, often with many other symptoms including depression, anxiety, other addictive behavior and often physical effects apparently unrelated to bulimia. These may include skin problems, menstrual irregularity, or insomnia. Overall, the binge/purge cycle is an indicator but little more, of a far more invasive chronic condition. 

The continuing suppression of these symptoms does nothing to cure the deeper disease. Instead, the illness looks for other mechanisms of expression. If, for example, a sufferer attempts to  cure the insomnia with sleeping pills it may reduce briefly, but may later return more vehemently. More likely another apparently unrelated symptom may occur, such as a skin condition or digestive issues. The suppression of symptoms often simply forces the underlying condition into new and more damaging means of expression. As a result, some clients begin to feel they are ‘always ill’. In reality, the same illness is expressing itself in many different ways.

For an example of treatment that works effectively take a look at "Your Journey To Health". This is a typical and effective treatment plan. You can use hypnotherapy (including some of the downloadable therapies on the products page), or homeopathic remedies in the progression of this plan. You can also find ways to follow it yourself.

Some people work remotely with VancouverHypnotherapy.org via webcam on their program. This has proven quite successful in the past. You can read more about that here.

So what are the best forms of treatment?

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy has shown consistently effective results, though you do need to find a therapist that has experience of working with bulimics. You should ask what the treatment plan would look like. If they reply, "what's a treatment plan?", then hang up the phone and keep looking. Some hypnotherapy is based on metaphysical ideas, rather than medical and technical ideas. You want a treatment plan that focuses on the reduction of anxiety, moderation of eating practices and increases physical activty - at the very least. If you are unable to find this, then use the products on the product page here. The downloadable therapies are very effective and will help. Typically you would see a hypnotherapist about four or five times.

Psychotherapy

A psychotherapist can help you understand the source of the anxiety, and can help you deconstruct some of the cuases of the issue. You will still have to motivate yourself into physical activity, but psychotherapy can help, if no hypnotherapist is available. If the psychotherapist is going to use hypnosis ask precisely what their experience with hypnosis is. They should not attempt to hypnotise you unless they are very experienced at hypnosis specifically for eating disorders. The reason I mention this is that it is very different from simply motivating someone to eat. This is a complex issue and needs someone with experience.

Eating Disorder Clinics

Before going down this route contact someone who has been a patient. Some are good, others will throw bulimics in with general addiction clients. All this does is raise anxiety. Any stop in bulimic activity is because there is no opportunity. The bulimic activity returns as soon as they are released. Others are better - in which case you should be able to find someone (here or via a search on Google) who has attended and will talk to you about it. If you are looking at a government run centre, confirm it deals specifically with bulimia and ask for evidence of success. If they even mention 'weight gain' as a success metric then keep looking around.You need to be assured the staff know what they are talking about. Success is measured in cessation of bulimic activity over a period of years. Remember, you probably know more about bulimia than they do! Don't be fooled into trusting a so called professional, unless you are convinced they are capable and have the necessary experience.

Psychiatrists

Many bulimics report their experience with a psychiatrist was a twenty minute chat, then a prescription that results in anti depressants. Often they never see the psychiatrist again. This does nothing to effect a cure. It probably results in a further addiction. If you are invited to see a psychiatrist, ask for details of their approach to working with eating disorders. If they are unable or unwilling to give detailed information, then they probably don't have much experience of it. Use the forums to find out if anyone has been to that particular Doctor and if they have a good reputation.

Suppport Groups

Support groups can be very powerful aids. Be sure it is a group that is specifically for Eating Disorders. Avoid the addiction groups unless you are absolutely sure you wish to go down that road. Some support groups become stagnant at times, but get better later - so it's worth looking about periodically. If you find a good one mention it in the Forum here, so others pick up on it.

Web based systems

Even talking about bulimia can be very hard for some people. The web offers a fairly anonymous mechanism to start discussing bulimia. Some web based treatments, or downloadable systems can be helpful. See the products page for more.

Starting your own support group

Not as silly as it sounds, especially if you are not in a large city. There are sure to be other Group B people in your area. If you want to contact them put a posting in the Forums here or start asking around. The more you can get information out there, the more you address the situation for yourself and help others.

You can also look for support by going to About.com and looking for Bulimia support here:

http://eatingdisorders.about.com/od/seekingprofessionalhelp/a/findsupgroup.htm