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How to help a Bulimic person


My step daughter is Bulimic.  She denies this, although she's been to counseling for it (which clearly didn't work).  As of late, she's making immediate trips to the bathroom after eating and is flushing the toilet multiple times.  After each bathroom trip, she comes out of the bathroom pale, sweaty, lethargic, spaced out, can't walk, talk, etc. She claims that it's 'just a headache', but these symptoms come only after her bathroom trips.    We have seen her (after peeking under the bathroom door) on the floor on the side of the toilet as well.  She adamantly denies all of this.  We even yanked open the bathroom door one time as she was on the floor, and she still denied it.

She was taught this behavior by her older sister (who's 20 and should know better than to teach her 15 year old sister this method of "staying skinny", which ultimately isn't working).   She's so concerned about gaining weight and has actually gained weight in the past couple weeks because of the purging.  She's refusing to eat most times and when she does, it's very little bits then she ends up in the bathroom.

I'm home with her most of the time since her father works, and the weeks she lives with her mom, she's never home so her mom doesn't see the behaviors too much.

She needs to get help for this but ultimately, both her parents are turning their head on this and don't want to approach the subject out of "fear of confrontation".  They're both incredibly weak.

I want to get her help because I can't sit back and watch her destroy herself like this.  She knows I know she's doing this again, and it's worse than it ever was before.

She's always complaining of headaches, is always tired, pale, dizzy, etc....

Anyone have any suggestions of what I can do since the parents won't do anything about it?
3 Responses
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1327415 tn?1294057889
yeah, blood tests can prove it, or pretty much so. because when you have bulimia.... as i do to, you have extremely low potassium levels sometimes even no potassium.
its likely that the tension between homes and the pressure to please both families is unbearable for her so try and create a more relaxed environment. just remember that she is not only making her self sick to look good, its because she doesn't know ho to cope with emotions.
don't let her 'overeat'.
good luck and if you want to ask me some questions then feel free.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Her father would give me persmission, but her mother wouldn't.  Her mother's in complete denial of this whole situation.   There's always been tension between homes and she refuses to give permission on anything unless she sees it herself.  Yes, they have joint custody.  My step daughter is here a week, and with her mom a week...back and forth.

I was told that there's a blood test out there that can prove bulimia in a person, do you know if that's so?   I'd like to take her for that test if possible.

Yes, her behaviors are screaming for help and she's gotten worse in the past few weeks.  She's gaining weight from all this purging too and that makes her do it more. (we learned through a counselor that purging will cause the body to store fat and they'll actually gain weight before they start losing it).

I had no idea that vomiting can cause sudden death but thank you for letting me know that.  I'll perhaps tell my step daughter that in hopes of deterring her from all this.  i know that eating disorders are a disease that's hard to cure, but something has to be done.  I haven't ruled out calling Child Services if something isn't done.  She knows I know she's doing this, and she also knows that legally I can't do anything about it because I'm not her bio parent.  It makes me sick to see this happening.

Thank you for your comments!!!!!
Helpful - 0
514715 tn?1338266258
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Could you ask her parents permission to take her for a physical and blood work due to her symptoms just to make sure she's okay.  Vomiting can cause sudden death or stop oxygen to the brain.  Do they have joint custody?  Her bio mom and bio dad can write a note giving you permission.  You can then voice your fears to the medical doctor.  Hopefully you can locate a MD with eating disorder experience.  Her pediatrician can refer possibly.  Due to the severity of an eating disorder, if this does not work, you could even call department of children and family services to report neglect.  Hospital staff can report also.  Her behaviors are screaming out for help!  I can understand why it would be horrible being in the midst of potentially 3 people in denial with a life threatening disorder. To learn more about eating disorders, visit the bella vita website.  Best, Dr Patricia Pitts  Los Angeles, CA
Helpful - 0

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