Other bulimic behaviors include fasting and compulsive exercise. A bulimic may be hard to identify because she is usually of average weight and she is secretive about her disorder. She is usually a person with low self-esteem and believes that it is difficult to get people to like her. Therefore, she strives to be perfect-she hides negative emotions, is a high achiever, and is fearful about being overweight in appearance. She often views her bulimic behavior as a way of being in control of her life and of making her appearance, and herself, more likeable.
Bulimic behavior has serious physical and psychological effects.
Electrolyte imbalances leading to menstrual irregularities and cardiac problems, to name a few. Also, the bulimic feels the need to hide her behaviors and therefore often withdraws from situations in which her disorder may be exposed. This causes stress, depression and loneliness. If you are a person with an eating disorder it is important to realize that you are not alone. It is also important for you to accept that it is an addictive process that may be too difficult to stop by yourself.