So you have been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa? Well, let's take a closer look at what this actually means. I'm sure you have all sorts of emotions going through you right now and lots of questions. If you take the time to calm down and breathe, things will improve. You have a chance to beat bulimia nervosa and reading this is a good start. This article will show you everything you need to know and learn to overcome this disorder; such as what are the signs, what it means to have the disorder, phenomenology, epidemiology, causes, treatments and of course how to overcome and survive the disorder. What is bulimia nervosa? Bulimia Nervosa, as defined by the National Eating Disorders Association, is a serious, life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binge eating and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting. It affects 1 to 2 percent of adolescents and young adults. About 80 percent of those affected are women. Many people who struggle with bulimia nervosa also experience depression and social phobias. The disorder is often shortened from bulimia nervosa to simple bulimia. Many people don't understand the seriousness of the eating disorder (ED) in question. Many people will ignore it as if the victim is just looking for attention. What many people do not understand is that the patient has a distorted body image and suffers mentally and physically from this disorder. Having bulimia, you binge and eat the food you want, then you achieve mass consumption and purge yourself, either through vomiting, exercise or laxatives. This vicious circle is a sensation and becomes very addictive which leads the person to severe bulimia disorder Ne...... middle of paper ......ng disorders. Current Reports of Psychiatry, 15(12), 423. doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0423-yMayo Clinic (July 13, 13). Bulimia nervosa. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bulimia/DS00607Nicoletta C Skoufalos, “The Development of Bulimia Nervosa: A Psychological Phenomenological Analysis” (January 1, 2010). ETD Collection for Fordham University. Item AAI3438468. Reas, D., Rø, O., Karterud, S., Hummelen, B. and Pedersen, G. (2013). Eating disorders in a large clinical sample of men and women with personality disorders. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46(8), 801-809. doi:10.1002/eat.22176 Trentowska, M., Svaldi, J., & Tuschen-Caffier, B. (2014). Effectiveness of body exposure as a treatment component for patients with eating disorders. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 45(1), 178-185. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.09.010