Hi,I am Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (Psychiatrist). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
I have a 19 year old son who I believe could be bulimic. He has just recently gone on a gap year overseas to be a teachers aid at a school and we have recently discovered that he could be bulimic. How does one approach this given we are a thousand miles away and cant be sure he is bulimic? If he does have this eating disorder do we force him to see a counseler or a doctor or how should we approach the issue
Bulimia is a clinical diagnosis and depends on history given by patient himself or by his caregivers. I have some suggestions for you: 1. You can ask your son's friends about his eating habits and his behaviour. 2. Bulimic people have concerns for their body shape, weight gain and have guilt after eating behaviour. You can judge this from his talks over phone and asking about this from him indirectly. 3. These people use laxatives frequently. History of Use of such drugs from his friends there can help you know this.
I think you should not force him to see a counsellor. He might get frustrated. First get the details about his behaviour. Once you are sure, you can persuade him to see a therapist.
Hope this helps. Thanks. Dr. Shubham Mehta
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How To Treat Bulimic Condition?
Hello Welcome here Bulimia is a clinical diagnosis and depends on history given by patient himself or by his caregivers. I have some suggestions for you: 1. You can ask your son s friends about his eating habits and his behaviour. 2. Bulimic people have concerns for their body shape, weight gain and have guilt after eating behaviour. You can judge this from his talks over phone and asking about this from him indirectly. 3. These people use laxatives frequently. History of Use of such drugs from his friends there can help you know this. I think you should not force him to see a counsellor. He might get frustrated. First get the details about his behaviour. Once you are sure, you can persuade him to see a therapist. Hope this helps. Thanks. Dr. Shubham Mehta