Bulimia Nervosa is of concern among adolescents and can be extremely hard to identify. Along with the difficulty in identification many side effects accompany bulimia. Some include the erosion of the enamel from teeth, popped blood vessels, digestive complications, and reproductive impairments. When talking about bulimia more models are suggesting similarities between bulimia and drug addiction.
The new theory describes impulsive versus compulsive behaviors and how they lead into each other especially when looking at bulimia. Impulsive actions lead into compulsions by repetitively taking part in an activity where a reward is being earned but then turns into a compulsion when that individual needs to take part in the activity to avoid a more negative effect from occurring.
Bulimia is usually initiated in adolescents and there are certain individuals that are at higher risk than others, the two main risks for impulsive behaviors are state-based and trait-based. When talking about state-based a lack of self control is being had by the individual. Trait-based is when negative urgency takes place and negative urgency is defined as the tendency to act rashly when distressed, is characterized by high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, and low agreeableness.
Bulimic actions are then reinforced by distraction and negative reinforcement which is very similar to what occurs with drug addiction and can be the reason why it is difficult to stop.
Now knowing the similarities between the addictiveness of drugs and bulimia we as a society will be more informed and aware of the signs of bulimia to help individuals who are struggling with the disease.
Bulimia a Drug?
