Hi ilikecats,

First of all, props to you for posting and asking. It's important for us to take care of and educate ourselves. I fought bulimia in high school, and it began small and grew into a monster. At first it was occasional (if I happened to overeat at a buffet, etc) and eventually I found myself overeating by myself at home and purging. Once again, this process grew relatively slowly over a period of months. Eventually, I found myself unable to control it and feared for my life. Even though I was scared, I wasn't ready to reach out for help, but my parents took the initiative to send me to a treatment center, where I was able to overcome it.

So, in my opinion, any deliberate binging and purging is cause for concern, because I understand how the occasional binge and purge can grow into a nightmare. When we force ourselves to vomit, we are harming ourselves, physically and mentally. It is a form of self-harm.

Once again, good for you for coming here and posting. That's more than I would have been able to do back then. I hope you find the support you need to avoid this harmful practice. hugs if ok