Referring to the dissociated aspects of the bulimic identity in the third person may be useful for some clients, for example, saying, "Tell me about her...tell me about that person that wants to
binge and purge, and who defies your attempts to control her." Although this might at first appear to encourage the client to see herself as separate personalities, or promote fragmentation, in fact the client experiences it as so empathic and perceptive that it promotes integration and expression of what had been forbidden and sequestered sectors of selfexperience.
Those with bulimia typically "
binge and purge." Purging is forced vomiting, but students with bulimia may compensate for binging in other ways, such as excessive exercise, or use of laxatives or diet pills.
Some people with bulimia
binge and purge occasionally, while others
binge and purge several times a day.
Increased frequency in the
binge and purge cycles decreases the ability to concentrate, because the fear of being overweight increases in importance.
Fostering critical and literate habits of thought requires that teachers move beyond using learning strategies that compel students to "
binge and purge" information in the manner of the bulimic.
Because many individuals with bulimia "
binge and purge" in secret and maintain normal or above normal body weight, they can often successfully hide their problem from others for years.