Bipolar Disorder/bipolar/bulimia

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Expert: - 3/17/2010


Question
I take lithium and struggle with bulimia many years before taking lithium. I only purge 2-3 times a week but struggle dealing with stress through eating junk food. I have the constant urge to eat something every time I am inactive. If I can afford fruit then I will munch on fruit all night. So, it can be healthy and no purging. What can I do through diet to help subdue my compulsion to constantly be putting food in my mouth? Is there medication. When I take pain-killers the urge subsides but that is not healthy either.

Answer
HI diane,

There are many reasons that may be involved. Being constantly hungry and craving for food mean that you are not getting the right food into your body. People suffering from  Bipolar disorder and bulimia are often hypoglycemic. This is a sugar handling problem that can cause all sorts of stresses and cravings.

I suggest that you familiarise yourself with psychonutritional medicine by reading some of the articles at our web site. Please read:

What is Hypoglycemia at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/what_is_hypo.html
The Serotonin Connection at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/serotonin_connection.html
Eating Disorders at:
http://hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/eatingdisorders.html   
Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html
Depression: a Disease of Energy Production at:
http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/depression_energy3.pdf
Silent Diseases and Mood Disorders at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/silentdiseases.html
Professor J H Levitt Hypoglycemia at
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/hypoglycemia.htm


Going on a Hypoglycemic Diet (search our web site) will often resolve the problem, but if it does not, please ask to be referred to a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist. Use our "Search our Web site" for more information about terms you enter in the search engine.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman

Bipolar Disorder

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Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist

Expertise

Have worked as a psychotherapist for overv twenty years, dealing with many personality disorders

Experience

I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”. I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems. Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Organizations
Editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia. Its web site is at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Publications
Author of the book "Getting off the Hook", It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. Various articles in the Hypoglycemic Health Association's Newsletters

Education/Credentials
BA (Psych) (University of Sydney), Post Gad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)

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