when related toeating disorders, purging means forcefully expelling food from the body to prevent weight gain after consumption.
Behaviors that can illustrate purging include:
- self-induced vomiting
- Taking laxatives/diuretics
While purging can have physical symptoms, it is usually the product of an underlying mental health issue.Understanding the definitions and characteristics associated with purging can help you identify this behavior in yourself or someone you care about. It is important to seek medical help at any sign of purging.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and risks of purging, how they relate to eating disorders, and when to see a doctor.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/define-purge-5193048_final-8b8cf36fda9242a69d35c54a7d6c6948.jpg "What is a cleaning disorder? (1)")
purging symptoms
Purging is trying to remove food from the body after eating in order to lose weight. It may occur together with the followingbehaviors and symptoms:
- Frequent trips to the bathroom during or just after meals.
- Avoiding social situations involving food.
- Refuse to stop exercising for any reason.
- Insist on performing a certain number of repetitions of exercises.
- Show distress if unable to exercise
- Strong focus on body shape, weight and appearance.
- Social isolation or isolation from friends.
- Avoidance of previously enjoyed activities
- distorted body image
- Heightened sensitivity to comments or criticisms about body shape or weight, eating or exercise habits.
- depression or anxiety
- Bad mood or irritability
- Obsessive or self-loathing behaviors
- Change in clothing style (such as wearing baggy clothes or dressing in layers)
- Sudden or rapid weight loss
- Frequent weight changes.
- Excessive use of mouthwash, mints and gum.
- Swollen cheeks or jaw line
- Chronic inflammation or sore throat
- Smell of vomit on the breath or on the person
- Broken blood vessels in the eyes.
- Calluses or scratches on the knuckles
- damage to teeth
- fainting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Stomach cramps or other non-specific gastrointestinal complaints (constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
- Use laxatives or diuretics
the danger of the internet
Some people with eating disorders look to websites that offer "advice" on dangerous behaviors related to eating disorders, including ways to purge. it isthe sites are very dangerousand do a lot of damage. Look out for signs that someone might be using it.
Purging can cause serious damage to the body and can even be fatal. Anyone with symptoms of a purging disorder should see a doctor for treatment help and long-term health protection.
Purging can sometimes lead to the need for immediate or emergency medical attention that cannot wait.
Severe symptoms that indicate urgent medical attention may be needed include:
- Dizziness or fainting: Dizziness or fainting can be caused by many factors, but dehydration is one of the main and probable causes of purging disorder.
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations: Purging disorder can cause damage to the heart. It can also cause low electrolyte levels. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure, cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular problems.
- Dehydration: Dehydration is a major and common complication of purging disorder and can occur with any form of purging. It is dangerous and can be fatal. Signs of dehydration include headache, delirium, confusion, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, dizziness, dry mouth and/or dry cough, high heart rate but low blood pressure, loss of appetite but may crave sugar, flushed skin ( red), swollen feet, muscle cramps, heat intolerance or chills, constipation, and dark colored urine.
- severe sore throat or acid reflux: Regular or severe vomiting can damage the esophagus, sometimes irreversibly. It can cause the esophagus to rupture, causing bright red bleeding. It can also cause the esophagus to rupture, requiring emergency surgery.
- Tremors, weakness or blurred vision: The electrolyte and mineral imbalance that accompanies dehydration can cause these symptoms and indicate the need for medical treatment.
- Dor abdominal: Purging disorder can cause a range of serious gastrointestinal and abdominal complications, including kidney damage, tearing, and blockages.
- rectal bleeding: Purging can cause problems such as rectal prolapse.
- Do you think you need urgent medical attention?: If you feel that you or someone else needs immediate medical attention, seek immediate medical attention, even if your symptoms do not fall under the "typical" complications of purging. Purging can be harmful in many ways.
types of cleaning
Common types of purge include:
- vomit: Purging vomiting disorder is self-induced, meaning that you vomit on purpose. For some people with a purging disorder, vomiting after a meal begins to feel automatic.
- Abuse of laxatives and/or diuretics: Laxatives and diuretics used in excess or for no medical need such as constipation are sometimes used by people with purging disorders in an effort to remove food from the body before the calories can be absorbed. These medications actually induce diarrhea, which can cause loss of water, minerals, electrolytes, and indigestible fiber and waste from the colon. They do not cause calorie or fat loss. Any "weight loss" is regained when the person rehydrates. Not rehydrating can cause dangerous dehydration.
Causes of purge
Several types of eating disorders can involve purging, including:
- Anorexia,which involves becoming obsessed with food and weight and losing more weight than is healthy
- bulimia,involving overeating followed by self-induced vomiting
- purging disorder,who do not share all the symptoms ofanorexia, and does not have the "binge and purge" associated withbulimia
NoDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition(DSM-5), purging disorder falls under the category of Other Specified Eating and Eating Disorders (OSFED), formerly known as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS).
To meet the OSFED criteria, you must:
- Has predominant symptoms characteristic of an eating disorder without meeting full criteria for any of the other diagnostic classes of eating disorders.
- Engaging in behaviors that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The five OSFED presentations are:
- atypical nervous anorexia
- Bulimia nervosa of low frequency and/or limited duration
- Binge eating disorder of low frequency and/or limited duration
- purging disorder
- night eating syndrome
If you have a purging disorder, you may exhibit purging behaviors without meeting criteria for a diagnosis of another eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia.
How to treat the purge
Purging must be guided by a health professional. While there is no specific treatment for this symptom, there are treatments for the underlying conditions that can cause it, such as binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa.
While everyone's symptoms and care needs are different, some of the common therapies for these conditions include but are not limited to:
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- origin family therapy
- dialectical behavior therapy
- traditional talk therapy
Therapy for eating disorders and purging can be performed in an inpatient, outpatient, or virtual setting, depending on your care needs and lifestyle. These therapies aim to help you reframe your relationship with food and address the underlying causes of your dysfunctional relationship with it. At the same time, you can get help for the immediate physical risks and impact associated with chronic purging.
Complications and risk factors associated with purging
Purging can cause many different complications depending on the type of purging. Some complications of self-induced vomiting or laxatives include the following:
self-induced vomiting
- dental problems: gum disease, decayed or discolored teeth, sensitivity and damage to tooth enamel
- electrolyte imbalancethe anomalies: this can cause heart problems and can be fatal.
- cardiovascular problems: Low blood pressure, heart palpitations (rapid heartbeat or palpitations), abnormal heart rhythm, cardiac arrest
- enlarged parotid glands: May cause pain and/or swelling under the cheeks and in the jaw
- Bloating and Constipation: Vomiting can slow down the bowels.
- Frequent infections and sore throat.: Inducing vomiting and accidentally inhaling vomit can cause throat and upper respiratory tract infections. Exposure to stomach acid can cause a sore throat and a hoarse voice.
- involuntary vomiting: A loose gastroesophageal sphincter due to repeated vomiting can cause vomiting even with a burp.
- Cancer: Self-induced vomiting has been linked to esophageal cancer, although it is not known whether it causes cancer.
Laxatives and Diuretics
- kidney damage: Dehydration can damage the kidneys and cause them to function improperly.
- electrolyte imbalance: Electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, phosphate, and magnesium that the body needs to function normally are lost through self-induced diarrhea. It affects the function of nerves, muscles and vital organs. Kidney or heart failure or death can result
- Edema: The body retains fluid in response to excessive fluid loss, causing swelling. This can cause stiffness or stiffness in the joints and skin, decreased blood circulation, and difficulty walking.
- gastrointestinal problems: May cause irregular digestive function, pancreatic damage and constipation
- Permanent damage to muscles used during digestion.: can cause paralysis of these muscles. Surgical removal of a section or the entire colon may be required, resulting in the need for a colostomy bag.
- Dependency: Prolonged use alters normal bodily functions, making the body dependent on drugs to trigger a bowel movement.
- Increased risk of cancer: Damage to the colon increases the risk of colon cancer.
- Cardiovascular and neurological problems: Abuse of laxatives anddiureticsit has been associated with cardiac arrest and seizures.
Are there tests to diagnose the cause of purging?
Although there are no direct laboratory diagnostic methods foridentify purging disorderor associated conditions, there are several general laboratory tests and mental health assessments that can detect it. If you think you or your loved one may be struggling with an eating disorder, here are some assessments to help you start your diagnosis and treatment journey:
- Mental Health America.Eating disorder test.MHA detection
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Screening Tool
It is important to consult your physician for purging behaviors. Your doctor will run tests to help recommend treatment. Some of the initial tests at your first appointment may include:
- complete medical examination
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- blood sugar test
- Liver and kidney panels
- urine analysis
When to consult a healthcare professional
Getting help for purging disorder is vital. Early intervention is most effective.
If you think you may have a purging disorder, see your doctor.
If you suspect a loved one has a purging disorder, encourage them to seek help, but do so carefully. Criticism and shame are likely to hold them back. Establishing trust and communication by helping the person see how their behavior is causing harm is often more effective.
For help coping with and recovering from purging disorder:
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): A leading non-profit organization on eating disorders
- The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc. (ANAD): A not-for-profit organization that provides services in the areas of support, awareness, advocacy, referral, education, and prevention.
- National Eating Disorders Association Free and low-cost support: Links to support groups and other resources
- National Eating Disorders Association helpline: online chat, phone and text help
help is available
If you are in a crisis and need help immediately, text"NEDA" for 741741to connect with a trained Crisis Text Line volunteer. Crisis Text Line provides free 24/7 text support for people struggling with mental health, including eating disorders, and experiencing crisis situations.
Resume
Purging is usually the result of an underlying mental health condition, but it can lead to serious physical health issues. It is best treated through a combination of immediate medical attention and long-term mental health treatment to determine the root causes and maintenance factors.
A Word from Verywell
If left untreated, purging can cause health-threatening and potentially fatal complications. Untreated purging can also be psychologically difficult to deal with.
Help with purging is available and effective, especially when started early.
If you or someone you know has symptoms of an eating disorder, including purging, make an appointment with a doctor to discuss the diagnosis and treatment plans.
Common questions
Who does the purge affect?
Eating disorders, including purging disorder, can affect people of all genders, races and ages.
Although research generally focuses on girls and cisgender women, one study indicates that about 25% (or more) of people who meet criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis are men.
Trans and non-binary people are also vulnerable to eating disorders. One study suggests that trans and non-binary people who were assigned the female gender at birth are particularly at risk.
Research and stereotypes about eating disorders are often white-centric. This bias is wrong and dangerous.
(Video) Obsessive-Compulsive Cleaners & How to Cope with OCDHow do you recognize purging behaviors in another person?
Some signs to look out for include:
- Evidence of self-induced vomiting, such as frequent trips to the bathroom after eating, calluses/scratches on fingers, and swollen cheeks/jaw
- Evidence of use of diuretics and laxatives such as drug packaging.
- Evidence of excessive exercise, such as exercising in bad weather or when injured, being distressed when unable to exercise, and hidden or covert exercise
How can you help someone with anorexia?
To help someone with an eating disorder:
- Be empathetic, but clear and direct.
- Take note of any signs or changes in behavior that you notice or are concerned about.
- Encourage them to seek help by helping them find a treatment provider and offering to accompany them.
- Be patient. They may feel unsure or uncomfortable about seeking treatment.
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Verywell Health only uses high quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. read ourpublishing processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and reliable.
Johns Hopkins University.bulimia nervosa.
Trastornos.org.Indicative symptoms of purging disorder.
Cleveland Clinic.Eating disorders.
National Eating Disorders Association.laxative abuse.
Forney KJ, Buchman-Schmitt JM, Keel PK, Frank GKW.Medical complications associated with purging.Int J Eat Desorden. 2016;49(3):249-259. doi:10.1002/comer.22504
Quilla, P., 2019.purging disorder.Current opinion in psychiatry, 32(6), pp. 518-524.
Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association.Other Specified Eating or Eating Disorder (OSFED).
Oxford Scholar.4 treatments for binge eating and purging.
National Eating Disorders Association.Eating Disorder Screening Tool.
National Eating Disorders Association.Assessment and Diagnosis.
Sweeting H, Walker L, MacLean A, Patterson C, Räisänen U, Hunt K. Prevalence of eating disorders in men: a review of rates reported in UK academic research and the media.Men's Health Int J. 2015;14(2).
Diemer EW, White Hughto JM, Gordon AR, Guss C, Austin SB, Reisner SL.Beyond the binary: differences in the prevalence of eating disorders by gender identity in a transgender sample.transgender health. 2018;3(1):17-23. doi:10.1089/trgh.2017.0043
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FAQs
What is a cleaning disorder? ›
OCD cleaning goes beyond a simple need to maintain an orderly, hygienic home. It is a symptom of one of the many subtypes of obsessive compulsive disorder. Sufferers of compulsive cleaning may have a pervasive feeling of contamination by dirt, germs environmental contaminants, or chemical toxins.
Is OCD just a cleaning disorder? ›Is obsessive cleaning a symptom of OCD? Sometimes, yes. For many patients, obsessive thoughts revolve around germs, which makes the compulsions manifest as obsessive cleaning. People with OCD may also feel the need to organize everything to make sense of their thoughts.
What is the psychological disorder of cleanliness? ›Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do something over and over again (compulsions). Some people can have both obsessions and compulsions.
What type of OCD is cleaning? ›People with contamination OCD may spend a lot of time cleaning of household items or other inanimate objects. For example, someone with this type of OCD may wash their shoes, credit cards, cell phone, or other things that may have come into contact with as these items may be considered dirty or contaminated.
What you call people with cleaning disorder? ›Germaphobes are obsessed with sanitation and feel compelled to clean excessively, but they're really suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder.
How do you get rid of obsessive cleaning disorder? ›Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) cleaning symptoms can be treated in the following ways: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): an effective treatment where patients meet with a therapist who can help them decrease their anxiety by identifying thought patterns that distort their view of reality and cause stress.
Do I have OCD or am I just clean? ›If you are experiencing repetitive, unwanted thoughts, or feel compelled to carry out certain behaviours, such as checking for perceived danger or organising items in a set way, it may be that you are suffering from OCD.
Why do I feel the need to clean all the time? ›Those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) will have a great need or compulsion to clean or perform cleaning rituals to feel in control. When they cannot keep up with these things, they feel like their lives are falling apart. The good news is that there is help for those who struggle with OCD.
Is cleaning a trauma response? ›Over the past decade researchers have discovered that for some people, obsessive behaviors such as repetitive washing or hoarding may be a way of coping with post-traumatic stress.
Can cleaning be a disorder? ›Compulsive cleaning is often related to fears of contamination, and compulsive arranging can be caused by a need for symmetry and balance. This disorder can be treated with therapy, medications, and procedures that stimulate parts of your brain known to be affected by the disorder.
Can you have a cleaning disorder? ›
Most people with OCD realise that such compulsive behaviour is irrational and makes no logical sense, but they cannot stop acting on it and feel they need to do it "just in case". Common types of compulsive behaviour in people with OCD include: cleaning and hand washing.
Is there a disorder for being messy? ›The messy house syndrome (Diogenes syndrome) is present when, owing to a disordering of the personality structure, a person is unable to keep order, for example, in the household or his finances. Such persons are also referred to as "messies".
What are the 4 types OCD? ›OCD can manifest in four main ways: contamination/washing, doubt/checking, ordering/arranging, and unacceptable/taboo thoughts. Obsessions and compulsions that revolve about contamination and germs are the most common type of OCD, but OCD can cover a wide range of topics.
What are 3 common types of OCD? ›- Organization. Possibly the most recognizable form of OCD, this type involves obsessions about things being in precisely the right place or symmetrical. ...
- Contamination. Contamination OCD revolves around two general ideas. ...
- Intrusive Thoughts. ...
- Ruminations. ...
- Checking.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
What is the root cause of OCD? ›Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But, it can also start in childhood.
What is another word for a clean freak? ›We call them a person obsessed with cleanliness. What do you call them? They might be a germaphobe or mysophobe also.
How do you live with someone with OCD cleaning? ›- (From Learning to Live with OCD) ...
- Recognize Signals. ...
- Modify Expectations. ...
- Remember That People Get Better at Different Rates. ...
- Avoid Day-To-Day Comparisons. ...
- Recognize “Small” Improvements. ...
- Create a Supportive Environment.
- Fear of contamination or dirt.
- Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty.
- Needing things orderly and symmetrical.
- Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
- Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.
Experts say the desire for neatness is twofold, from finicky types with a need for control to those with a real disorder, like obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD (a psychiatric anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or " ...
What disorder is extreme neatness? ›
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a personality disorder that's characterized by extreme perfectionism, order, and neatness. People with OCPD will also feel a severe need to impose their own standards on their outside environment.
Can anxiety cause you to clean? ›Temporary anxiety can lead to cleaning more meticulously, according to a 2015 study from University of Connecticut. Researchers theorized that people gravitate toward repetitive behaviors (such as cleaning) during times of stress.
Is it normal to clean your house every day? ›Determining how often to clean a house depends on size, how often rooms are used, and the types of furniture and surfaces you have. Some things need to be cleaned every day, while a general clean can be done once a week, and deep clean every few months or annually.
What does clutter say about a person? ›Clutter in the living room might suggest blockages in your social life, as well as your relationship with yourself, while a cluttered bedroom might relate to issues surrounding your sexual self, fears of intimacy or gender roles.
What causes a person to live in clutter? ›Behavioral/psychological: Clutter caused by depression, attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem or lack of personal boundaries. Time/life management: Clutter caused by the need for better planning. Of these, the behavioral/psychological-driven clutter is the hardest to solve.
Is cleaning a coping mechanism? ›How can cleaning be so essential to their wellbeing? A 2015 study found that “repetitive and predictable actions,” like those involved in cleaning, act as a coping strategy against temporary anxiety — similar to biting one's nails, pacing up and down, or praying.
Why do I struggle to keep my room clean? ›Having a messy room might be the result of a lot of factors. It might mean you are busy and have little time to clean and organize. It might be a sign that you have too much stuff. Or it might be the result of having young kids in the house who are usually not motivated to clean up after themselves.
What do you call a person who is always messy? ›Untidy man:
sloven. — roughneck (chiefly US)
In most cases, this clutter is directly linked to traumatic events. Clutter could stem from the fear of letting go. This would be especially the case if a person grew up during or shortly after a time of war when people did not have much and had to use everything they had until it fell apart.
What mental illness is similar to OCD? ›These include the obsessive preoccupations and repetitive behaviors found in body dysmorphic disorder, hypochondriasis, Tourette syndrome, Parkinson's disease, catatonia, autism, and in some individuals with eating disorders (eg, anorexia nervosa).
Is OCD part of mental illness? ›
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings.
How do they test you for OCD? ›Diagnosis and Tests
There's no test for OCD. A healthcare provider makes the diagnosis after asking you about your symptoms and medical and mental health history. Providers use criteria explained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) to diagnose OCD.
Early warning signs that you may be starting to experience OCD include: Repetitive behaviours. Repeating actions until they are “just right” or starting things over again. Rule-driven.
Is OCD a form of trauma? ›Not a few patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have experienced events that affected the onset. The onset of OCD is not limited to the original meaning of trauma; rather, traumatic experiences such as unexpected exposure to contaminants or various stressful life events often cause the onset of OCD.
What type of personality is OCD? ›Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) involves an extensive preoccupation with perfectionism, organization and control. People with OCPD have rigid beliefs and need to have control of themselves, others and situations.
What is the best treatment for OCD? ›Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is the gold-standard treatment for OCD.
What are less obvious signs of OCD? ›There are, however, some little known signs or symptoms that are also a part of dealing with OCD. These can include body hyperawareness, fear of emotional contamination, perfectionism, obsession with morality, and fear of harming others. Most believe that these obsessions stem from anxiety.
What is the most effective medication for OCD? ›The types of medication that research has shown to be most effective for OCD are a type of drug called a Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI), which are traditionally used as an antidepressants, but also help to address OCD symptoms.
Is constant cleaning a trauma response? ›Over the past decade researchers have discovered that for some people, obsessive behaviors such as repetitive washing or hoarding may be a way of coping with post-traumatic stress.
Why do I want to clean all the time? ›When people feel like their life is out of control or they are struggling with some uncertainties, cleaning can be a way to assert some control in their life. Cleaning gives people a sense of mastery and control over their environment.
Why do I get sudden urges to clean? ›
Often, constantly feeling the need to declutter can be linked to feeling stressed or anxious. If you are experiencing lots of stress from something in your life (work, school, family, etc) you can feel urges to clean. These urges stem from not being able to relieve the stress but needing to do something to feel better.
What does a messy house say about a person? ›Most often, a house that is so messy that it is unsafe or unlivable is a sign of an underlying mental health issue. While you might judge others for “laziness” when their homes are messy, they often do not want to live this way. They likely have no support to treat their mental illness or any family members to help.
Is cleaning part of anxiety? ›Temporary anxiety can lead to cleaning more meticulously, according to a 2015 study from University of Connecticut. Researchers theorized that people gravitate toward repetitive behaviors (such as cleaning) during times of stress. Why? It's all about control.