She's Using Laxatives

Question:

My daughter is seeing a therapist, but her bulimia seems to be the same. She just told me she took 6 ex-lax today. Is this dangerous?

Answer:

The good news is that your daughter is in therapy and she is confiding in you. What may be hard to deal with is what she is confiding in you, and your ongoing concern about her symptoms.

Over-the-counter laxatives are meant to be used as a short-term remedy for constipation and are not an effective method of weight control. Prolonged use and/or excessive use leads to dependency and other complications which can be serious or dangerous. These may include abdominal bloating and pain, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, heart failure and damage to the gastrointestinal system.

A person who is in therapy, like your daughter, may be just learning to talk about what she is going through. It can be extremely difficult to find the balance of paying appropriate attention to eating disorder symptoms without losing the connection with someone who is beginning to share her struggle. You might want to ask your daughter how she would like you to respond to this information, or what she is seeking from you. You may want to ask her if she knows about the effects of laxative abuse. If she wants to know more about it you could invite her to investigate that issue with you or to talk with her physician about it.

There is a wonderful website called Something Fishy where you can find all kinds of information about eating disorders, including ideas and support for family and friends of people struggling with eating disorders. Please do remember to get support for yourself while you are supporting your daughter in her recovery.