Even if you have bulimia, know that the Bible contains relevant verses for your recovery. Let God speak to you through His Word. He can help you address underlying issues, and a He can also provide a safe place for you to express your emotions instead of engaging in bulimic behaviors.
While bulimic behaviors may seem to provide a satisfactory distraction from feeling emotions, such relief is only temporary. But feeling the feelings is easier said than done. Sometimes it’s challenging to find ways to express those emotions. Not only that, but it can also be difficult to even be comfortable with having emotions.
It might help to remember that even Jesus had feelings. John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.” For various reasons, sometimes tears make us very uncomfortable. But what can be wrong with them if even Jesus shed some of His own?
Due to upbringing and experiences, a person may not have learned what to do with emotions. Sometimes those feelings build up and become so overwhelming, it seems that engaging in bulimic behaviors is the only answer. But the good news is that you always have God to talk to about your feelings.
Job experienced overwhelming losses, so he was overwhelmed by emotions himself at times. In Job 7:11, we see that he cried out to God. “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” He didn’t hold his feelings in, but expressed them to God.
Consider the book of Psalms. Just look at the emotions the various writers expressed. This is especially evident in verses like Psalm 25:16-19, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied: free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.” Perhaps saying some of the Psalms as prayers might help you to express some of your own emotions.
Remember that you can take your feelings to God at any time. You can talk to Him as if He was sitting right next to you. If you can’t identify what your feelings are at the time or if you can’t put them into words, please don’t let that stop you. Even if you don’t know what you’re feeling, God does. Just start talking to Him and say whatever comes out. He will understand. Let Him be your safe place.