What Is The Difference Between Natural And Intentional Vomiting?
If you are experiencing a crisis related to an eating disorder or would like further resources, reach out to the ANAD Eating Disorders Helpline at 1-888-375-7767 from Monday through Friday, 9 am to 9 pm CT.
The human body's natural response to harmful or threatening substances that have been ingested is to vomit, also called throwing up. However, some people may wonder whether there is a difference between throwing up on purpose or experiencing it unwillingly. Knowing the difference and weighing the pros and cons of throwing up can be beneficial. The effects of intentional vomiting can be damaging and a sign that you are living with a serious eating disorder.
Common causes of natural vomiting
The medical definition of vomiting involves the process of regurgitating stomach contents through the esophagus (food pipe) and out the mouth or nose. The most common causes of vomiting include illness, changes in hormone levels, or exposure to harmful substances. In some cases, vomiting is preceded by nausea or the urge to vomit. Common causes of vomiting include:
- Gastroenteritis (stomach viruses)
- Overdoses
- Excessive use of Cannabis sativa
- Food allergies
- Food poisoning
- Medicines or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy
- Motion sickness or being seasick
- Severe pain
- Morning sickness during pregnancy
- Migraine headaches
Natural vomiting does not often last more than 48 hours. In instances when it does, seek out support from a physician. However, note that during pregnancy, hormonal imbalances may cause nausea and vomiting for weeks. If the expectant gestational parent can eat or drink, there may not be a cause for alarm. Morning sickness may resolve on its own by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy.
Medical dangers of self-induced vomiting
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances
Forcing yourself to throw up after eating means you lose water and other bodily fluids. It also leads to low levels of the electrolyte potassium, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and fatigue. This imbalance can lead to cardiac arrest and sudden death in extreme cases.
Acid reflux or gastric ulcers
When a person vomits, the acid in the stomach is expelled with the other stomach contents. With prolonged periods of vomiting, especially self-induced vomiting, the acid may begin to eat away at the esophagus and stomach lining. This condition can cause symptoms of reflux and may result in ulcers.
Difficulty controlling future vomiting
The human body adapts to changes. When your body is subjected to a pattern of behavior or action for prolonged periods, it may begin to recognize the behavior as "normal." Self-induced vomiting, if it occurs often, may eventually lead to your body recognizing the presence of food as a signal for vomiting. In this case, you may stop being able to control your gag reflex.
Erosion of the teeth
Stomach acid eats away at the enamel of teeth and other oral (mouth) tissues. Long-term effects can mean cavities, gum disease, or loss of teeth altogether.
If you are struggling with a pattern of binge eating and vomiting afterward, know you are not alone, and support is available. This behavior is not necessarily permanent; these patterns can be changed with professional mental health and medical support.
Ingesting harmful substances and vomiting
If you or someone else has swallowed what you believe to be a harmful substance, call the Poison Control Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222 for support.
If you or a loved one swallows a potentially harmful or poisonous substance, immediately contact a doctor or another expert. While the first instinct may be to try to vomit and rid your body of the harmful substance, it may create more damage instead of relieving the problem. Do not deal with this issue without talking to your doctor first.
Inducing vomiting can also lead to further harm if the poison is mixed with the acid in your stomach. Further, you could experience aspiration, which means the substance could enter your lungs. This symptom can be dangerous.
When you call poison control, you may be asked to provide the following information to personnel who are offering medical guidance related to the ingestion of a harmful substance:
- The person's age
- Height and weight
- When they ingested the poison
- What poison you believe they ingested
- How much you think was consumed
- Any symptoms the person is experiencing
- How long the symptoms have been occurring for
They may instruct you on care steps at home or help you cope with symptoms while waiting for emergency services.
Nausea remedies
If you are feeling nauseated, you might want to force yourself to throw up. However, rather than attempting to induce vomiting, you can try a few methods to reduce the feelings of nausea, including the following:
- Breathe Deeply: Rest quietly and relax while taking long deep breaths. Hold your breath for five to 10 seconds, then exhale. Repeat this process until the nausea subsides.
- Eat a Small Snack: Try eating a few bites of a bland snack, such as dry toast or crackers, to soothe an upset stomach.
- Cool Down: In some cases, lowering your body temperature may ease nausea. Try turning on a fan or placing a moist cloth on your forehead.
- Try An OTC Remedy: An over-the-counter medication for nausea may reduce the symptoms. However, talk to your doctor before trying any medical remedy.
Vomiting and eating disorders
Bulimia nervosa, commonly called bulimia, is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. Individuals who have bulimia are known to "binge and purge." These individuals may eat a significant amount of food and purposefully induce vomiting to get rid of it after eating. While there are other methods of purging associated with bulimia, self-induced vomiting is a common sign.
People with bulimia may seem preoccupied with their weight and body shape and judge themselves severely for self-perceived flaws. Bulimia is related to issues with poor self-image and is often difficult to overcome. However, this eating disorder may be managed or treated with professional intervention from a healthcare provider and psychotherapist.
How to find support for an eating disorder
Several resources are available if you are experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder. First, check in with your primary care provider. They may perform a physical assessment, including lab work for any hormonal or electrolyte imbalances, and can evaluate any medications you are taking.
Seeing a mental health professional is another way to discuss your symptoms. They may ask you about your thoughts and feelings and teach you evidence-based coping mechanisms related to thoughts of negative self-image. If talking to someone in person feels overwhelming, you can contact the following organizations:
- National Eating Disorders Association: NEDA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with eating disorders find support.
- Recovery Record: Recovery Record is an online treatment community with an app that helps you track and monitor your meals, milestones, and messages with your care team.
- Mental Health America: If you aren't sure whether you have symptoms of an eating disorder, consider taking an online screening. When you feel ready to talk to your doctor or a therapist, bring your results along to guide the discussion.
Alternative support options
While the above resources may help, professional one-on-one therapy may be most effective. You can reach out to an in-person or online therapist to find emotional support and understanding as you cope with symptoms.
If you desire more obscurity when seeking treatment, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be most effective. With an online platform, you can use a nickname upon signing up and choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions with your therapist. In addition, you may be able to choose an appointment time slot outside of standard business hours, allowing you to receive convenient guidance that gives you some control over your treatment.
A study published in Eating Disorders Review found that online treatment for bulimia could be as effective as face-to-face therapy. One hundred and sixteen participants participated in the study, with 50% going through face-to-face therapy and 50% receiving online treatment. Both groups felt they benefited from the therapy, and participants and therapists cited that the therapeutic goals determined from the outset were worked on with significant progress throughout the treatment. Although many participants had bulimia nervosa, other participants had unspecified eating disorders. Thus, online therapy may effectively treat symptoms for those experiencing other eating disorders.
Takeaway
If you are experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder that makes you feel the need to induce vomiting, seek professional help. You might experience thoughts that you are unable to control these patterns, but with significant tools, self-compassion, and professional guidance, you can discover strategies to help. Reach out to a licensed therapist to get started.
What helps you start vomiting?
Vomiting is a common way that the body removes harmful substances (such as pathogen-contaminated food) and reacts to other irritants. Historically, people have been advised to keep ipecac syrup (a medication that induces vomiting) in their medicine cabinet to induce vomiting if poisons are accidently swallowed. However, the Poison Control Center reports that inducing vomiting is not an effective way to treat poisoning. If you or someone you love has ingested something potentially harmful, immediately contact a doctor or a poison control center for guidance. They can instruct you on what to do next and if you should visit the emergency room for help.
Vomiting can also cause injuries and harm, such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, acid reflux, esophagus tearing, difficulty keeping down medications, and tooth decay. Unless you are advised by a medical professional, you should never self-induce vomiting. Instead of forcing vomiting, you can use the following strategies to reduce nausea:
- Practice taking slow, deep breaths
- Place a cool compress on your forehead, or turn on a fan
- Watch a television show or listen to a calming podcast
- Eat small meals consisting of bland foods, such as dry toast, crackers, or broth
- Drink water infused with ginger, mint, or lemon
- Wear clothes with a loose waistband
- Recline in a relaxed position with your head elevated
The vomiting reflex is strong, and your body will most likely trigger vomiting on its own when necessary.
What will force me to throw up?
If you feel nauseated, you may want to make yourself throw up to “get it over with.” Most commonly, people do this by using their fingers to trigger their gag reflex. However, it’s not a good idea to self-induce vomiting unless instructed by a medical doctor. There are several risks involved with vomiting, including:
- Medical complications, like reflux damage, or more serious complications like esophageal tearing or ulceration of the upper digestive system
- Dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, which can be severe
- Habit formation, which may contribute to the development of bulimia nervosa
- Aspiration of vomit, which can lead to choking or serious infections like pneumonia
There is no true way to vomit safely. If you are concerned that you or someone else has ingested something harmful, you should contact a poison control center or go to the emergency room for professional medical care.
Sometimes, people try to induce vomiting if they’ve experienced weight gain or they feel anxious about overeating. This may be indicative of a medical condition, such as binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa. If you’re trying to learn how to throw up because of your eating habits or distress about your appearance, you should reach out to your medical provider or a licensed therapist.
Why am I not able to vomit?
There are many instances in which you may experience nausea but not actually vomit. Examples include:
- Taking medications on an empty stomach: Medications like Advil, Tylenol, and antibiotics can cause nausea when taken on an empty stomach. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your medications should be taken with food.
- Motion sickness: For some people, activities like riding in a car or sitting on a swing can cause nausea. You may want to avoid activities that cause motion sickness, or take medications that can help counteract your symptoms.
Nausea can be very unpleasant, leading some people to seek methods to induce vomiting to relieve their symptoms. While this is understandable, it’s generally not a good idea to force yourself to vomit. Instead, try managing your nausea with cool compresses, soothing teas, distracting television shows, comfortable clothes, or bland foods. If these strategies don’t work, you may want to seek professional medical care.
Why do I feel like I want to throw up?
You may feel nausea or like you’re going to throw up for several reasons, including:
- Gastroenteritis or other stomach infections
- Food allergies
- Medications, such as chemotherapy drugs
- Migraines
- Anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric disorders that can cause gastrointestinal distress
- Pregnancy
- Motion sickness
- Chronic illnesses, including cancer and liver disease
- Excessive use of substances, like alcohol, caffeine, marijuana, or tobacco
- Serious medical problems, like appendicitis or an intestinal blockage
- Ingestion of poison
If you feel like you might throw up, you can do the following to try to improve your symptoms:
- Avoid cooking or eating strong-smelling foods, like fried food, fish, or red meat
- Give yourself some time before you try eating
- Wear clothing that is loose around the waistline
- Avoid lying down immediately after eating
- Take small sips of liquids
- Apply a cool compress to your forehead, point a fan towards you, or open a window for some fresh air
Drink peppermint or ginger tea - Infuse water with some lemon juice
- Practice deep breathing techniques
Why do I feel like vomiting but nothing comes out?
Dry heaving includes the same physical movement of throwing up without producing vomit. This may occur for many reasons, such as if your stomach is already empty when the vomiting reflex occurs, after excessive physical activity, or if you have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
If you do eventually vomit, it’s a good idea to gargle with water afterwards. Some studies suggest you avoid brushing your teeth immediately afterwards to prevent excess tooth damage.
Why do I feel sick if I don't eat?
When the stomach is left empty, hydrochloric acid can build up. Within hours, this acid may find its way to the esophagus, causing acid reflux, heartburn, and sometimes nausea. Alternatively, hormones involved in hunger and satiety can also cause nausea if imbalanced by irregular eating habits.
Can you faint from not eating for 3 days?
Yes, if you haven’t eaten for an extended period of time you may experience fainting. This often results from low blood sugar levels, which can cause symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, fatigue, and irritability.
If you’re experiencing difficulty eating, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare provider. They can evaluate nausea and other symptoms that may contribute to your lack of appetite and prescribe medications to address them. Other self-help strategies, like eating small meals consisting of bland food, can help you get the necessary calories and nutrients your body needs.
Can an empty stomach cause vomiting?
When a person eats food, stomach acid is used to break it down for nutrient absorption. If you do not eat for an extended period of time, stomach acid can build up, which may cause nausea and other issues, like acid reflux and vomiting.
Can hunger make you vomit?
Yes, hunger can sometimes make you nauseated or cause vomiting. If this is the case, you should focus on slowly eating foods that are gentle on your stomach, such as smoothies, nutrient-fortified drinks, broths, carbohydrates (like potatoes, rice, pasta, or bread), yogurt, bananas, Jell-o, or puddings.
If you typically feel nauseated when you’re hungry, consider eating frequent, small meals, keeping snacks on hand, and ensuring you stay hydrated.
Why is hunger painful?
When your stomach is empty, it can contract forcefully, causing painful “hunger pangs,” which typically feel like a rumbling, growling, or gnawing sensation. In addition to muscular contractions, hunger pangs are influenced by hormone levels, environmental triggers, the quality and quantity of your last meal, stress, and anxiety. In most cases, hunger pangs are relieved by eating or drinking.
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