Mentální bulimie: Co to je a jak s ní pracovat v psychoterapii

When you think of bulimia, you picture vomiting after meals. But mentální bulimie, neformální termín pro neustálé, návykové přemýšlení o jídlu, těle, kaloriích a kontrole. Also known as mentální či kognitivní bulimie, it’s not about what you eat — it’s about how your mind gets stuck in a loop of self-criticism, food obsession, and rigid rules that never let you rest. This isn’t just being careful with diet. It’s a mental prison where every thought about food feels like a moral test, and no meal is ever "safe".

People with mentální bulimie don’t always purge. They might not even overeat. But their brain replays the same thoughts over and over: "Was that too much?", "I have to burn it off", "I’m not thin enough", "I ruined it". This constant mental chewing is exhausting — and it’s a core part of many poruchy příjmu potravy. It shows up in anorexia, binge eating, and even in people who seem "normal" but can’t relax around food. The real danger? It’s invisible. No one sees the mental vomiting. But it’s just as damaging as the physical ones.

That’s where psychoterapie comes in. Unlike diets or willpower, therapy targets the root: the kognitivní omyly. These are the distorted thoughts like "If I eat this, I’m a failure" or "My worth is tied to my weight". KBT — kognitivně behaviorální terapie — is the most proven method to break this cycle. It doesn’t try to silence the thoughts. It teaches you to see them for what they are: habits, not truths. You learn to pause, question, and choose differently — without guilt.

You’ll find posts here that explain how compulsive exercise, food-related cognitive distortions, and emotional avoidance feed this cycle. You’ll see how therapy helps people stop the mental bingeing — even when they never touched a scale. This isn’t about fixing your body. It’s about freeing your mind.