There are several common treatments for bulimia and anorexia. Some find cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helpful, while others require nutritional counseling. Many patients are also being prescribed medication to help them cope with the obsessive thoughts, anxiety, and depression that comes along with disordered eating. Antidepressants are commonly known to treat symptoms of depression. Doctors also find that such medications are helpful for a number of other mental health disorders such as panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and depression are often seen among bulimic and anorexic patients, it follows that these medications might work to counteract some counterproductive thought patterns. When you can minimize the harmful thought patterns, the resulting behavior (such as binging or exercising to excess) will decrease.