Are You Going To Eat Your Fat?

The holidays aren’t always jolly for everyone and it’s okay to not be in the best of spirits.  In this episode, Deena shares why tuning into your feelings is crucial to self-care, how the question “are you okay?” can open doors for help, and tips for addressing depression.        In this episode, you’ll also hear: Listening to your body and giving it what it needs  Details about Australia’s “R U O...

Setting goals is great, but overburdening yourself with unrealistic expectations and difficult demands can hinder your progress and recovery.   In this episode, Deena emphasizes the significance of self-care during the holiday season and shares how she combats being her own worst critic, along with a powerful reminder that progress, not perfection, is the real goal.         In this episode, you’ll...

Today, we unravel the complex relationship between eating disorders and control. We share our personal experiences, discussing how feeling powerless in various aspects of life can drive the need for control through food and body image.   Deena and Brian explore how childhood experiences and traumatic events can trigger such conditions and emphasize the significance of confronting underlying issues...

Just because you’ve ever had an eating disorder does not mean you can never have a baby. Although eating disorders can disrupt your body’s natural cycles, it’s still very possible for you to recover and have a family someday.   In this episode, Deena sheds light on the traumatic events that led to her eating disorder, how she’s managed the guilt of multiple miscarriages, and shares a hopeful messa...

Holiday stress can amplify eating disorders, addiction, and body image issues. Having a clear plan and support system is critical to managing these particularly stressful times for those in recovery.   In this episode, Deena and Brian address how to prepare for the holidays, what social media doesn’t show, and why increasing awareness is vital to combating eating disorder statistics.    In this ep...

Anorexia, binge eating, alcoholism, and drug use are different sides of the same coin. As Deena recalls a time in treatment and recovery, she illuminates the mental tug-of-war and self-sabotage those battling these disorders constantly face.   In this episode, Deena and Brian share the common struggles of addiction and the importance of understanding how addiction affects people from all walks of...

When people think of a love story, it usually doesn’t include addiction. Brian and Deena started their lives together as high school sweethearts and married 10 years later, only to have their first years of marriage overshadowed by Deena’s eating disorder.    In this episode, Brian sheds light on his experience of trying to support his wife through recovery and suggestions for caregivers who need...

When it comes to supporting those living with eating disorders and OCD, it takes more than just kind words and a sympathetic ear. The challenge lies in understanding the emotional paralysis that OCD can cause, like the anxiety triggered by numbers on a scale.  In this episode, Deena opens up about the guilt, desperation, and frustration that these behaviors often entail and how caregivers can offe...

Recovery is a demanding process that never ends, even when someone seems to have their life in order. The little voice of addiction still pops up, and maintaining healthy relationships can be a struggle even after 20-plus years of recovery.   In this episode, Deena dives into her ongoing personal struggles and why sometimes it’s okay to be a little selfish to protect your recovery.  In this episod...

Navigating the murky waters of addiction is challenging, and it’s tougher when the struggle isn’t understood by the family. Deena recalls difficult moments when she felt judged rather than supported during her recovery, while Brian walks us through his own family’s history of addiction and how his grandfather struggled with alcohol before resources like Alcoholics Anonymous existed.   In this epis...

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet for treating eating disorders. Deena shares why recovering from anorexia is akin to being on an emotional rollercoaster and how the simple act of cleaning out her closet can send her reeling.  She also provides insights into managing triggers during recovery and the importance of daily routines and setting achievable goals. Deena and Brian emphasize the cri...

Deena pulls back the curtain on her eating disorder even more, revealing her struggle with feeling invisible and alienated even as her loved ones desperately tried to help her. She recalls how her addiction cast a shadow over life's pivotal moments, like birthdays and even her own wedding.  Deena and Brian also discuss her ever-present fear of death while battling her eating disorder, and how Deen...

Three months after her first inpatient treatment experience, Deena’s progress was wiped out by a swift relapse, causing her to return to the hospital. Deena and Brian had already spent their nest egg on her first hospital stay, thus relying on their family to help fund Deena’s second stint at healing her eating disorder.    Overwhelmed by Deena’s second inpatient stay, Brian shares the mixture of...

Throughout her road to recovery, Deena kept a journal and shares an excerpt from her writing: “I had been seeing my doctor monthly to have my blood counts checked. They said I was in need of a blood transfusion if I didn't do something about my health soon.”  With raw honesty, she takes us through her personal journey, sharing the daily routines that masked her struggle and revealing the weight of...

If you're feeling trapped in a cycle of self-destructive habits and body scrutiny, constantly searching for validation and control through your eating disorder, you are not alone!  In this episode, you’ll hear from both Brian and Deena about her backstory, how her duel with anorexia developed, and how a lack of understanding and support can exacerbate any addictive behaviors. Her story unfolds in...

This show is for caretakers, parents, spouses, siblings, and friends of those struggling with an eating disorder. You aren’t alone in feeling overwhelmed and insufficient toward getting your loved ones the help they need with their eating disorder. We know what it’s like to desperately want to help them when everything you do seems to push them further away.  This show is also for those struggling...