On this week’s episode I am happy to be introducing you to our next special guest, Lead Group Facilitator and Moderator at Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA), Sallie Egglestone. EDFA is a Non- for-Profit Organisation centred around the support for families, parents, siblings, partners, grandparents and friends who care for someone experiencing an eating disorder. Supporting those caring for people of all ages providing free carer support including free support groups. The groups include General Support Groups for any diagnose, Diagnosis specific groups such as for carers of ARFID, Severe and Enduring eating disorders (SEED), Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder as well as Carer- groups for siblings, Male carers, New Carers and Grandparents. Run by people with their own lived experience of caring for a loved one with an eating disorder. EDFA is the only national organisation solely for carers with aims to help connect families and carers into the right supports. 

Sallie is the Lead Group Facilitator for the (ARFID) Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder groups after her daughter Isabella suffered from ARFID from the age of or nine for another six years. On this week’s episode Sallie shares her story as a carer and ARFID Support Group Facilitator at EDFA to validate the experiences of carers with a loved one struggling with an eating disorder. As a worried mother herself, Sallie and her husband had their lives turned upside down in a way with their child’s distress, anxiety and fear of food. It was after two painful years that Isabella was finally diagnosed with the correct eating disorder ARFID. Sallie hopes to make carers feel less alone, blame, helplessness, grief, anger, anxiety and self-doubt. Even if it’s only taking 10 minutes to yourself to breathe! So please welcome our next special guest, Sallie. 

Podcast Summary: 

1. Self-care when caring for a loved one

2. Receiving the right diagnosis of ARFID

3. ARFID presentations

4. Support groups for the different eating disorders with EDFA

5. Reducing blame, guilt, shame, and emotional withdrawal

6.  Community, non- judgmental connection, hope & support

Links to Eating Disorders Families Australia 

Facebook group: EDFA Eating Disorders Families Australia 

Website: https://edfa.org.au

Instagram: @edfaaustralia

Links to the Practice: Located in Crows Nest, Sydney

Website: https://www.theprac.com.au/

Links from the episode and to BodyMatters: 

BodyMatters Australasia Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bodymatters.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

BodyMatters Instagram: @bodymattersau

Butterfly Foundation Helpline: Call their National Helpline on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1800 33 4673⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chat online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email