What’s it like to develop an eating disorder when you’re away from home for the first time, embarking on life as a university student?

Perhaps you’ve had eating behaviours in the past, been concerned about your body image, or had an addiction to movement and exercise – do these factors make it more challenging to even consider a move to university?

Here, as we prepare for the period in which many thousands of young people will head to university, we chat to Rachel, as she shares her own personal experiences with an eating disorder.

Rachel talks candidly and courageously about what she encountered as a student, what she had to do to get help, and what she’s learned along the way.

If you’d like to comment on this episode, or share your thoughts and applause for Rachel, please email [email protected]

After a rather long pause in recording, Sarah and Debbie are back in the seat, talking all things eating disorders on the Wednesday’s Child podcast.

In this episode, our hosts discuss the importance of checking in with yourself and asking what your recovery path needs most in life right now.

They share their own experiences of choosing university, of learning to be less ‘externally validated’, and of managing the unexpected.

You’ll also hear Sarah and Debbie talk about the need for those attending or involved in education, to consider the route to support, and how teaching and pastoral professionals can gain greater insight about eating disorders.

If you’d like to message us, please email [email protected]

In this episode, we follow up on a mailbox request, which sought answers about how best to look after yourself in eating disorder recovery, while at the same time being a parent.

How do you prioritise yourself, but equally take care of your children and the demands of family life?

How do you navigate a child’s desire for family foodie outings, or tackle a youngster’s issues around body image, when you yourself are in the thick of recovery?

Sarah and Debbie take a deep look at these questions, while bringing in Sarah’s own personal insight, as someone who was recovering from an eating disorder while a mum to a school-aged daughter.

In this episode, we welcome back our wonderful Perinatal Lead here at Wednesday’s Child, Abi Reynolds

She’s joined in her conversation with Debbie, by Chantelle Ecob, who is a trainee clinical psychologist and is keen to gain more insights into the experiences of women who relapse into, or first suffer from, an eating disorder in pregnancy or soon afterwards.

We’ll be keeping in regular contact with Chantelle throughout this research, but if you’re minded to take part in investigations (all of which will be fully confidential), you can email Chantelle on [email protected]

This episode sees the return of our duo Debbie and Sarah. Here, they chat at the close of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and use the opportunity to reinforce the need to always ‘turn talk into action’. Throughout this episode, you’ll hear a number of lived experience reflections about what it takes to keep pivoting from hinge behaviours, and to continually challenge the eating disorder’s unhelpful voice.

If you have a perspective on this chat, or would like to contribute to a future episode, please email [email protected]

In this episode, Debbie references her ‘Sofa Guest’ conversation. Should you wish to listen, you’ll find it on BBC Sounds from Friday 3rd March at 330pm.

In this episode, we catch up with our lovely therapist Sarah Smetham (Sarah Parker, until her recent nuptials!), where she and Debbie discuss how relationships change as we transition through our eating disorder recovery.

Sarah reveals how her own relational needs changed in her progress beyond an eating disorder, and, as a practitioner, she gives guidance on being aware of our own needs and recognition as we learn to build the tribe which is right for the life we have.

You can find out more about Sarah’s work here: https://wellofbeing.co.uk/about-sarah/

If you’re interested in hearing more about topics like this, and attending a webinar with Sarah and Debbie, please email us. Send a message to [email protected] marked ‘relationship insights’.

We always welcome your own personal stories too, so don’t hesitate to share with us if you feel so inclined.

What are the new options being considered for treating those who are seemingly ‘resistant’ to more freely available therapy?

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the world of Awakn Life Sciences, and hear from clinical psychologist Laurie Higbed, as she explains how Awakn’s clinics are working with those who’ve been battling long term eating issues, as well as addictions – like gambling and alcohol.

We’re also joined by our therapist Isabel Leming, who shares her perspective on this approach, and helps us explore why some people find it that much more challenging to recover without additional or different interventions.

Your thoughts on this episode would be greatly appreciated, as we’d very much like to get our experts back and create a panel event, to which we can invite you to ask more questions.

Feel free to email us on [email protected]

We continue an exploration of how to gain and maintain recovery momentum in the early part of 2023.

Debbie and Sarah chat about what we can do to be more proactive in our desire for full health and happiness, and in order to prevent the small but significant slide into behaviours and thoughts.

Listen as our hosts talk about the tactical steps which improve how we feel in this moment, one day from now, one week from now, and one month from now.

Hear them reflect on what worked for their recovery, as they made certain positive and proactive decisions to step away from their ‘poorly thinking’ and into safer and more recovery-focused territory.

Consider as you listen, what it is that you could do to aid your progress, such that you take responsibility for where you are today and where you want to be in the future.

Who might you surround yourself? What conversations are needed? What scenarios are keeping you stuck or ‘dependent’?

Feel free to share your insights and experiences by emailing [email protected]

Sarah and Debbie kickstart 2023 with an episode exploring how to maintain recovery momentum in the face of ‘new year, new you’ dialogue and a world obsessed with January self-improvement.

Our hosts share insights into how they managed to downplay the cultural narrative in new year periods throughout their recovery, and offer timely advice for parents and carers seeking to help loved ones move forward over the coming 12 months.

If you’d like to share updates about your own personal progress and triumphs throughout 2022, and perhaps your intentions for 2023, please contact us.

Email to [email protected]

In this episode, Debbie checks in with Pippa, who we’ve previously featured on the podcast in a candid chat about her own journey with an eating disorder.

Here, she chats about how she’s been reshaping her life, rediscovering passions, remaining vigilant, and even managing to safely and successfully return to a level of exercise which brings her joy without compulsion.

We also talk about the valuable ‘life learnings’ which come from eating disorder recovery (like how to manage everyday anxieties and self doubt), and dip into the issues surrounding Christmas, family time, and the fears of others.

To share your comments or stories, email [email protected]