Real Recovery Podcast

Real Recovery Podcast

By Eating Disorder RecoveryHealth & FitnessMental Health
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Real Recovery Podcast episodes

  • How to Ditch the 'Anorexic' Identity...
    Identifying as 'anorexic' makes all aspects of recovery feel WRONG and BAD. Gaining weight, eating more food, eating fear foods, grappling with hunger cues etc...; all of this is NECESSARY, yet can cause immense guilt and shame because it clashes with our self-perception. It can make us feel like we are 'failing' at starvation (for example), but that feeling is only there because your 'anorexic' sense of self has been in control. It's time to change that...
    In today's episode I share my best tips for weakening the anorexic identity. I hope it helps!
    Part 1/3 of my 'identity' mini series...
    Thanks so much for listening! 
    If you find the ⁠Real Recovery Podcast⁠ helpful, please rate & review because it helps more people find it!
    Instagram: @⁠realrecoveryuk ⁠and ⁠@realrecoverypodcast⁠
    Website: ⁠www.realrecovery.co.uk⁠
    Etsy: ⁠RealRecoveryUK⁠
    accompanying blog article: https://realrecovery.co.uk/blog-articles/f/how-to-ditch-the-anorexic-identity
    26 min
  • How to Improve Body-Image in Anorexia Recovery...
    7 practical & effective strategies for improving body image....
    In today's episode I share how I managed to do a complete 180...I always struggled with body insecurities, and this turned into terrible self-hatred & punishment of my body during the worst of my anorexia. Now, I rarely experience 'bad body image days', and when I do, it doesn't have the same emotional toll. It doesn't consume my day or impact my sense of self worth.
    It's a great place to be, and its possible for you too! You do no need to settle for a life of body-hate. Recovery and weight gain can be hard in so many ways- body image is just one of them. Eating disorders are more complex than body-fixations or insecurities. The extreme nature of body image struggles in ed recovery are often manifestations of other emotions driven by the disorder. But I hope this episode gives you some practical tips for improving your self-image & confidence!
    Overview...
    intro & my experience w body image struggles
    tip 1: viewing bad body image as a symptom & regulating emotions
    tip 2: thought-blocking
    tip 3: building self-respect & trust
    tip 4: stop body-checking
    tip 5: 'fake it till you make it'
    tip 6: self-talk is key
    tip 7: take away discomfort & enhance other elements of your appearance
    sharing your tips!
    outro
    Thanks so much for listening! If you find the ⁠Real Recovery Podcast⁠ helpful, please rate & review because it helps more people find it xx
    Socials:
    Instagram: @⁠realrecoveryuk ⁠and ⁠@realrecoverypodcast⁠
    Website: ⁠www.realrecovery.co.uk⁠
    Etsy: ⁠RealRecoveryUK⁠
    39 min
  • Purging, Shame, & all things Recovery ...*unfiltered* interview with therapist Scarlett O'Connor.

    Qualified therapist Scarlett O’Connor recovered from 25 YEARS of severe eating disorders. Now she devotes her life to helping others do the same. In today's episode we shed light on binging, purging, and ED behaviours that are not spoken about. Scarlet shares details of her first steps into recovery almost 10 years ago including...how she battled excruciating binge/purge urges, the terrifying sensation of food in the stomach, and what it felt like to experience emotions after decades of suppression. & SO MUCH MORE!

    Scarlett answers a listener question at the end so stay tuned...

    Overview of the questions I asked....

    1. How did you eventually open up and get help?
    2. What do you think about professionals who judge patients on their weight and perhaps overlook binge/ purge symptoms?
    3. Why do you not focus too much on underlying trauma/ stressors with your clients in therapy?
    4. What kind of practical coping skills do you recommend for bulimia?
    5. EDs end up feeling safe and encourage denial (e.g. 'I'm not sick enough')...How did you overcome this?
    6. What do you wish people understood about purging?
    7. What’s your opinion on people sharing exercise online, and people being triggered by it?
    8. What are your thoughts on men with EDs & the added stigma attached?
    9. What's your opinion on diagnostic criteria and fitting people into 'boxes'?
    10. Is there a magic pill for recovery?
    11. What did you find most difficult in recovery?
    12. Were there slip-ups or could you just quit behaviors ‘cold turkey’?
    13. How to begin intuitive eating; differentiating between hunger cues and binge urges?


      14. You can find Scarlett here...

      https://scarlettoconnor.coach/
      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090001192996
      https://www.linkedin.com/in/scarlett-o%E2%80%99connor-53ba3a265

      Please rate, review, and share this episode if you found it helpful, as it will help me reach more people! Thank you so much for listening.

      You can message me, request a topic for a future episode or ask questions here....

      • instagram ~ @realrecoverypodcast and @realrecoveryuk
      • website~ www.realrecovery.co.uk
        • 1 hr 7 min
      • Number Perfectionism... how to increase your intake/ weight above those scary numbers??

        7 strategies to deal with the 'upper limit' problem surrounding calories, weight, exercise & more. If you find it impossible to restore weight past a certain number, increase your intake above a certain number of calories, or overcome obsessive step counting, this episode is for you!


        Limiting yourself to 'safe' numbers can hold you back in recovery from anorexia. Sticking to minimums will keep you trapped! Clinging to disordered (and arbitrary) numbers surrounding weight, food, and exercise will keep you suffering. In today's episode I share how I managed to overcome this type of perfectionism and rigidity.


        Overview...

        For the first 20 mins (roughly) i talk about:

        • why this happens
        • why it's a problem
        • my own experience

          • The rest of the episode i present the 7 methods for overcoming this mental barrier surrounding numbers...

          1. Remove counting methods
          2. Journal about the underlying fears
          3. Understand that you get to set the bar
          4. Journal exercise #2 -Worst case scenario planning
          5. Make it deliberate
          6. Visualisation + nervous system control
          7. Reassure yourself/ reminders


            8. Thanks so much for listening! If you find the Real Recovery Podcast helpful, please rate & review because it helps more people find it xx

            Socials:

            Instagram: @realrecoveryuk and @realrecoverypodcast

            Website: www.realrecovery.co.uk

            Etsy: RealRecoveryUK

            1 hr
          8. Comparison is keeping you trapped... (anorexia recovery)

            Do you compare yourself to other people with Anorexia? In today's episode, I address one of the MOST COMMON questions I get asked...'How do I stop being triggered by other people? How do I stop comparing myself????'...

            Comparison is a natural human instinct, but when it comes to eating disorders, it can fuel toxic competition, invalidation, and lead to people delaying recovery due to them 'not feeling sick enough'. But you can overcome this kind of thinking!

            I discuss the 3 main points of problematic comparison* that get brought up most by you guys; and then, of course, I give SOLUTIONS and ways to reframe each negative, invalidating thought.

            1. Comparison of body weight.
            2. Comparison of ED behaviours.
            3. Comparison of physical symptoms/ medical treatment.

              4. Not everyone with an ED will relate to this episode and that's okay! this is for the people who DO struggle with this particular type of comparison and want to overcome it.

              Thanks so much for listening! If you find the Real Recovery Podcast helpful, please rate & review because it helps more people find it xx

              If you want to read my blog article about this episode (Comparison & Competition within Anorexia Nervosa. How to stop?), click the link.

              Socials:

              Instagram: @realrecoveryuk and @realrecoverypodcast

              Website: www.realrecovery.co.uk

              Etsy: RealRecoveryUK

              * I am specifically covering the problem of comparison within individuals with Anorexia- not comparison in general.


              26 min
            4. Letting go of Anorexia

              A practical guide for 'letting go' of your eating disorder.


              In today's episode I take you through how I managed to let go of Anorexia's rules and allow myself to move forward in recovery.

              overview:


              - I breakdown of 6 my personal reasons why I 'needed' my ED to cope.

              - I share the alternative strategies I discovered to meet each need, therefore, aiding me in 'letting go'.

              This episode focuses on the role eating disorders play in 'helping' a person COPE and meet their EMOTIONAL NEEDS. I revisit one of the most important journaling exercises that I used during early recovery, where I unpacked the reasons why I felt I 'needed' my eating disorder. After doing this, I was able to find alternative methods of coping, meaning I was finally able to release a certain part of my ED. This made my life a lot easier. I share all this & more in the episode. I hope you find it helpful or interesting.


              As always, please take this as a friendly chat, rather than medical advice. Thanks to everyone who listened!

              Rate & review to help this podcast get noticed by the algorithms xxx

              Send me any questions, episode requests, comments, etc..

              • instagram - @realrecoveryuk
              • etsy (worksheets + ed recovery resources)- RealRecoveryUK
              • website/ blog- www.realrecovery.co.uk

                • lots of love xx

                -



                29 min
              • Gaining weight but not mentally recovering?...

                'I've gained weight but I dont feel better mentally. What do I do???'... I get asked this question so often! You are not alone if you are struggling with this in recovery from anorexia, or any eating disorder that involves weight restoration.

                In today's episode I take you through WHY this can happen, and give you ACTION STEPS to take to help you get unstuck.

                This experience is emotionally difficult and can cause extra feelings of invladiation and guilt. It can also cause your fear of weight gain to increase, and your motivation to recover to decrease. Which is horrible! So i hope this episode helps you take a different perspective, and gives you some tools to deal with this particular issue in ED recovery.

                If you want to send me a message, ask a question, or request a topic for the next episode, feel free to email me or DM me. Links below...

                • instagram: @realrecoveryuk
                • etsy: @RealRecoveryUK

                  • 45 min
                • Low Mood in ED Recovery? (mindset, coping skills, tips)

                  Listen until the middle/ end for the best tips! (I start this episode with the more obvious/ basic tips for improving your mood.)

                  Today's episode is about how to cope with low mood in eating disorder recovery. I really enjoyed talking about this topic and sharing how I successfully help my mood day-to-day. This episode is NOT targeting people with clinical depression (although some tips may be relevant). I go into this more in the episode as there is a difference between depressive disorders and low mood, and I do not want to invalidate anybody.

                  A summary of my tips for coping with low mood….

                  • address vitamin deficiencies/ basic physical health
                  • a tidy room (and how to actually do this!)
                  • Routines, to-do lists, and dopamine.
                  • Achievements and easy goals.
                  • take a break from social media.
                  • change your scenery.
                  • social connection.
                  • music.
                  • childhood comforts.
                  • nature/ greenery.
                  • address genuine problems in your life and solve issues.
                  • become good at self-compassion.
                  • Allowing the time of low mood and not forcing it away. Doing low-energy things and giving yourself time for contemplation. Long-term stuff.
                  • ‘Glow-up’
                  • journalling
                  • medication
                  • visualizing your adult/ child self.

                    • Thank you for listening! If you want to help more people to find this podcast, please rate & review it.

                    For recovery resources (worksheets etc…) check my Etsy; RealRecoveryUK

                    Find me on Instagram @realrecoveryuk

                    1 hr
                  • TikTok is harming your recovery...

                    Okay but hear me out...

                    In this episode I discuss my thoughts about TikTok and the effect it can have on people with eating disorders. I cover...

                    • the mental illness bubble tiktok creates 
                    • beauty standards & comparison
                    • the glamorisation of eating disorders 
                    • the dangers of being a recovery/ ed content creator
                    • the focus on 'extreme' bodies & how this fuels 'not sick enough' thoughts.
                    • WIEIAD and FDOE videos
                    • the general mental health consequences of TikTok 

                      • I hope you find this episode interesting! I would love to know your thoughts about this topic too. 

                      You can find me on Instagram @realrecoveryuk

                      43 min
                    • Guilt in Anorexia Recovery

                      LISTEN UNTIL THE END for the best piece of advice!! 

                      In today's episode I offer 8 of my best practical tips for managing guilt in eating disorder recovery. This episode could help you if you struggle with negative emotions (guilt & shame) after eating certain foods, resting, or gaining weight. 

                      1. Visible reminders 
                      2. Understand guilt as a symptom 
                      3. Focus on the positives of the food/ behaviour
                      4. Have a 'worst case scenario' plan
                      5. Compassion towards yourself 
                      6. Remove physical discomfort 
                      7. Journaling (+ prompts)
                      8. Make active decisions and turn failure into success. 

                        9. Thanks for listening! 

                        Instagram= @realrecoveryuk 

                        29 min

                      About Real Recovery Podcast

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Practical tips and advice for eating disorder recovery. Brought to you by someone recovering from anorexia, and can understand what you're going through.