Podcasts by Illuminating Anorexia
Anorexia and Eating Disorder Recovery Help with Health Professional, Author and Coach Michelle Sparkes
Further podcasts by Michelle Sparkes
Podcast on the topic Selbstverwirklichung
All episodes
The Father’s Love from 2023-09-11T03:43:02
Understanding and experiencing the Love of the Father* has been one of the most profound and significant keys to helping me overcome the fear and striving at the heart of my anorexia. Sinking the r...
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Your life is precious from 2023-04-09T11:32:30
Late last year I had a dream that brought home to me in a powerful way the preciousness of each individual life, and fuelled within me a desire to let every individual to know how precious they are...
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My Journey into Freedom–Part 2 from 2022-11-12T05:21:28
Freedom is a journey that has no end because it is a state of the heart more than anything else - and we can always be growing in our sense of inner peace and security. I am many years recovered fr...
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My Journey into Freedom–Part 1 from 2022-11-12T05:09:44
Freedom is a journey that has no end because it is a state of the heart more than anything else - and we can always be growing in our sense of inner peace and security. I am many years recovered fr...
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Hope for the Hopeless from 2022-03-27T10:42:38
Wherever you are, whatever space you find yourself in, may your heart be encouraged, you are not beyond hope, you are not beyond help. Nothing is impossible with the God who loves you. If you feel ...
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You can get free! from 2021-08-07T05:52:55
No matter how long you’ve been struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, you can get free of the attitudes and behaviours that keep you feeling stuck, hopeless and despairing. You ca...
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Recovery Conversation with Chelsea age 19 (Part 2 of 2) from 2021-07-31T22:46:37
Chelsea, 19, struggled with anorexia in her mid teens followed by a period of binge-eating and purging, which is not an uncommon experience in the recovery process from anorexia. In this podcast sh...
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Recovery Conversation with Chelsea, age 19 (Pt 1 of 2) from 2021-07-29T03:54:21
Chelsea, 19, struggled with anorexia in her mid teens followed by a period of binge-eating and purging, which is not an uncommon experience in the recovery process from anorexia. In this podcast sh...
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Recovery Conversation with Jeanne, age 51 from 2021-02-18T08:04:15
Jeanne, 51, has struggled with disordered eating for decades. In this podcast she talks with Michelle Sparkes about finding hope and freedom from behaviors she thought she would have to live with. ...
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Recovery Conversation with Freda, age 38 from 2021-01-31T06:06:02
Freda, 38, has struggled with anorexia and disordered eating for 19 years. In this podcast she talks about the process of finding freedom from the obsessive thoughts and rules that circumscribed he...
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Recovery conversation with Kate, age 42 from 2020-12-27T23:32:28
Kate is a 42 year old mother of two who struggled for decades with restrictive eating and over-exercise. In this podcast she talks with Michelle about discovering a sense of freedom that she says i...
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Spiritual Power–what to do when you feel driven by fear from 2020-12-16T03:03:49
The fear that drives us down the scales and into the self-destructive behaviours characteristic of anorexia and other eating disorders can grow into a terror that is difficult to articulate. I beli...
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Spiritual Power from 2020-02-27T21:35:06
I believe at the heart of an eating disorder lies a deep-seated hunger for acceptance and security. How we see our “self” and what we believe about our worth, value and entitlement (to life, nurtur...
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Comfort, peace&hope from 2020-01-06T03:09:36
Have you ever felt deeply distressed, inconsolable or highly anxious? Right now in my country we’re grappling with the devastating impact of catastrophic bushfires. Closer to home my dearly loved m...
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Warning…danger ahead! from 2019-04-09T08:17:43
I got caught in an ocean current on the weekend and it got me thinking how quickly we can go from being in control (“I’m okay”) to being out of control (“I’m in danger”). The slide from disordere...
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What to do when you’re paralysed by fear from 2019-03-15T06:55:01
Paralysing fear. Feeling stuck and terrified. Afraid to make a “wrong” decision; afraid to make any decision. Acute anxiety is a major feature of anorexia and something most of us will relate to in...
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Christmas reflection from 2018-12-21T07:50:08
When we are locked in the self hatred of the eating disorder ‘cage’ we need to experience ourselves as seen, known, understood, worthwhile, valuable, loved. Even when and especially in the midst of...
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Communicating when it’s difficult from 2018-12-12T01:24:17
When it comes to communicating around a difficult situation or personal challenge I find the following piece of wisdom most helpful.
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Help for Chronic and Enduring Anorexia from 2018-11-28T07:12:47
What do you say to two brave women now both in their 40s, struggling to stay ‘well enough’ to stay out of hospital after a long journey with anorexia, both traumatised by previous hospital admissio...
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How not to revert to bad habits from 2018-10-29T01:35:53
A listener requests help “not to revert back to old bad habits” and to learn to eat when hungry. Here are some thoughts. Feel free to email your questions to: michelle@michellesparkes.com
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The importance of compassion when you’re fearful from 2018-10-19T12:05:39
I recently asked people what their greatest challenge or concern was when it came to their struggle in the ED/DE landscape. One respondent asked how to combat her fear of gaining weight when she “k...
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Getting beneath the binge 2 from 2018-08-30T04:53:11
When we explore what’s going on inside us in the lead up to a binge it helps makes ‘sense’ of our behaviour; our bingeing feels less mindless and out of control; we can view our situation with more...
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Getting beneath the binge 1 from 2018-08-30T02:58:55
Bingeing isn’t just (or even mostly) about physical hunger, although if we’re not giving our body sufficient food on a regular basis we will certainly binge. Bingeing is primarily about emotional h...
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3 Pillars to Freedom from 2018-08-21T08:47:15
There are a number of things to embody and embrace (skills to learn, knowledge to apply) to get free from disordered eating behaviours and beliefs but at the heart of it all, I believe there are 3 ...
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Self and body esteem–how they connect from 2018-08-14T11:30:25
If embodying value is the first pillar to freedom from disordered eating; experiencing your body as home (not object) is the second…and they are intimately connected…listen here for more.
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What makes you valuable from 2018-08-13T00:13:54
Here are three things that can help you value yourself in ways that are life-affirming and health promoting: Understand your intrinsic worth and value Reflect on what you value in others Spend (mor...
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Why we binge and what we can do about it from 2018-08-01T09:23:28
We binge because we’re hungry –physically, emotionally, spiritually We binge because we’ve been restricting – possibly even starving ourselves – of nurture – physical and emotional We restrict beca...
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3 Keys for those who struggle from 2018-07-31T01:13:56
If you struggle with disordered eating, self and body concerns 3 key things you will need to recover a life worth living are compassion, curiosity and support. Listen here for more…
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3 Keys for Carers from 2018-07-29T03:23:53
Dear Carer you are a lifeline to the one you love. I know it can be tremendously challenging to watch someone you love restricting, starving, bingeing, purging or punishing their body. You KNOW the...
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Keeping it simple–when labels don’t help from 2018-07-23T11:46:09
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or discouraged by an eating disorder ‘label’ or diagnosis this podcast will help you see that you are not alone, unusual or beyond help…and if you need more encourag...
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A map (or model) to explain how eating disorders function from 2018-01-29T06:32:38
When pain comes our way it is natural to protect against it. And a very understandable way to protect against pain directed at the self or experienced within the self, is to try and control it. Foo...
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Illuminating Eating Disorder Recovery from 2018-01-27T05:21:55
Freedom from disordered eating comes as we cease food restrictions and nurture body and soul. The first step on our road to freedom requires that we SEE that our current disordered eating behaviour...
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The Father’s Hug from 2017-09-07T13:14:41
What happens when the drive for health becomes unhealthy? asks Jenny Brockie, host of SBS Insight, as she explores our nations “health obsession” with a roomful of people and three 20+ year olds st...
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Exploring the spiritual dimension in mental health from 2017-08-29T05:39:12
“Could it be that depression is not purely a physical sickness but a spiritual malaise?” asks Elizabeth Farrelly in her article, “Finding the black dog’s spiritual lead” (The Sydney Morning Herald,...
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Help for depression with Prof Ian Hickie AM from 2017-08-23T00:12:22
More than just feeling down, clinical depression is a serious mental health condition that affects the way people feel, think, and react to general daily activities, such as eating, sleeping, or wo...
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Hello Japan from 2017-06-15T13:07:59
Great to be back in the podcasting seat! I’ve been offline piloting the 4×4 Freedom Express and really enjoying the face to face interaction involved. I believe human connection is more needed now...
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Why I do what I do from 2017-05-25T06:08:52
I traveled through an eating disorder in my teen and early adult years (as illustrated) and lost ~ 15 years of my life spinning my wheels on the eating disorder treadmill because I couldn’t SEE wha...
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Why and how hospital helped from 2017-04-25T11:07:02
In the last episode I was saying that in my experience of anorexia prior to my hospital admission, I had become enmeshed, hyper-vigilant and ‘trigger-happy’ in my family environment. I was physical...
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Connections That Heal from 2017-04-22T22:29:25
When you have fallen for, and are isolated by the lie that you are not worthy or good enough you need to reach out…to connections that can affirm, nurture, and encourage YOU. It’s important to say ...
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To the young person struggling to accept yourself from 2017-04-10T00:44:07
Self and body acceptance go hand in glove. The message of EMBRACE may be a challenge for the young(er) person struggling with anorexia or ED because when we’re struggling in this space, our sense o...
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Embrace body diversity from 2017-04-05T08:23:37
Embrace is a wonderful documentary (film) that celebrates body shape, size, and ethnic diversity. The brainchild of Taryn Brumfitt, a wife and mother of 3 who almost went under the knife in her que...
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Coping with weight gain in anorexia 2 from 2017-03-19T22:03:18
Gaining weight from a low weight may be possible in an outpatient setting if a person is not critically unwell. If a person can make progress with the support of a doctor, dietician and therapist i...
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Coping with weight gain in anorexia 1 from 2017-03-17T21:35:18
To recover from anorexia a person will need to confront their fear of food and eating; their fear of getting fat and losing control. It’s a huge challenge because the semi-starvation diet of an ano...
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Helping young people navigate porn culture from 2017-03-14T04:36:27
“Pornified messages are bombarding our young people and giving them distorted ideas about their bodies, about relationships, and about sexuality,” says Melinda Tankard Reist, in this podcast interv...
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The problem with porn culture from 2017-03-06T22:09:55
Grace, a podcast listener asks, “Do you have any insight on the impacts of not only the media, but porn as well. For the folks in relationships (I am married, second time around) is it such an issu...
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Inspiring People: Kelly McJannett CEO Foodladder Eating Disorder Recovery Help from 2017-02-28T07:36:52
This series is designed to inspire you and help you dream again; to recover the hopes and aspirations deep inside you that may have got lost in your battle with an ED. When your eyes are cast down,...
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Help to fight the ED voice from 2017-02-25T02:35:48
When the ED voice (the bully in your head) is making it hard or impossible for you to take in the nurture you need to survive and thrive you need help. You need other people to come alongside you ...
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You deserve to eat Anorexia and Eating Disorder Help from 2017-02-24T19:00
When you’re fighting anorexia, you become afraid to eat. The terror of losing control and getting fat is REAL and is created by the eating disorder itself. I want to tell you, food is not your ene...
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Love Food with Julie Duffy Dillon RD Eating Disorder Help from 2017-02-21T08:20:48
A great chat with Julie Duffy Dillon RD, dietitian, writer, speaker and host of the popular Love Food podcast, covering everything from her approach in working with people affected by ED/DE, to pro...
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Get off the beaten track&recover your life - Eating Disorder Recovery from 2017-02-17T06:45:26
Have you ever found yourself on a backroad by mistake or design? It’s a great opportunity to discover things you would otherwise miss. When we come away from mainstream messages about our worth and...
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How to be media-smart&protect yourSELF from 2017-02-15T02:42:23
“Love is On”…says Revlon and the message is that your lovability is dependent on appearance. Don’t be sold a lie. More on this in this podcast. Gwen a podcast listener expressed her frustration at ...
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Confessions of a binge eater w/ Ryan Sheldon from 2017-02-12T07:34:28
Binge-eating is a common feature in the disordered eating landscape. Binge-Eating Disorder as a diagnosis affects around 3.5% women, 2% men and 1.6% adolescents. Today I speak with Ryan Sheldon, a ...
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New voices, hope&inspiration for you in 2017 Eating Disorder Help from 2017-02-08T01:14:18
As we move into 2017 I will be bringing new voices, ideas and inspiration to help you SEE and GET FREE from your ED – voices of people struggling with ED, voices of people who have recovered from E...
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Help when you do and don’t want it from 2017-01-31T01:03:36
AMBIVALENCE refers to the tug of war that exists inside us when we feel pulled in two directions. Perhaps we know that something is not quite right (or perhaps people around us are reflecting this ...
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Anchoring Self Worth 3 from 2017-01-27T20:30:28
Are you believing a lie about your worth and value? As you journey out of your eating disorder (or any life consuming/life controlling problem) you will “hit” some of the deeper (painful) self expe...
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Anchoring Self Worth 2 from 2017-01-25T12:54:33
To know our worth and value at a deep level sets us up to do life in ways that are health-promoting and life-affirming. In this podcast I explore how our self concept develops using the analogy of ...
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Anchoring Self Worth 1 from 2017-01-21T01:29:36
What we believe in our heart shapes the way we see and do life – which in turn shapes our experiences and beliefs. It can be a continuing circle for good, health and life promotion, or it can be a ...
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Self Esteem Vs Self Worth from 2017-01-18T08:10:38
Self Esteem Vs Self Worth. Are they different? How are they different? And what difference does that make? I believe they are different and that the difference is significant to our mental health a...
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A solid base of worth&value from 2017-01-11T06:33:52
Where we sit today (inside our skin; at home in our bodies) will be a reflection of our experiences – how we have internalised and processed our experiences and how these have shaped our beliefs, a...
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Still human and deserving of kindness from 2017-01-09T02:03:48
Louise, a podcast listener wrote in to say, “Thank you to this podcast for illustrating that people with eating disorders are still human and deserve to be treated kindly, still – thank you.” To b...
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New hope for a new day from 2017-01-03T08:12:52
I love the way newness (fresh hope and expectation) are woven into the very fabric of our existence in the natural world. We get a new day every 24 hours, a new season every 3 months and a new year...
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Key truths that take us forward in life 3 from 2016-12-28T23:06:06
My journey through anorexia, EDNOS and binge eating exposed the LIE that I needed to be perfect to be worthy and deserving of life. It may sound so obvious (we all know perfection is it is impossib...
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Key truths that take us forward in life 2 from 2016-12-27T23:30:29
In this podcast I explore the lie at the heart of an eating disorder – how it starts in seed form and develops over time, being reinforced by the food control ‘solution.’ I explore why I believe hu...
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Key truths that take us forward in life 1 from 2016-12-26T23:56:54
I believe there are a handful of key truths that (experienced) will take us forward into LIFE, and that are essential to the health and well-BEing of every person. These truths relate to our core ...
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Chosen, choice, cherished – YOU! from 2016-12-24T13:14:33
It’s Christmas Eve and I’m mindful that this can be a challenging time for people depending on where they sit in their relationships with family and friends. Regardless of your circumstances or em...
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“Eating Disorders are (?not) a choice” from 2016-12-23T23:17:03
“Eating Disorders are not a choice” is a half truth that is unhelpful because it suggests that a person is powerless to get free from their ED. Nothing could be further from the truth. No one and n...
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(Re)establishing your worth and value from 2016-12-23T10:00:41
How do you re-establish your sense of worth and value when you don’t believe you deserve (or are entitled) to these things? The eating disorder lie that says you are not good enough/not worthy/don’...
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Overcoming the lie‘you’re not good enough’ from 2016-12-20T08:51:10
Anorexia and other eating disorders reflect a hunger for life – a hunger to know oneself as loved, worthwhile, of value, and to feel secure within. This may surprise you because you may know someon...
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Eating Disorders are not a mystery from 2016-12-19T08:31:55
Eating disorders are not a mystery. They reflect a way of dealing with emotional pain; pain in the heart or core “self.” You are not WRONG. Your hunger is not wrong, but because it’s origin is emo...
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How magazines lie to you about your value from 2016-11-30T06:08:28
Have you ever felt awful about yourself after flicking through a glossy fashion or beauty mag? You’re not alone. Oskar T Brand analysed the content of an Elle and Cosmospolitan magazine and found t...
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EDs morph but core needs remain EDs morph but core needs remain from 2016-11-27T09:14:43
My ED shifted from anorexia to EDNOS to binge-eating, but the core truth I needed to know and experience at a deep gut level at EVERY stage of my ED was that I had worth and value as a person irres...
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Your recovery, like life, will be a journey. from 2016-11-24T08:39:43
Your future is in front of you and is being shaped by your present. If you’re struggling with disordered eating in your present and you don’t want to carry this into your future you will need help ...
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Step into your future; deal with your past Step into your future; deal with your past from 2016-11-19T08:09:29
Your future is in front of you and it is being created right NOW in your present. Sometimes we want our future to look different but we haven’t let go of our past. Life is a journey for all of us, ...
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The value of an ‘enlightened witness’ from 2016-11-16T06:24:36
In the last episode I said that changing core beliefs requires more than just challenging our thinking. We need an encounter with truth that is experiential, life-affirming, full of grace and trans...
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Beyond thinking, transforming core beliefs from 2016-11-15T11:27:42
In the last few episodes I’ve been speaking about capturing and challenging unhelpful thinking. This is an important tool in getting free from disordered eating but it’s not the whole story. Our th...
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How to challenge your thinking when you don’t like how you look from 2016-11-08T05:35:02
Have you ever felt so awful about the way you look you’ve stayed at home rather than going out with friends only to end up feeling worse about yourSELF and comfort-eating? Let’s use the ABC to catc...
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When looking hot and sexy hurts from 2016-11-04T12:37:12
It’s 11.00pm on a Friday night. A bevy of gorgeous young girls pass me wearing the accoutrements of our popular culture. Tight jeans on long slim legs, high heels with teeny tiny mini skirts and ti...
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How to challenge your thinking when you lose control from 2016-11-04T06:43:51
Have you ever found yourself reaching for food, comfort eating or bingeing like you’re on autopilot? Before you know it you’ve gone down a track you never intended and it’s not until you stop eatin...
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The ABC of thinking more helpfully from 2016-11-01T04:49:25
Albert Ellis developed a simple ABC framework in the late 1950s to help us “think about our thinking” and to capture the unhelpful thoughts or statements we often say to ourselves with little aware...
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Tracks and pathways in our thinking from 2016-11-01T01:24:30
If you’ve ever walked in the bush you will have noticed that some tracks are easier to walk down than others because they are well-formed, usually the result of plenty of traffic or use. It’s the s...
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The power of perspective from 2016-10-31T07:02:01
If you’re in a tight space, a small space, or a tired space right now, do you know how to shift that? One of the simplest and best ways I know to do this is to STOP what I am doing and shift my SEL...
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Beating Anorexia from 2016-10-16T02:35:36
The reason I’m so heated about worth, value and security is because a revelation and experience of these foundational truths deep in your soul will set you free from the lies at the heart of anorex...
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Key spiritual foundations from 2016-10-14T09:12:09
The 4th component of each of the 4 keys (in the 4×4 Freedom Express) is a spiritual component and I believe it’s foundational to getting whole and FREE in any area of life. I adopt a Christian worl...
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Why VISION is the master key to get FREE from 2016-10-08T07:19:11
Vision is the master key to get FREE from anorexia&eating disorder concerns because unless you can SEE where you are relative to where you want to be, chances are you won’t get to your destination....
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Eating Disorder Recovery–simple but not easy from 2016-10-04T22:28:55
Ever tried to get somewhere you’ve never been before without a map? Difficult isn’t it. But with a map, things become clear, you can spot the dead-ends and plot the most direct route to your destin...
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Questions about eating disorder recovery from 2016-10-04T10:28:29
If you have a question, you can be confident others have that question too, and the answer to your question can help someone else. I love this concept. It makes this platform infinitely helpful. I...
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Freedom or bondage–moving forward from 2016-09-29T22:26:36
Freedom is a journey that has no end because it is a state of the heart more than anything else – and one can always be growing in one’s sense of inner peace and security. Bondage on the other hand...
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Freedom or bondage–where are you in your ED journey? from 2016-09-29T08:26:21
When I think of an eating disorder I think of a small, tight place – a place of confinement or bondage – where one feels driven and constrained; where there is little joy, light, peace or hope. Whe...
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Self acceptance is key to body acceptance from 2016-09-24T13:17:05
I believe body acceptance reflects self acceptance; that how we feel towards, think and value our “selves” is the key to how we treat our bodies. I also acknowledge that social and cultural values ...
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Body acceptance in an age of enhancement from 2016-09-22T12:18:11
Real bodies are real beautiful because they house real people inside. But in a landscape of digitally and physically enhanced bodies, how do we determine where the lines and healthy boundaries are ...
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Real bodies are real beautiful from 2016-09-18T12:45:44
I did a life drawing studio recently and was impressed by how well this experience translated into a deeper appreciation of how beautiful a “real” body is – it doesn’t need to be air-brushed, pumpe...
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Recovery is not quick or easy but worth it from 2016-09-16T07:56:23
When I speak about the 4×4 Freedom Express I’m not suggesting that recovery is quick or easy. I don’t believe it is. I do believe it can be a wonderful journey however and I AM suggesting there is ...
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ALL STOPS train or Freedom Express? from 2016-09-12T10:43:13
If you’ve ever taken an ALL STOPS train or bus to get to your destination you will know it takes forever and stops at places enroute you have no need or desire to visit…all of which takes precious ...
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Message to a 13yo girl with anorexia from 2016-09-07T07:01:20
I started this podcast on a roll about freedom but I got sidetracked by a conversation with a mum who was concerned about her 13-year-old daughter with anorexia and the treatment approach that was ...
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Free to be yourSELF from 2016-09-07T07:00:47
I love this quote by John Eldridge, “Let people feel the weight of who you are and let them deal with it.” It fits so well with the premise of Women Worth their Weight and the Freedom Express. I b...
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Journey into freedom from 2016-09-07T06:58:08
I believe the journey out of bondage into freedom requires a whole person approach. It’s not enough to focus on food or regular eating although that is very important. In my own journey from restri...
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Articulating the Anorectic Struggle from 2016-09-07T01:21:41
When we’re in the midst of anorexia it is very difficult to articulate the struggle we experience within. Our behaviour towards food and body reflect our inner experience (and are highly expressive...
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Restricting Anorexia and the tightening treadmill from 2016-09-06T03:56:50
Picking up from the last podcast (Why I differentiate Anorexia from other Eating Disorders), I want to now illuminate the experience of restricting anorexia, the tightening treadmill (see also Trea...
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Why I differentiate Anorexia from other Eating Disorders from 2016-09-06T02:40:10
The reason I differentiate anorexia from other eating disorders is because there are two sub-types of anorexia – a restricting sub-type and a binge-eating/purging sub type. Understanding the differ...
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Free to be loved from 2016-08-24T04:22:58
Free to be wrong and free to be loved…woohoo! Bring on the freedom. This is a continuation of the previous post. Amazing, wonderful, mysterious, sublime how the realities of life, the vulnerability...
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Free to be wrong from 2016-08-23T07:16:29
One of the most liberating experiences of my life is to know and accept my frail, flawed, finite humanity. It reads like a misprint doesn’t it? As human beings we often spend much of our lives ‘pro...
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Beating the Bully pt 2 from 2016-08-16T05:33:16
This is a brief addendum to the episode on Beating the bully in your head. When I said get out of the environment (change your perspective) and get going (release some of the energy bound up in the...
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Losing perfectionism from 2016-08-16T03:17:25
I love this play on words. I use it deliberately. Perfectionism is a losing game. The more you chase perfectionism the more it will elude you. You will find yourself chasing your tail and getting w...
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Beating the bully in your head from 2016-08-15T05:46:56
Have you ever found yourself getting beaten up by the bully in your head? Most people are familiar with this experience. It’s good to know how your bully operates. After five days cooped up at home...
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Emotional Nurture for Anorexia from 2016-08-07T03:46:47
I just listened to an interview on Hack radio regarding ‘Treating Anorexia.’ Canadian professor Louis Charland (?spelling), Philosopher of Science and Bioethicist, was speaking with Sarah McFee abo...
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Getting Help When You’re in a Healthy Weight Range from 2016-08-03T13:17:18
I was speaking with a young lady last night and it reminded me that when you’re in a healthy weight range it can be difficult for others to recognise that you are struggling with an eating disorder...
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Building resilience in our kids&young people from 2016-07-31T05:55:27
I was reading a newspaper article this morning about the doubling rates of anorexia in young people under 14 years of age in the UK. We have similar figures in Australia. I thought I’d share some t...
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The power of gratitude from 2016-07-30T00:28:44
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by bad news and challenging life circumstances? I’m sure we all have. When wave after wave crashes in on your world or ebbs away at you over a long season it can make...
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Anchoring our security in troubled times from 2016-07-28T11:09:53
Following on from the last episode (where I spoke about some of the factors I believe are giving rise to the increasing prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating in our communities), I w...
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Why Eating Disorders are on the rise from 2016-07-28T10:43:59
Two unrelated articles stirred my mind this week. One by journalist Brian McNair from University of Technology Queensland, about “terror going viral” where he explores some of the downside of our i...
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Supercharged support to get free from ED mindset from 2016-07-17T12:06:53
The most powerful truth I know to help you get FREE from an eating disorder is to know (by experience) that you are loved, desired, of inestimable worth, chosen. You may never have experienced thes...
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How to get free from the ED mindset from 2016-07-17T11:56:34
A young lady wrote in to ask how she could get free from the ED mindset. This was my response. You can watch it on YouTube where I refer to the model I created to help explain the ED ‘solution’ to ...
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Get unstuck from your ED with a Map&4 Keys! from 2016-07-11T11:41:14
Have you ever felt like you would NEVER be free from your eating disorder or disordered eating experience? Have you ever wondered, "How on earth did I get stuck in this place where thoughts of food...
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Soul Food Alert!!! from 2016-06-19T00:05:06
Have you ever watched something you wished you had not? I had this experience recently. It was a reminder that I need to be discerning about what I “let in” to my inner world via my eyes and ears. ...
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Getting Support (Pt 2 of 2) from 2016-06-16T12:58:19
Pt 2 in a 2 part series originally shot on video and available on my YouTube channel. Recovering from an eating disorder requires (re) connecting with your self, your body and other people in healt...
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Getting Support (Pt 1 of 2) from 2016-06-13T12:58:10
Recovering from an eating disorder requires (re) connecting with our self, our body and other people in healthy ways. You will need support. We all do. It’s part of being human. Reaching out is not...
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Mayday! You can help from 2016-06-09T13:35:10
In May this year the Butterfly Foundation put out a “Mayday” call seeking to raise awareness and support for those suffering with eating disorders in Australia. They estimate there are now 1 millio...
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Spiritual help for Anorexia&Eating Disorder recovery pt 2 from 2016-05-31T10:06:08
When you’re battling the lies, self rejection and self destructive behaviours that come with an eating disorder you need natural and super-natural (spiritual) help to overcome them. I’m talking abo...
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Spiritual help for Anorexia&Eating Disorder recovery from 2016-05-29T12:54:13
When you’re battling the lies, self rejection and self destructive behaviours that come with an eating disorder you need natural and super-natural (spiritual) help to overcome them. I’m talking abo...
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Growing battle with the‘binger’ from 2016-05-27T22:30:57
I was an outpatient at Rivendell for two months before being admitted as an inpatient. The most significant development of this outpatient period was that my bingeing intensified. At the time I had...
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Escalating Conflict pt 2–how the eating disorder voices develop from 2016-05-26T11:28:37
Part 2 in a series describing the escalating conflict and development of ‘voices’ I experienced as my anorexia progressed and my eating disorder “solution” became increasingly untenable. I knew I n...
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What helps you from 2016-05-26T09:48:31
I recently uploaded “Escalating Conflict” – a chapter from my book describing the period when, after a few years on the restrictive path I clearly recognised my food control ‘solution’ was no longe...
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Escalating conflict pt 1–how the eating disorder voices develop from 2016-05-23T23:28:14
Have you ever wondered about the voices a person with anorexia experiences? Escalating Conflict describes the growing conflict and development of ‘voices’ I experienced as my journey down the scale...
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Understanding and dealing with the numbers from 2016-05-22T03:25:58
When I first published Illuminating anorexia in 2011 I didn’t think it would be possible to tell the story of a long and complicated eating disorder without some reference to numbers, but then I me...
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A map (or model) to help you SEE why the ED solution to the problem of pain doesn’t work from 2016-05-18T11:51:02
If you struggle with an eating disorder (ED) or disordered eating (DE) experience, the map (model) I developed in the late 90s will help you SEE why you struggle and what you can do about it. The E...
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Snapshot of a problem from 2016-05-10T09:10:02
This podcast explains why I wrote ‘Illuminating Anorexia’ and describes the first time I recognised that my dieting had “gotten out of control.” It was a wake up call, and yet it would be another y...
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Eating Disorders 101 Radio Interview (pre DSMV) from 2016-05-04T10:11:11
This is a radio interview I did with Hamish and Emma on The Dip (94.5FM) prior to the relase of the DSMV. It covers some general info about eating disorders, definitions and differences, media infl...
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Scratching the surface pt 3 from 2016-05-01T01:42:38
Originally shot as video and available on YouTube, this is the audio from the final instalment of a 3 part series exploring the precipitating factors that can lead into the development of an eating...
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Scratching the surface pt 2 from 2016-04-28T09:25:45
Originally shot as video and available on YouTube, this is the audio from part 2 of a 3 part series exploring the precipitating factors that can lead into the development of an eating disorder. I d...
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Scratching the surface–pt 1 from 2016-04-26T13:11:07
Originally shot as video and available on YouTube, this is the audio from part 1 of a 3 part series exploring the precipitating factors that can lead into the development of an eating disorder. I d...
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Recovery Key 4 Take Action from 2016-04-23T07:09:48
KEY 4 The fourth key to get FREE from an eating disorder (ED) is to take action. The preceding three keys have been preparing you to get to this point where the real “work” of recovery begins. Ther...
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Recovery Key 3 Take Inventory from 2016-04-21T07:04:44
KEY 3 The third key to get FREE from an eating disorder (ED) is to take inventory of where you are at right now. Don’t change a thing. I suggest you use a simple food diary for a week to become awa...
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Recovery Key 2 Make A Decision from 2016-04-19T06:59:49
KEY 2 The second key to get FREE from an eating disorder (ED) is to make a decision to stop spinning your wheels by ceasing to engage in ED behaviours (restricting, purging and overexercising). Thi...
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Recovery Key 1 Adjust Your Vision from 2016-04-16T06:33:24
KEY 1 The first key to get FREE from an eating disorder (ED) is to adjust your vision and SEE that your destination is not to be stuck on the ED treadmill, spinning your wheels, losing health, oppo...
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Recovery Keys–Introduction from 2016-04-12T06:26:09
When I travelled through anorexia, EDNOS and binge-eating as a teen and young adult, I felt like if I could just “get above” the problem maybe I could see a way out of it. As it was, I felt stuck ...
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You are not your body (Podcast&YouTube) from 2016-04-10T10:21:20
You are not your Body. Your body is your home. In an image saturated culture it’s good to be reminded that your worth and value as a person do not depend on your physical size, shape or appearance....
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Going Deeper to fight the lies&despair 2 from 2016-03-27T09:45:23
Over Easter I joined the chat on a wonderful pro-recovery FB group (Anorexia, Bulimia and EDNOS Recovery Support Group) – and was very stirred by the despair I heard in one young lady, Megan B. I r...
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Going Deeper to fight the lies&despair 1 from 2016-03-26T09:37:31
Over Easter I joined the chat on a wonderful pro-recovery FB group (Anorexia, Bulimia and EDNOS Recovery Support Group) – and was very stirred by the despair I heard in one young lady, Megan B. I r...
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Going deeper to recover your joy&vision for life 2 from 2016-03-18T09:29:54
When you’re in the ED space it’s not easy to tap into your joy and ‘feed’ your soul. To fight the critical, bullying ED voice, you need to nurture your soul and the healthy part of you that says, “...
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Going deeper to recover your joy&vision for life 1 from 2016-03-15T10:46:16
When you’re in the ED space it’s not easy to tap into your joy and ‘feed’ your soul. To fight the critical, bullying ED voice, you need to nurture your soul and the healthy part of you that says, “...
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Tap Into Your Joy from 2016-03-11T06:51:34
Whatever kind of day you’ve had, and especially if it’s been a tough day for you, I want to encourage you to tap into your joy. This is such an important key to help you get off the ED treadmill an...
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To mums&dads&those who care from 2016-02-29T23:24:18
My parents and I travelled through anorexia&EDNOS in the ‘dark ages’ (late 70s/early 80s) and it made the journey so very tough. It’s one of the reasons I do what I do in this arena. And while ther...
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The eating disorder landscape 2 from 2016-02-20T23:08:44
Any BODY at any WEIGHT can have a (classifiable) eating disorder. Many more people struggle ‘under the radar’ with eating, self&body issues that don’t fit the diagnostic criteria. These ‘life consu...
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The eating disorder landscape 1 from 2016-02-19T22:49:05
Any BODY at any WEIGHT can have a (classifiable) eating disorder. Many more people struggle ‘under the radar’ with eating, self&body issues that don’t fit the diagnostic criteria. These ‘life consu...
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To the person struggling with anorexia from 2016-02-13T22:36:37
I want to speak directly to the person struggling with anorexia. When we begin on this (restrictive) path, we usually feel pretty good about things, better about our ‘self,’ more competent and in c...
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Why I’m doing this podcast from 2016-02-12T21:58:04
I believe illumination is the key and first step on the path to recovery because until we can see the nature of the battle in which we are engaged we will not be in a position to consider our alter...
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