In part one of this two part episode, Lisa is joined by group coaching graduate, Rachel, a journalist from Australia. Together they explore the profound impact of her childhood experiences, societal pressures, and family dynamics on her body image and eating disorder.
Topics Include:
Societal Pressure
Body Image
Eating Disorders
[2:57] Lisa asks Rachel to introduce herself. Rachel introduces herself as a journalist living in Melbourne, Australia, originally from New Zealand, Rachel introduces herself as a journalist living in Melbourne, Australia, originally from New Zealand, who recently moved.
[4:23] Rachel discusses with Lisa how she remembers her mother would not join family meals due to lifelong dieting, which influenced her perception of food and family dynamics. Rachel shares how she would eat anything to please adults, associating adult foods with maturity and acceptance.
[13:47] Rachel describes becoming aware of other people’s body image issues around age 11, influenced by societal and familial attitudes towards weight and dieting. As well as learning about dieting from peers and their families, marking a shift in her awareness of body image and food. Rachel discusses how her sister’s weight loss journey and her mother’s support highlighted the importance of weight control in her family.
[22:22] Rachel shares with Lisa experiences with a surrogate grandmother who was very vocal about body shaming, which influenced their awareness of body image and judgment from a young age. Rachel describes using intelligence and academic success as a coping mechanism to avoid judgment and rejection in high school. Lisa and Rachel discuss how they both avoided engaging with body image issues in high school, using denial and focusing on academics as a way to cope with potential judgment.
[40:07] Rachel shares the impact of her parents’ divorce announcement at age 15, the move to Australia, and the feeling of needing to be the adult in the situation. Rachel talks about her strong attachment to her mother, feeling safe only when she was present, and the impact of her absence after moving to Australia. She recounts the abusive behavior of her stepfather, the pressure to please him, and the impact on the family dynamics.
[1:00:52] Rachel explains to Lisa how the need to please her stepfather and control her environment led to the development of an eating disorder. Rachel discusses the pressure to maintain weight loss after being noticed by others, leading to a cycle of excessive exercise and restricted eating as a form of control and security.
[1:06:39] Lisa and Rachel end part one of this episode by sharing personal experiences of how eating disorders provided a sense of control amidst chaos, comparing it to addiction, and the disconnect from physical sensations like hunger. They highlight the common misconception that people with eating disorders are aware of their physical state, explaining the mental disassociation from their bodies.
*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.
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