Are you often sucked into the whirlwind of media stories and celebrity discussions about weight loss or diet routines? Can you protect your mind from the persuasions of the diet industry? Can you train yourself to let go of the prestige of celebrities and make your own way? In this podcast episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks about learning how to find your truth apart from the ED noise.

IN THIS PODCAST

  • Some voices are louder than others
  • Always think twice and do your research
  • Notice how you hear things about nutrition

Some voices are louder than others

Due to the prevalence of social media and modern society that idolizes people, certain people with certain views often have a huge platform that can reach millions of people. Their words and thoughts might never be checked, or even if they were, those checkers cannot correct everything that was said before someone believes it.
I do wonder if these people even know what kind of power they wield or [if they] even think about what consequences, positive or negative, that their words could have. (Dr. Castagnini)

Always think twice and do your research

There is so much fake news out there, especially because every person in the world can say whatever they want to say and if they are famous or well-known, it is often blindly followed by people that revere them. Whenever you hear something from a famous person, remember that they are first just a regular person like you, before fame.
The problem is that these people are suffering from eating disorders themselves and they just don’t know it … so this content that’s out there is extremely harmful and dangerous for someone who has an eating disorder. (Dr. Castagnini)
Fame shouldn’t give anyone an automatic platform but unfortunately, it does. Therefore, you need to always think twice and do your own research before you take something to heart.

Notice how you hear things about nutrition

Become mindful of how you listen to and understand people’s stories, advice, and ideas about nutrition. If someone shares their eating and exercising habits, do you immediately look at their body and think that you have to try their routine to look like them? Or do you hear lifestyle advice and can see that it is unsustainable and therefore would place you deeper into the diet culture trap?
I think that’s one way to really know that you’re free from your eating disorder: when someone else is talking about what they’re eating or doing on a daily basis and the thought of it sounds really restrictive … and not something you’d ever want to do again? Then that’s a clue. (Dr. Castagnini)
When you’re in your eating disorder, you want to learn more about how to “do” it. When you are healing, you prioritize your mental health with your physical health and you know that life fluctuates and changes, so you can empathize with yourself as your desires and needs shift.

USEFUL LINKS

MEET DR. CRISTINA CASTAGNINI

  I am a licensed Psychologist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. While I may have over 20 years of clinical experience, what I also have is the experience of having been a patient who had an eating disorder as well. One thing that I never had during all of my treatment was someone who could look me in the eye and honestly say to me "hey, I've been there. I understand". Going through treatment for an eating disorder is one of the hardest and scariest things to do. I remember being asked to do things that scared me. Things I now know ultimately helped me to get better. But, at the time, I had serious doubts and fears about it. If even one of my providers had been able to tell me "I know it's scary, but I had to go through that part too. Here's what will probably happen...." then perhaps I would not have gone in and out of treatment so many times. My own experience ultimately led me to specialize in treating eating disorders. I wanted to be the therapist I never had; the one who "got it". I will be giving you my perspective and information as an expert and clinician who has been treating patients for over 2 decades. But don't just take my word for it...keep listening to hear the truly informative insights and knowledge guest experts have to share. I am so happy you are here!

THANKS FOR LISTENING

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