Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? What does the journey look like of someone who has overcome PCOS and had children? How can you make the shift and “break up” with your eating disorder? In this podcast episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with Julie about her struggles with PCOS and struggling with an eating disorder.

IN THIS PODCAST

  • Breaking the relationship with an eating disorder
  • PCOS is treatable

Breaking the relationship with an eating disorder

For many people who struggle with eating disorders, they can become loud voices in the mind that drown out any possibility of seeking help to keep you on their path. They convince you that you need to do certain things to lose weight or to be accepted or deemed attractive and they keep you in their grip under the guise of pretending to care for your health. Sometimes when people with eating disorders are called out on them or are offered assistance from family members or loved ones, they pull away to maintain the relationship with the eating disorder because it has become big enough to overwhelm your perception of what people are trying to do. Breaking up with your eating disorder is a long but incredibly rewarding process, where you begin to shut down the disordered thoughts and reclaim control over your body and your health. Making the choice to put yourself into recovery and treatment is the first major step in reconnecting with your power and your strength.

PCOS is treatable

With this recent medicine and a fuller band of knowledge, women who are diagnosed with PCOS have increasingly higher chances of being able to have children with their partners. With a good fertility doctor and support from loved ones, you can treat your PCOS and live a full life.
If you’re pregnant and you have an eating disorder, having a good support staff is really important. (Julie)
It is important that healthcare providers however expand their education constantly to be aware of how even a shorthanded comment could greatly affect someone who is silently suffering from an eating disorder.

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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