#91: Living with Chronic Illness in the Age of Wellness Culture

Chances are that either you -- or someone you love dearly -- has a chronic illness. As I've shared on the pod before, so much of my mental health conditions and disordered eating was driven and perpetuated by multiple chronic illnesses. And, perhaps not-so-ironically, disordered eating itself does a number on us both physically and psychologically, only worsening (if not creating) autoimmunity and other chronic health conditions.

This week, I'm speaking with a truly incredible woman (Lacey!) who was part of one of my group programs. Lacey speaks to her experience with Crohn's disease, the path to disordered eating, and the impact all of this has had on her relationship with her body. She talks us through the process of her own healing, and where she's going from here.

I can't wait for you to listen, because I know without a doubt that her story will resonate -- regardless of your own body story. Ultimately, we're all trying to figure out what it means to occupy a human body in a world that wants us to feel broken so that it can profit off of our shame, and the experience of chronic illness is no exception. 

Topics we cover include...

• Feeling abandoned by our body
• Crohn's disease and digestion
• How anti-fatness shows up in our homes as children
• The impact of Weight Watchers on our relationship with food
• Our mother's disordered eating and how it shapes our own
• Why diet culture targets those with chronic illness
• How Lacey's body changed through the ebb and flow of her illness
• What to do when our body feels out of control
• Food fear-mongering in the chronic illness space
• How chronic illness impacts our body image
• Identifying as a "picky eater"
• Feeling shame and anxiety over not wanting to eat certain "healthy" foods
• How trauma impacts our healing and embodiment

Resources mentioned:

Group program application

 

Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate

 

Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Patreon or on my website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast 

 

Social media:

• Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
• Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness

 

Group program:

Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching

 

Group membership:

Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group 

 

Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy

Podcast Editing by Brian Walters

This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe