Vicky Pattison, TV personality, podcaster, and author, talks with Fearne Cotton at the Happy Place Festival about parenting her alcoholic dad and reevaluating her own relationship with alcohol. They also discuss social anxiety, PMDD, cultivating a positive body image, and the idea of taking risks and seizing opportunities. Vicky encourages listeners to embrace self-acceptance and avoid comparing themselves to others on social media.
Embrace the present and take risks for happiness instead of waiting for a 'when-if' moment.
Addressing difficult conversations can lead to growth and understanding in interpersonal relationships.
Deep dives
Importance of Self-Compassion and Embracing Change
Vicki Paterson emphasizes the necessity of showing compassion and grace towards oneself and embracing change. She highlights the importance of not waiting for a future 'when-if' moment, but rather appreciating the present and taking risks to find happiness. Vicki discusses her personal journey of self-improvement and the challenges she faced in overcoming past struggles and societal expectations. She advocates for self-acceptance and emphasizes the need to be kind to oneself.
The Impact of Documentary Making on Personal Relationships
Vicki Paterson shares her experience of making a poignant documentary about her relationship with her dad and the impact it had on both of them. She discusses the complexities of discussing serious topics and embracing vulnerability within interpersonal relationships. Vicki reflects on the importance of addressing difficult conversations and the potential for growth and understanding that can emerge from these discussions.
Managing Body Image and Finding Peace in Self-Acceptance
Vicki Paterson opens up about her journey of body image struggles and the pressure to conform to societal standards. She highlights the need for self-acceptance and finding balance in one's relationship with their body. Vicki emphasizes that happiness and fulfillment can be achieved at any size, and it is essential to prioritize self-care and not punish oneself for living life and enjoying it.
Understanding PMDD and Advocating for Education and Support
Vicki Paterson candidly discusses her experience with PMDD (pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder), a condition affecting 10% of women. She shares her journey of misdiagnosis and feeling dismissed by healthcare providers. Vicki emphasizes the importance of education and understanding about hormone-related conditions. She encourages women to speak out, seek support, and push for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Parenting your parent isn’t something any child thinks they’ll need to do, but TV personality, podcaster, and author Vicky Pattison found herself looking after her alcoholic dad. This in turn made her reassess her own relationship with alcohol.
In this chat, live from the Happy Place Festival, Fearne and Vicky talk about everything from social anxiety, to PMDD, to cultivating a positive body image. They also explore the idea that we often think we have to wait until we’re a ‘better version’ of ourself before we can do something we’ve always wanted to do. Vicky reckons we should just take a chance – take the risk – right now.