Mental Note

*Please note: When this podcast was recorded, Shay was referenced as a straight male. Since this recording, Shay courageously came out as a transwoman and uses she/her pronouns.* Treatment for mental health issues rarely receives the same level of community support that a more visible struggle, like major surgery, does. But our friend, Shay, is out to change that. A straight male who received treatment for anorexia, Shay experienced push back from some of his closest friends when he made the choice to seek professional help. Yet, his friends were eager to lend sympathy when he fractured an ankle... What gives!? We are all about shifting this conversation along with Shay and cannot wait for you to hear more of his story. ___________________ Learn more about our storytellers and past episodes at mentalnotepodcast.com To speak with a trained therapist about what you're going through, please call 877-411-9578. Mental Note is brought to you by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers. It is Directed by Sam Pike, Edited by Josh Wright, and produced and hosted by Ellie Pike.

Today's episode features the trailblazing expert on difficult to treat cases of eating and mood disorders, Dr. Delia Aldridge. We'll discuss your questions for her about why diets don't work, how self-harm and eating disorders are connected, what treatment looks like, and the long term complications of restrictive eating - so please pass this along to anyone you know who will benefit from her knowledge! Learn more at mentalnotepodcast.com To speak with a trained therapist about what you're going through, please call 877-411-9578. Mental Note is brought to you by the Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers. It is produced by Sam Pike, Edited by Josh Wright and Sam Pike, and hosted by Ellie Pike.

Nicole had big plans from an early age – excel at school, take the Ivy League world by storm, and never stop exploring. But when an eating disorder prompted her to drop out of high school, she was left wondering if she'd ever dream again. Join Mental Note for our inaugural episode as we follow Nicole on a 10 year journey discovering recovery, entrepreneurship, travel, and healed relationships. Hosted by Ellie Herman, Produced by Sam Pike, Sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health. Check out Nicole's work at nicolegriswold.com Music by Melodium, Podington Bear, and Jean-Luc Hefferman

Lindsey Hall feels like a giant, eight-year-long black hole devoured her late teens and 20's. Years that should have been spent figuring out who she was and what she cared about were erased by something called "Drunkorexia" - a nonmedical term for the fusion of alcoholism and anorexia. An accomplished writer and authentic voice for recovery, Lindsey brings us along on her journey of discovering how precious life truly is. You can find Lindsey's work at ihaventshavedinsixweeks.com or on Instagram @lindseyhallwrites. Our show is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers. For a free consultation, please reach out at 877-411-9578.

Back in 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis set the record for fastest thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail for both men and women. Afterward, she backpacked over 14,000 miles on 6 different continents, wrote 8 books, and started Blue Ridge Hiking Company in Asheville, NC. Needless to say, she knows the trail well and is a leader in the outdoor industry. After all this hiking, she's come to know herself in a unique way. Those days and nights spent outside taught her that it's not about distance covered, but about self-awareness, mindfulness, connection, healing, positive body image and persevering joy. We also speak with Sommerville Johnston, a licensed therapist and wilderness guide, to figure out what role nature has in mental health and recovery from life's busy-ness. To learn more about Jennifer and Sommerville, visit our website www.mentalnotepodcast.com

Most people assume athletics and healthy bodies are synonymous. But the truth is much more complicated. For researcher Traci Carson, sports were her world - from elementary school through college she excelled at soccer, track, football, and women's rowing. But a dark side of competition prompted her to get off the field and into a doctoral program for epidemiology to study the link between female athletes and eating disorders. Her story of recovery and research are the focus of today's episode — giving you the information needed to find balance in athletics. For a male perspective on the connection between sports and body image, check out episodes 8 & 19 with former Seattle Seahawk Patrick Devenny, and former Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Marjama. Discover more about Traci at mentalnotepodcast.com Mental Note is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers

Author Alisa Kennedy Jones woke up to a seemingly normal day, oblivious to the fact that it was the last day of her "normal" life... No stranger to tough jobs, Alisa had worked hard to build a thriving career as a copywriter and brand strategist for the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, General Electric, Coca-Cola, Disney, and Marvel. Yet, as she headed out the door, her vision swirled and she lost all ability to control her face. Diagnosis? Epilepsy. And courage. We sit down to hear how she's championing a new approach to how we see ourselves and the world around us – through Neurodiversity. Learn more about Alisa: mentalnotepodcast.com Alisa's book: Gotham Girl Interrupted Mental Note is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers

23 - You! Every year in honor of Eating Recovery Day, we flip the script and devote our whole show to the recovery letters of those who listen. Today you'll hear from people in recovery, family members, service providers, and other loved ones. You finding your voice on the road to recovery is why we make this show — it's an absolute honor to give you a platform! email: mentalnote@eatingrecovery.com Website: http://mentalnotepodcast.com

What if your story has the potential to reshape the world? Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Wild, the New York Times bestsellers Tiny Beautiful Things and Brave Enough, and the novel Torch. Her books have been translated into nearly forty languages around the world and have been adapted for both the screen and the stage — winning numerous awards along the way. Cheryl recently sat down for a Q&A with Mental Note where she shared special insights on why it's so critical to be the author of your own journey. www.cherylstrayed.com www.mentalnotepodcast.com For a free mental health consultation, please call 877-411-9578

Have you ever felt crippled by anxiety and the traumatic effects of life? If so, join us for this enlightening episode as we hear from McCall Dempsey (you may remember her from episode #14). She shares the process of choosing to stay in eating disorder recovery even in the midst of depression, trauma, and PTSD. Cultivating the art of coping allowed her to thrive in extremely difficult situations and shows us all that recovery is a process of living fully. McCall's Website: southernsmash.org Mental Note is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers. For a free consultation with a licensed professional please call 877-411-9578. Mentalnotepodcast.com