Mental Note

What does eating disorder recovery really look like? And why is it so often misunderstood? In this episode we sit down with Juju Parzyck, body image coach and the creator behind @fitfatandallthat on Instagram, to explore the realities of non-linear recovery and body image healing. Juju shares how her eating disorder began as a coping mechanism during adolescence, how therapy and working with a registered dietitian helped separate her inner critic from her authentic self, and what she has gained through recovery. This conversation touches on trauma, grief, relapse risk, intuitive eating, and practical coping strategies—offering an honest and hopeful look at what long-term recovery can feel like. Links: Instagram: @fitfatandallthat Website: fitfatandallthat.com Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Intermittent fasting is everywhere—from influencer feeds to doctor's offices—but is this trending approach to eating really the wellness cure-all it claims to be? In this episode of Mental Note, registered dietitian Jennifer Vittitow joins host Ellie Pike to explore the hidden downsides of intermittent fasting, including its impact on mental health, disordered eating behaviors, and social connection. Together, they unpack the science, debunk the diet culture spin, and offer a more compassionate path forward—one rooted in balance, flexibility, and trust in your body. Links: Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Free Group Support: https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Supporting a loved one through eating disorder recovery can feel overwhelming—but you don't have to do it alone. In this special Q&A episode, we sit down with experienced parents Beth Ayn Stansfield and Amy Oberholtzer, who have navigated this journey with their own children and turned their experiences into advocacy. Beth Ayn, now the National Family Advocate for Eating Recovery Center, and Amy, founder of the nonprofit CATCH, share their hard-earned wisdom on self-care, technology, community-building, and trusting the process. Their insights offer guidance, hope, and reassurance whether you're just beginning or deep in the recovery journey. Beth Ayn + Amy's Links: Caregiver Support Groups - For caregivers of either children and teens or adults (Support Groups will be at the bottom of the page once you click the link.) ED 101 and 201 CATCH CATCH Website Parents Support Network Chicago area Trusted Professionals Chasing Childhood Documentary Mental Note Links: Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Free Group Support: https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

As an eating disorder survivor turned eating disorder therapist, Carly Compton strives to be the person that she wishes she would have known when she was younger. That conviction led her on a rewarding journey to become a therapist, model, host of the Recover with Carly Podcast, and creator of an eating disorder curriculum for adolescents. In all these endeavors, Carly focuses on partnering with individuals to give up dieting, recover from disordered eating, and find genuine happiness and acceptance within themselves — no matter their size, race, gender, sexuality, or socioeconomic status. We sit down to discuss the steps that took her on such a liberating journey and also some practical ways you can improve your relationship with your body. Resources: Carly's Website Recover with Carly Podcast Body Image Workshop with ERC Curriculum: Eating Disorder Education and Awareness Her Socials: Tiktok and Instagram Mental Note Links: Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

GLP-1 weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have exploded in popularity due to their weight-loss potential. But what do they actually do? How do they function? And why are they the subject of so much controversy? With insight from Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, Regional Medical Director for the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center, this episode will empower you to make an educated decision when it comes to your body and these medications. Crucially, we will also focus on how GLP-1s may affect individuals with eating disorders - even if they are being taken as diabetes medication rather than to lose weight. If you'd like to learn more about GLp-1s from Dr. Wassenaar — and earn CE credits along the way — join Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight's virtual annual conference August 21-23 . Dr. Wassenaar will lead a special discussion on GLP-1s and their relationship to Binge Eating Disorder treatment. Sign up here. Resources: Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com 16th Annual Conference: Register Here Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: Register Here Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Welcome to part two of our Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Discussion with Leah Young where we focus on the proactive steps you can take to find recovery from a SUD. Today's episode is all about what to do once you realize you have a problem with substances or addictive behaviors. We'll discuss topics like: Different strategies for ending destructive behaviors spanning from abstinence to harm reduction How to develop boundaries to enable healthier behaviors Easy ways to measure the success of your approach If you missed our last episode, you can easily find it in your podcast feed or by clicking the link in the show notes below. You don't necessarily need to listen to Part 1 to understand Part 2. However, you may want to pull it up if you are trying to figure out whether or not you have a substance use issue. Resources: Brief video overview about Substance Use Disorders from the Center for Disease Control: Click Here Infographic: 2022 Survey on Drug Use and Health - Click Here Book: Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington - Click Here Podcast: Sober Curious with Ruby Warrington - Click Here Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199 Nearly all substances and many addictive behaviors have 12-step meetings. Below are some examples, but you can search online for the national and local chapters nearest you. www.aa.org www.marijuana-anonymous.org www.thesira.org - Self Harm www.slaafws.org & www.slaa4poc.neocities.org - Sex and Love Addicts www.recoverydharma.org www.smartrecovery.org www.celebraterecovery.com www.lifering.org www.moderation.org Plus many others that may not be as well known, available, and/or regional

Close relationships set the tone for how we experience love and security. Yet, keeping those relationships healthy is rarely easy. Fortunately, Attachment Theory researchers have spent decades scrutinizing why we connect the way we do and what actions help make friendships, partnerships, and family bonds flourish. For therapist, mama, and author Eli Harwood - aka Attachment Nerd - her journey into understanding attachment patterns was deeply personal. Her early life programmed her to believe that she could not consistently rely on her needs being met. As an adult, this belief severely impacted her ability to connect with others, prompting Eli to find the best tools for healing and growing new attachment patterns. She benefited from that growth so much that she spent the past 17 years inviting others to discover how fun and stress-free this transformation can be. Today's show is all about understanding basic Attachment Patterns, how they affect our relationships, and how we can enjoy becoming more secure parents, friends, and humans. Resources: Website - Click Here Instagram - @attachmentnerd Podcast - Click Here Book - Securely Attached - Click Here Free webinar - Click Here 2 Minute Attachment Quiz - Click Here Collection of coaching tips - Click Here Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

One chilly Maine morning, enveloped in a snowed-in cabin, musician DW sat at a piano recording a melody that had just popped into his brain. As he played, the phrase "I deserve to be well" tumbled out of his mouth in song. He immediately broke down in tears asking, "Wow, do I really believe this?" That question, and the ensuing album he created with his band The Collection, fueled an artistic journey to make sense of depression, the stigma of psychiatric medication, and asserting self-worth. We sit down with David to hear his mental health story, why he chose to share it publicly, and enjoy a special performance of two new singles from The Collection's upcoming album. _________________________________________________________________________________ Resources: David's Links The Collection's Website: www.thecollectionband.com TikTok: @thecollectionband Instagram: @collectionband Link Tree: linktr.ee Mental Note Podcast & Mental Health Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199