Mental Note: Journeys Of Health And Recovery

It takes an incredible amount of will, talent, and work to become a major league baseball player. So why did the former catcher for the Seattle Mariners, Mike Marjama, give it all up to share his story? This special Q&A with Mike and his mom takes a look at how we can better equip each other to live full lives, accomplish great things, and rethink traditional masculinity.  Mental Note is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers. To talk to a licensed counselor for free and see if treatment is a good idea for you, call 877-411-9578. For more details on Mike, check out mentalnotepodcast.com. 

Before starting your New Year’s diet, you’ll want to check out this episode as we dip our toes into the world of Christie Dondero Bettwy. After a long history of dieting to get others’ approval while also falling into an eating disorder, she is fighting back against assumptions about "health" that hurt people far more than they help them. Along the way, we also speak with nutritionist Dr. Ralph Carson about what really happens to your body when you diet (and why they never seem to work…) Hosted by Eleanor Pike, produced by Sam Pike, edited by Josh Wright, Erica Prather, and Sam Pike Sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers. For more info on our guest, check out mentalnotepodcast.com.  Christie leads the non-profit Rock Recovery: www.rockrecoveryed.org

What happens when your child is diagnosed with an eating disorder? Where do you go for help? How does it affect your community? When Beth Ayn's daughter received a diagnosis of anorexia, she set out on a journey that led her to unexpected places. Eventually, she took those lessons and turned them into Stay Strong Virginia - a non-profit that helps other parents in similar circumstances.  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 

Binge Eating Disorder is grossly underdiagnosed and can leave dramatical devastation in its wake. So how do you find your way in a culture that makes it so difficult for us to rise above diets, shame-based choices, and self-hatred?  We sit down with Andy McLoughlin and talk about his lifelong journey to shed the darkness of his disorder and embrace a fulfilling life.  Mental Note is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioural Health Centers. You can call 877-411-9578 for a free assessment to speak with licensed professionals who know how to help.

Sunnie never knew she had OCD. Rather, this mom of six simply soldiered on – doing her best to ignore the disturbing voices in her head. That is until a diagnosis finally opened her eyes to a whole new world where she could be free from her mental prison.  Join us as we journey with her through the process of dividing her own identity from that of the disorder. Along the way, we'll discover just how good life can be.  Mental Note is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers  

There once was a 14-year-old girl named McCall who didn’t know how to fit into her own body. Her resulting sadness launched a 15-year long journey through the pitfalls of dieting pills, along the cliff edge of weight loss to the point of an eating disorder diagnosis, down the narrow path of making a choice to recover, and into the breakthrough of discovering an antidote to shame. Along the way, we'll chat with Dr. Ovidio Bermudez about the dangers of diet pills, Adderall, and laxatives.  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. For more information on McCall, check out mentalnotepodcast.com and southernsmash.org.    

We often deal with firsthand stories on this podcast and what happens when a person finally decides to tackle a seemingly insurmountable mental health illness. But what about those who walk alongside such a person in struggle? Where’s their story?   Well, on today’s episode, we’re taking the opportunity to celebrate Father’s Day by talking with a pretty amazing dad. David Bachman is the father of 2 boys, one of which began battling Anorexia Nervosa at age 12.    His story illuminates the role a father can play in eating disorder recovery, the importance of self, marriage, and family care, & how discovering a “new normal” is critical for long-term success.   Produced by Sam Pike, edited and mixed by Meredith Turk and Erica Prather.    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. For more information on David, check out mentalnotepodcast.com.

Just imagine feeling out of place in your own skin — that the actual physical container of your person just doesn’t mesh with what you know to be true. It would mean that every time you changed clothes, met new people, or went out in public, the world around you reminded you that while you may identify as one way, you definitely look another.  Today, we're sitting down with Ryan Sallans - an author and speaker who shares about life as a trans-man. His story highlights that destructive coping with eating disorders, anxiety and depression is not a long-term solution, that cultivating awareness offers a practical way forward without minimizing emotions, and the uniqueness of eating disorders in the trans community as a way to look more masculine. 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. For more information on Ryan, check out mentalnotepodcast.com and RyanSallans.com.

On this special episode, we listen to you in celebration of Eating Recovery Day on May 1st! The responses we got from your gratitude letters were simply too good not to share and we wanted to present them back to you, allowing their power to speak for themselves. You are truly incredible and we love being part of the recovery community.  Also, if you would still like to join in the #myrecoveryletter project, it's not too late! simply go to myrecoveryletter.com and follow the prompts."  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. For more information check out mentalnotepodcast.com. 

On today’s episode, we are sitting down with Shannon Kopp. She made it through a family divided by alcoholism, personal struggles with bulimia, and into a future where she is thriving – all with the help of some friends who barely understood a word she said, yet generously gave the love they had with wet noses and furry kisses.  Check out our website for a free values sort! mentalnotepodcast.com Also, Shannon has written about her journey and her book is phenomenal. You can pick it up on her website: shannonkopp.com

We all see the dramatic photos of celebrities looking toned and thin immediately following the birth of their child... Is that really what we should strive for? Join us as we talk frankly with Lauren Hill about her experiences with body image and pregnancy. We'll discuss what's most important for our bodies and our family during and after birth, how partners, friends, and family can support us best, and how to navigate this unique time with love.  We also get the perspective of Kate Daigle, a Licensed Professional Counselor who is currently writing a book on fertility and eating disorders.  www.katedaiglecounseling.com www.mentalnotepodcast.com 

Professional athletes gain or lose potentially millions of dollars based on the way their bodies look and perform. But what happens when the pursuit of perfection shipwrecks your life? Patrick Devenny walks us through how he suddenly found himself — a 6'3", muscled, and fine-tuned athlete — facing a diagnosis of bulimia… and how he was able to dig his way out. Along the way we talk with Rebecca McConville, a registered dietician, board-certified sports specialist, eating disorder clinician and co-host of the podcast Phit for a Queen.   Further Links: mentalnotepodcast.com beccamcconville.com

Ana Agarrat fills up the room. She’s bubbly & gregarious—the type of person that, upon meeting her, you assume she’s one of those people who has it all together. Yet, perceptions are misleading. Discover the upending world of Bipolar and learn how Ana has found a new sense of equilibrium and purpose in her life through a strong support system, letting go of perfection, and cultivating valuable skills to navigate uncertainty. 

The holidays are not always Hallmark-card-perfect. Sometimes they are just as much a reminder of who we have lost in our lives as those we are grateful to have. Join us as we talk with Laura and her Mom, Mary Ellen, about how to honor loss and make space for hope in our holiday celebrations.

Robyn Cruze has lived an adventurous life to say the least — an actor from an early age, she’s chased big dreams, failed in even bigger ways, and not only survived but has discovered a fullness of life she never thought possible. Now in recovery, Robyn is a published author, invested Mom, and recovery advocate living in Denver, CO. Her journey teaches us about the comorbidity between substance use and eating disorders, how coping mechanisms and life passions provide alternatives to destructive behavior, and that there’s no “perfect time” for recovery — the sooner, the better.

How often do you associate binge eating with trekking to the top of the highest peak in Africa? We thought so... Join us as we talk with Kara Richardson Whitely, author of the book Gorge, about her lifelong journey towards recovery from Binge Eating Disorder and it's ramifications in her life. She'll take us from the roots of her disorder, all the way up to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro as we dig into this highly misunderstood disease.  http://www.kararichardsonwhitely.com/

Life for someone like Eric Dorsa can look pretty fabulous. He’s one of San Antonio's hottest drag queens, his TED talk has been viewed over 240,000 times, and he has a host of people who love and support him daily. Yet, getting to this place proved far from easy. Along the way he had to grapple with a life threatening eating disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, and an underlying self hatred that continually thwarted the life he longed to live. Today on the podcast, we invite you to walk with Eric. To face these overwhelming obstacles. And to ultimately discover why his journey inspires thousands to embrace their identity and love themselves. Hosted by Ellie Pike, Produced by Sam Pike, Sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health. Music by C3NC Music, Appearing, Maxime Herve, Begin Again and Ruth Martino.

Kelli's life seemed perfect from the outside : mother of two, active in church, a successful career, and loving husband. However, her story is a little more complicated than that. She’s 8 years into recovery after nearly 30 years of anorexia, alcohol addiction, over exercise, depression and suicidality. She’s seen it all and still believes that it’s never too late to take your first step toward healing. Hosted by Ellie Pike, Produced by Sam Pike, Sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health. Music by Appearing, Dreaming, Evolv, Begin Again, Melodium, and Kyle Preston

Meet Mental Note – a new podcast highlighting both the work and the beauty of mental health recovery. Stories will span a variety of mental illness struggles, introduce you to relatable personalities, and dive deep into how they chose health amidst daunting illnesses. At the end of it all, we will provide hope that recovery is possible—and worth it.