Episode Setup and Guest Intro

In this bonus episode, Abbie is joined by her husband Jeb (nearly a decade sober) to respond to a listener question: Is healing actually worth how hard it feels?

It's a listener favorite, vulnerable conversation about the messy middle of recovery — from dieting, disordered eating, addiction, and the coping mechanisms that once kept us afloat.

Some of the topics discussed:

Why recovery often feels harder before it feels better

The short-term relief vs. long-term cost of coping mechanisms

How dieting and addiction share similar roots (shame, fear, inadequacy, belonging)

Personal examples from Abbie and Jeb and pieces of their stories

Physical vs. emotional discomfort in recovery — and how to tell the difference

The power of community (and why healing in isolation is so much harder)

Small, quiet “wins” that signal real healing

Why “dabbling” in restriction tends to snowball

Privilege, barriers to recovery, and the realities of healing in this world

Here is the question that inspired this episode:

Hi Abbie,

I’ve been recovering from decades of dieting and disordered eating. I’m completely on board with doing this work for myself, for my kids. I recognize now - many thanks to you - how much of my life has been wasted on trying to control my body.

But I’m struggling, and many days I have these thoughts of: is this harder than just continuing to diet and restrict? I’m uncomfortable, I feel stressed and anxious, and it’s hard to cope with the body changes. I just feel defeated in many ways.

I know I don’t want to go back, but at the same time, healing is feeling so hard. I am hoping you’ll have some advice for where to go from here. Your podcast has meant so much to me and my daughter. Thank you.

Alex

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Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy

Podcast Editing by Brian Walters

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