Bodywhys Podcast

In this episode, Barry Murphy, our Research and Policy 0fficer, speaks with Marissa R. Carney, Rebekah Mack ( Johns Hopkins Hospital) & Caroline E. Stanton (Prisma Health Kidnetics) about occupational therapy & eating disorders.

Notes:

In this episode Jenny and Harriet discuss two common and difficult situations. Firstly, when a person is physically well and eating regularly but not yet recovered, and when a person has reached a safe level of nutrition and health but is unwilling to keep going.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

Bodywhys website: www.bodywhys.ie

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny continue to talk about module 10, feeding and eating. The episode focuses on thinking about communicating and coaching for rigid rules and compensatory behaviours including overeating and purging. As Jenny writes, ‘The brain’s natural appetite system can be overridden by a combination of emotional problems, unusual eating habits and fluctuating blood sugar levels. Roadblocks to recovery from an ED can present themselves in many forms. Two of the most difficult are: Rigid rules around eating and Compensatory behaviours.'

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

Bodywhys website: www.bodywhys.ie

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk about an important part of recovery from an eating disorder - food and eating. They look at the non-negotiable eating boundary, and at how carers can think about how to manage and support their loved one to start eating more normally. This episode and the following couple of episodes will look at this difficult topic. 

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

Bodywhys website: www.bodywhys.ie

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk about an important part of recovery from an eating disorder - food and eating. They look at the non-negotiable eating boundary, and at how carers can think about how to manage and support their loved one to start eating more normally. This episode and the following couple of episodes will look at this difficult topic. 

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

Bodywhys website: www.bodywhys.ie

In this episode, Barry, our Research and Policy Officer, speaks to Dr Dawn Branley-Bell, Northumbria University, about challenging mainstream framing of eating disorders.

Research mentioned:

It’s not all about control: challenging mainstream framing of eating disorders: https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-023-00752-9

Remote Healthcare for Eating Disorders throughout COVID-19: https://research.northumbria.ac.uk/rhedc/

In this episode Jenny and Harriet talk about ways that families can think about reclaiming core family values. This involves identifying what your family values are, how to have conversations about them and then how to implement changes in your household to reclaim family life from the eating disorder.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

Bodywhys website: www.bodywhys.ie

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk through how to make the most of a GP visit, how to plan what to say, what will be important information to give, and how to manage both the appointment and what happens afterwards. They also discuss making the most of the appointment if you are an adult with an eating disorder.

Resources mentioned:

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

Bodywhys website: www.bodywhys.ie

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny think through the difficult situation when a carer needs to take a person with an eating disorder to A&E in an emergency. Listen to Jenny and Harriet talk through ways of managing this situation, and ways that the New Maudsley Carer Skills can make this situation easier to manage.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny focus on communicating and collaborating with care teams. For the most part, people with eating disorders are treated by a team. Regardless of the circumstances, communication, and collaboration between team members, which includes family / carers, is vital for progress to be made. Frequently difficulties and differences arise and in this episode, we think through ways of getting through these difficulties, to make the process better for everyone.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, we hear from members of our Media Panel about their experience of living with an eating disorder over the Christmas season and New Year. We would like to thank Mirin, Mary, Lauren, Emmy and Michelle for taking the time to share their stories and contribute to this podcast.

For more about our support services, see here: https://www.bodywhys.ie/recovery-support-treatment/support-services-2/

To find out more about our Media Panel, see here: https://www.bodywhys.ie/media-research/media-panel/

In this episode Jenny and Harriet talk about ways of managing Christmas when a person in the house has an eating disorder. They discuss how to use the New Maudsley Skills to make the occasion and the days afterwards easier for everyone.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny focus on the nutritional risk ruler and the concept of reasonable risk. The nutritional risk ruler is similar to the readiness ruler, and is a useful tool carers can use to open up conversations about change / moving forward in terms of the Edi taking more responsibility for their own nutritional health.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny focus on the final component of the planning for change module: SMART goals and the anxiety hierarchy.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny continue with an exploration of thinking about change, and motivating carers and people with an ED to change. Today’s episode will focus on the DARN-C skill and Solution Focused Questioning. Another skill to have in your tool box when you are thinking about change or helping your loved one to think about change.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

Content warning: This episode discusses self-harm. Please know, Pieta provides support to people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm. Pieta Free 24/7 Crisis helpline: 1800 247 247 (For more see: https://www.pieta.ie/)

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk through planning for change, using the New Maudsley Model's 5 Step Approach to change. This episode focuses on how carers can work with the person with an eating disorder to introduce, plan, implement and review behaviour change experiments. As with the last episode, a key message is to take the path of least resistance. Our confidence builds as we experiment and experience change, and this approach helps us all to do that.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode Harriet and Jenny talk through planning for change, using the New Maudsley Model's 5 Step Approach to change. This episode focuses on how carers can first practice this approach themselves, and in the following podcast episode, we will learn how to work with a person with an eating disorder, to plan and implement change. A key message is to take the path of least resistance. Our confidence builds as we experiment and experience change, and this approach helps us all to do that.

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk about The Accommodation and Enabling Scale for Eating Disorders. As Jenny writes in the manual, “ It is common for the eating disorder to cause carers to do things we refer to a enabling and accommodating to the Edi. This scale is used at the Maudsley to help carers to reflect on whether and how they accommodate and enable the eating disorder by submitting to the eating disorder voice.” 

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk about The Reassurance Trap, a trap that we all fall into, and need to think about. As Jenny writes, “Carers often get caught up in the reassurance trap and can see no way out. A vicious cycle ensues in which Edi asks for more and more reassurance and there is no obvious learning to change happening. This is exhausting and quickly becomes counterproductive.” This episode helps us to think through both why carers get caught in this trap and how they can start to avoid it.

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk about building and improving emotional intelligence using five key principles (DEARS). An important part of the New Maudsley Model is working with carers to develop their emotional intelligence and in turn role modelling this for their loved one with an eating disorder. There are many important skills that the workshops focus on to do this and one is DEARS - five key principles for helping to develop emotional intelligence. The five key principles are; Develop Discrepancy, Express Empathy, Amplify Ambivalence, Roll with Resistance, Support Self-Efficacy. This episode explains these principles and illustrates these advanced communication skills.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk about the Decisional balance. Following the previous episode on the stages of change model, the decisional balance is a tool “to help carers to empathise with the conflicts/internal dialogue Edi is facing as they progress through the stages of change.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk about the stages of change model that is used within the New Maudsley model. 

We all know the idea that unless somebody wants to change, or is ready to change, trying to make them change is a frustrating and exhausting challenge. When carers understand the different stages of change, they can use their energy and love to support their loved one in a more helpful way. Jenny writes, “If carers rush in too early, before Edi is ready, this is likely to create too much tension and a breakdown in communication.” 

This podcast episode helps carers to think about the stage their loved one is at, how they can support them at that stage and plant seeds of change.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Barry speaks to researchers Hannah Cribben and Rachel Batchelor of King's College London Eating Disorders Research Group about the experiences and perspectives of siblings and partners in caring for someone with an eating disorder. 

The study mentioned 'The experiential perspectives of siblings and partners caring for a loved one with an eating disorder in the UK' can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3poGv6g

In this episode Harriet and Jenny talk about – probably the most important skill in the New Maudsley Carer Skills manual – the communication skills known as OARS. As Jenny writes in the manual, “OARS is one of the most important communication skills when using the MI (Motivational Interviewing) approach, it helps keep the conversation reflective and mindful. The aim is to be aware of everything we say and how we say it. The important thing is to keep practising it in everything we do.

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk about the famous Maudsley ‘Animal Metaphors’, which help carers to think about how interpersonal relationships can impact the recovery process. As Jenny writes in the manual, “The New Maudsley Model uses animal metaphors as a light-hearted yet powerful way of illustrating how carers’ initial and instinctive reaction to the eating disorder are not always helpful and can lead carers to inadvertently accommodate to the illness'

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode, Harriet and Jenny talk about emotional intelligence, and the importance of carers reflecting on their own emotions using a technique called ALVS (Attend, Label, Validate, Soothe)

You can find Jenny's website here: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk

In this episode we hear from the Bodywhys team on a range of topics discussed during Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2022. 

If you have been affected by anything you have listened to, please know our support services are available to you at any time. 

Helpline: 01-2107906 Email support: alex@bodywhys.ie

In this episode, we speak with staff from eating disorders organisations around the world about their experiences of supporting people during Covid-19. Thank you to Sian, Nicola, Liz, Ranjani and Kaitlyn.

The Butterfly Foundation: https://butterfly.org.au/

Eating Disorders Association Northern Ireland (EDANI): https://www.eatingdisordersni.co.uk/

Sheena's Place: https://sheenasplace.org/

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

BEAT: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/