Preserving Your Bloom, with Iris Ruth Pastor

Today I talk about process of losing my mother, who passed away last month.

I think my overriding feelings are twofold:

I’m feeling great fatigue. Bone tired fatigue. The kind that a good night’s sleep doesn’t relieve. I’m tired from the myriad details pressed upon all survivors. I’m tired from the ever-present uppermost thoughts in my mind to set a good example for my grandchildren – to show them that even through the death of our beloved matriarch, there are rituals and traditions to comfort our shattered heats, calm our fears, and guide us through the discomfort and unknown. And I’m tired from responding graciously and authentically to the many whose lives my mother touched and whose death leaves an immense void.

I’m also relieved. My mom was a free-spirited, decisive woman who had had a rough year. And I had spent many days tormenting myself over her living far from her children and grandchildren – though her choice – but having too much responsibility for advocating for her own care. As a wise friend counseled me, “When a parent dies, we all feel like what we’ve done is ‘never enough.’”

ABOUT

The Preserving Your Bloom podcast is hosted by Iris Ruth Pastor who you can find at the following places:

http://irisruthpastor.com
https://twitter.com/irisruthpastor
https://www.instagram.com/irisruthpastor/
https://www.facebook.com/irisruthpastor/ 

Her new book: The Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman: Wisdom to Live the Life You Crave

I don’t know anyone with adult kids who doesn’t question their relevancy in their kids lives - and everyone has at least one sticky situation they can’t seem to satisfactorily resolve. That’s why I was so excited to chat with Dr. Ruth Nemzoff - author of Don't Bite Your Tongue: How to Foster Rewarding Relationships with your Adult Children.

Ruth gives practical, straight forward advice on how to create close relationships with your adult kids, even though popular wisdom advises parents to let go, disconnect, and bite their tongues.

ABOUT

The Preserving Your Bloom podcast is hosted by Iris Ruth Pastor who you can find at the following places:

http://irisruthpastor.com
https://twitter.com/irisruthpastor
https://www.instagram.com/irisruthpastor/
https://www.facebook.com/irisruthpastor/ 

Her new book: The Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman: Wisdom to Live the Life You Crave

Eating disorders are often a subject shrouded in shame - thought to be only a young girl’s burden. June Alexander, who suffered from anorexia for decades, shred her story of battling anorexia and her ultimate recovery when we talked recently. But what really struck me was learning about the wondrous healing power of journal writing to effect positive and permanent change. And how much success June has enjoyed in teaching others this simple skill.

If you have anything in your life you are grappling with, hearing June’s uplifting story will give you a push in the right direction. And her takeaways for successfully overcoming hurdles are grounded in practicality.

You can find June in the following places:

https://www.thediaryhealer.com
https://twitter.com/junealexanderAU
https://www.instagram.com/junealexand/
https://www.facebook.com/thediaryhealer/ 

ABOUT

The Preserving Your Bloom podcast is hosted by Iris Ruth Pastor who you can find at the following places:

http://irisruthpastor.com
https://twitter.com/irisruthpastor
https://www.instagram.com/irisruthpastor/
https://www.facebook.com/irisruthpastor/ 

Her new book: The Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman: Wisdom to Live the Life You Crave

Learning something new can be invigorating. And I certainly was reminded of that when Elissa Myers and I spoke recently about her role as Head of The Academy of Eating Disorders. We are a trend-hungry society (I use the word hungry deliberately) and like any other field of study, new treatment techniques are constantly evolving. Some surprising stuff here - especially when Myers spoke about the newest population suffering from disordered eating patterns. Quite a revelation.

Want to learn more about treatment options, prevention, education and research? Myers provides easy to understand, straight forward advice and information from someone heavily invested in keeping abreast of the most cutting edge initiatives in the field of eating disorders today. And best of all, if you or someone you love has an eating disorder, her advice is clear cut and applicable.

ABOUT

The Preserving Your Bloom podcast is hosted by Iris Ruth Pastor who you can find at the following places:

http://irisruthpastor.com
https://twitter.com/irisruthpastor
https://www.instagram.com/irisruthpastor/
https://www.facebook.com/irisruthpastor/ 

Her new book: The Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman: Wisdom to Live the Life You Crave

Imagine us sitting around your kitchen table chatting with people you’d like to get to know better - fascinating people with wisdom-packed, relevant stories and perspectives - all aimed at helping you live the life you crave.

My first guest helps us do just that. 

Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin is a Los Angeles based psychoanalyst who specializes in weight, food and body image issues and the author of the book Food For Thought. Dr. Nina, who treats adult patients only, shares her thoughts and observations on the importance of implementing an anti-diet mentality. 

Dr. Nina emphasizes that people suffering with disordered eating patterns are not eating because they are physically hungry, but to satisfy emotional hungers. Rather than eating to fuel our bodies, she maintains, “we are eating for comfort, for distraction or to numb ourselves against difficult feelings.” Dieting is not the answer. 

We can ax the diet mindset. We can reduce cravings and free ourselves of destructive behaviors and thought patterns. We can develop sources of comfort within ourselves to self-soothe that don’t involve food.