18. Who Are You Without the Struggle?

This episode is about why familiar suffering can sometimes feel safer than relief. We talk about how long-term struggles can become tied to identity, safety, meaning, avoidance, legitimacy, and the hope that someone will finally notice how much pain you're in. Through the lens of eating disorder recovery, depression, anxiety, body image, and the fantasy of rescue, we explore why letting go of suffering can feel less like instant freedom and more like losing a familiar place to go. We also talk about the difference between pain and suffering, why the nervous system returns to old pathways, and what it can mean to build more choice when struggle has been part of your sense of self for a long time. STEF LINKS:  Emails Instagram YouTube Substack  SARAH LINKS: Blog YouTube Groups