The Realities of Living with Binge Eating Disorder with Zoe Hazel

This week, Han is joined by Zoe Hazel, a mental health advocate, campaigner, and public speaker with lived experience of binge eating disorder, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Zoe has shared her story at the Dump the Scales Summit & March, spoken in Parliament to push for Mental Health Act reform, and sits on the Rethink Mental Illness Lived Experience Advisory Board.In this candid conversation, Zoe opens up about her journey with binge eating disorder, the lack of treatment available, and why we need to change the conversation and care pathways for people living with BED. We also discuss stigma, self-compassion in recovery, and what helps when support is hard to find.This week, we discuss:Zoe’s early experiences of binge eating disorderThe role of secrecy and shame reinforced her cycle of restriction and bingeZoe's reality of BED stigmas that exist The links between BED, bipolar disorder, and emotional regulationThe reality of navigating BED without treatment or local servicesWhy weight stigma in healthcare perpetuates harmPractical strategies Zoe uses to interrupt urges to bingeTimestamps:3:07 – Zoe’s early experiences with binge eating disorder8:05 – Injury, mobility changes, and stigma in healthcare14:55 – Control, addiction, and the emotional cycle of BED20:07 – The absence of treatment services for BED26:36 – What treatment should look like for BED 31:06 – Shame, secrecy, and the importance of talking about BED33:50 – Zoe’s practical coping toolsTrigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of binge eating disorder, restriction and bipolar disorder. Resources & Links:Connect with Zoe via InstagramConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛