Nadine Mulvina
Nadine Mulvina
Slip: Eating Disorder Recovery, Sobriety & the 'Middle Place' with Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Slip: Eating Disorder Recovery, Sobriety & the 'Middle Place' with Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Slip: Eating Disorder Recovery, Sobriety & the 'Middle Place' with Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Friday 11th July 2025
Explore the 'middle place' in eating disorder recovery with Mallary Tenore Tarpley, discussing sobriety, body image, and mental health on The Sober Butterfly.
71 minutes
hopeful
challenging
informative
supportive
reflective
About this podcast
Author:
Nadine Mulvina
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Creative Recovery Journeys
Navigating Challenges in Recovery
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
110 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Navigating the Middle Place: Recovery & Sobriety
Episode Overview
- Understanding the 'middle place' in recovery.
- Intersection of eating disorders and sobriety.
- Impact of social media on body image and mental health.
- The importance of recognizing slips without sliding.
- Celebrating personal milestones authentically.
A slip does not mean that you or anyone else is failing.
In this episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, Nadine engages in a profound conversation with Mallary Tenore Tarpley, a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the upcoming book 'Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery'. Together, they delve into the concept of the 'middle place' in eating disorder recovery—a space between active illness and full healing that challenges the traditional binary notions of recovery.
Mallary shares her personal journey, recounting how her eating disorder emerged during the emotionally tumultuous period following her father's passing. This discussion unpacks the idea of 'normative discontent', a societal condition where dissatisfaction with one's body is commonplace, and how it can lead to disordered eating behaviors. The episode further explores the intersection between eating disorders and sobriety, highlighting how individuals often use substances to self-medicate and escape the pain associated with their disorders.
Mallary emphasizes the importance of recognizing slips in recovery without allowing them to escalate into a slide, providing listeners with a sense of hope and understanding. Social media's pervasive influence on body image and mental health is also scrutinized, recognizing the pressure it creates for individuals to perform and present perfection. Nadine candidly discusses her personal struggles with disordered eating and body dysmorphia, stressing the importance of authenticity and taking breaks from social media to preserve mental health.
Listeners are encouraged to acknowledge warning signs of eating disorders and seek early treatment, which research shows can significantly improve long-term outcomes. The conversation concludes with a reminder that personal milestones, such as sobriety anniversaries, should be celebrated in a way that feels genuine to oneself, rather than performative. This episode is a timely exploration of recovery and mental health, providing insights into the complexities of healing and the importance of self-compassion.