This week I'm joined by Veronica, a carer and advocate with over 24 years' experience supporting families affected by eating disorders. Veronica cared for two daughters who both developed different eating disorders, and now runs her own organisation to help carers understand what their role in recovery actually looks like.

Two different illnesses, one household

In the weeks episode, Veronica talks through what that experience was really like, two very different illnesses under one roof, the isolation of being a carer with little support around her, and the moment she realised her way of helping had tipped into something harder to untangle: codependency.

Honesty about the hard parts

Veronica is  honest about the mistakes she made,  friends who offered opinions instead of support, and the slow, uncomfortable process of learning to step back rather than take over.

Understanding the family pattern

She also talks about discovering generational patterns through a family genogram, and how that understanding helped rebuild her relationship with her daughter.

A conversation worth having

It's a conversation that doesn't shy away from guilt, blame, or the exhaustion of being "the one who copes," while still landing somewhere genuinely hopeful.

Listen to the full conversation

🎧 Listen to the full episode with Veronica on the Full of Beans podcast, or watch on YouTube.

⚠️ Content note: This episode discusses eating disorders, caregiving, codependency, and family relationships. Please take care while listening.

Thank you to Nightingale Hospital for sponsoring the podcast.