Addiction & Animal Advocacy: The Duality of Self-Care and Animal Welfare

Are addicts attracted to animal rescue? When does being of service become codependency?

In this episode of The Animal That Changed You, Jenny and Katya get very real. Like, very very real. They take an honest deep dive into their relationship between animal loving, food addiction, and eating disorders. They shed light on the tornado of shame, guilt, and self-hatred that comes with disordered eating, and how that can be affected by the added stress of being a passionate animal advocate. J & K discuss how difficult it can be to implement self-care while fighting the good fight for animal welfare, especially when being pulled by sugar or restriction, dealing with weight gain or loss.

But on a brighter note, Jenny and Katya highlight how very important it is for animal lovers to prioritize their own health and well-being, and they call on the community for support. Because we can't give what we don't have so if we want to help animals, we must help ourselves. Bonus update: tune in to hear what's going on with Penny, the adorable Pitbull Jenny rescued from he streets of Cleveland, Texas!

And if you are dealing with any of the issues talked about in this episode, don’t hesitate to reach out and email theanimalthatchangedyou@gmail.com so Katya and Jenny can point you towards mental health professionals they trust. Though they are not therapists, they will hold space for you and remind you that your recovery matters.

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