Episode 77: Maris Degener (she/hers) shares her story and the work she continues to do to advocate for peer mentorships within recovery
Catherine and Francis were thrilled to speak with Maris Degener, Manager of Peer Mentorship with Equip, a virtual eating disorder treatment for individual six to 24 years old. After recovering from anorexia nervosa as a teenager, Maris became passionate about harnessing her lived experience to support others experiencing eating disorders. Maris shared her story in the documentary “I Am Maris,” to spread the message that full recovery is possible and destigmatize talking openly about mental health experiences.
In this conversation, Maris walks the co-hosts what it was like to receive Family Based Treatment as a teenager for her eating disorder, including the sometimes-difficult experiences with her parents, whom ultimately, she credits for being an important piece of her recovery. Maris shares how yoga became a vital component to her ongoing recovery efforts and provides listeners with other skills she found helpful.
Maris talks about her work with Equip, and how mentorship — both for the individual and for the family — is an important part of the recovery process often left out of the equation.
We thank Maris for her continued work with and advocacy for those experiencing eating disorders, and are incredibly grateful for her time, energy, and vulnerability.
CW: eating disorder behaviors, familial relationships, eating disorder treatment
anexoria, anorexia nervosa, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, binge eating, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, bulimia, bulimia nervosa, Catherine Brown, eating disorder, eating disorder recovery, eating disorder stigma, Eating Disorders, family issues, Francis Iacobucci, men with eating disorders, mental health, mental illness, mental illness stigma, pica