There are many books on eating disorders and mental health, but few informed by both the immigrant experience and practicum.

It's why when I learned about Ivan Castanier's memoir, pork belly tacos with a side of anxiety,

my journey through depression,

bulimia, and addiction,

I knew I had to share Yvonne's story here.

Yvonne is a clinical social worker

who practices in our communities,

and so this conversation is both about Yvonne's personal journey

and her expertise in how we unpack layered traumas

and break vicious cycles.

Hi, Yvonne.

I am really looking forward to this conversation. So thank you for being here.

Oh, my God. Thank you for having me. I'm honored.

I want to start in a place that I don't normally start, but I think it is important given what we're going to be talking about today.

And given that you are the one who actually has the

training and the expertise in therapy and psychoanalysis, which is how do we have a conversation

about eating disorders in a way that is not triggering, retramatizing, does not glamorize eating disorders. Can you give me some

parameters for how we have this conversation in a way that will benefit our audience as women,

as daughters, as mothers? I think that is such an important question, and I appreciate that you asked

it. Just kind of staying away from questions or discussion that has to do with the ins and outs of

the actual eating disorder, because the way I approach the eating disorder is through the lens of

mental health. Whether it's the eating disorder or alcohol addiction

...