In this episode I have an inspiring conversation with Francesca Bas, the brave author, TEDx speaker, and coach who healed herself from of an eating disorder and feelings of disconnection that held her back.
"Healing isn't linear its about taking one step at a time".
- Francesca Bas
Francesca's journey is a testament to her resilience. Her story will resonate with many, especially at a time when mental health issues like eating disorders are alarmingly prevalent.
In this heartfelt discussion, we'll uncover Francesca's journey of finding the right psychologist and the turning point of asking a life-changing golden question.
Her story is a beacon of hope for those grappling with similar struggles, demonstrating that it's possible to rise above adversity and lead a fulfilling life.
Get ready for a powerful conversation, filled with deep insights and hard-won wisdom.
CONTACT -Francesca Bas
💎 Website
💎 Instagram
💎 TedX Talk
IEnjoying the content and would like to contribute to the author?
Thank you 🙏
In this episode I have an inspiring conversation with Francesca Bas, the brave author, TEDx speaker, and coach who healed herself from of an eating disorder and feelings of disconnection that held her back.
"Healing isn't linear its about taking one step at a time".
- Francesca Bas
Francesca's journey is a testament to her resilience. Her story will resonate with many, especially at a time when mental health issues like eating disorders are alarmingly prevalent.
In this heartfelt discussion, we'll uncover Francesca's journey of finding the right psychologist and the turning point of asking a life-changing golden question.
Her story is a beacon of hope for those grappling with similar struggles, demonstrating that it's possible to rise above adversity and lead a fulfilling life.
Get ready for a powerful conversation, filled with deep insights and hard-won wisdom.
CONTACT -Francesca Bas
💎 Website
💎 Instagram
💎 TedX Talk
IEnjoying the content and would like to contribute to the author?
Thank you 🙏
In this episode I'm having a conversation with Francesca Batch. Francesca is an author, speaker and coach, and she shares with us her wellbeing journey from having an eating disorder and what she did to turn things around. If you want to be inspired, make sure you listen all the way till the end. Hello and welcome to the James Grimes from Podcast SuperSoul Model Series, where I help people tune and tap in to their natural state of wellbeing. This week, we are blessed to have Francesca Batch with us. Francesca is an author, a TEDx speaker, healer and coach. Francesca's story, even at the age of 22, is incredibly inspiring and her TED talk has already reached tens of thousands of people. And her journey about anorexia to complete wellness is truly inspiring. This week we are going to discuss Francesca's journey and the path to your wellness and how it may inspire you. Welcome to this episode, francesca Batch.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much, James. What a beautiful intro. I feel so honored and happy to be here.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, francesca. So you've already been successful in being able to reach tens of thousands of people via your TED talk that you did. I don't know how long ago was that that you actually recorded that, but even just at the age of 22 you've experienced great success. But you've experienced trauma as well as most people will have. But your journey to healing and having met you is a real bright spark in the world And I notice that there is a wisdom beyond the years here And I know that your story will inspire a lot of people. So just tell us how your background and where you came from and how this whole story unfolded for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I did my TED talk when I was 20, so two years ago And my life has been a bit of a roller coaster. I was born in Italy, moved a bit around Europe to the US, Australia, and it was beautiful, but I was also going through a lot, especially in my teen years. A lot of things happened. I was in new countries where people maybe didn't understand me, so I had a lot of bullying. I felt really alone And I got to a place of deep sadness, definitely at a point in that journey.
Speaker 1:So I was just looking on some statistics on the World Health Organization And, for those who are interested in Francesca's TED talk, be sure to check it out. It will be in the show notes below. But I was looking at the World Health Notes And one of my passions is to help people with healing health, wellness, well-being, the mind. This is something that I'm really passionate about And I was looking at the World Health Organization.
Speaker 2:What was it?
Speaker 1:I'll get there eventually. And their study said which is only relates back four years, to 2019, but it was like 301 million people in the world have anxiety disorders, 280 million have depression and mental disorders And 14 million people are estimated to have eating disorders. And that was only four years ago. It's increased since then and the eating disorder anorexia and bulimia can actually will predominantly reach its adolescents, which can then spiral right out of control. And so if we're looking at these types of mental traumas, these mental disorders, this mental health, we're looking at a pandemic within itself that's secretly eating away at society, but you are someone who has managed to go there and come out the other side.
Speaker 1:So I guess my question is is that, having moved around all these different countries, did you feel that there was a sense that you didn't have much groundedness, you didn't know who you were? I mean, how did this all happen? I mean, as an adolescent, when you're experiencing these challenges, how do you cope? What did they?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So Back to what you said, you're right, the numbers are increasing so much and it's it's scary, especially because we typically look at eating disorders one way anorexia, you know, we have an image in mind, or Bulimia, but there's actually so many others binge eating disorders and a bunch of others which we don't even Think about. And when I say we, i don't mean you and I mean the mass collection of people, and it is just So detrimental. And yeah, when I was growing up and Moving around, i definitely felt a big sense of ungroundedness, yeah, i would say the most when I moved to the US, which I was 10 years old. So When I moved to the US, i came from Europe and had very different Ways of doing, ways of playing with kids, ways of being, and I was also recently diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD And I started getting bullied a lot. So I felt this sense of unbalancing with the people around me.
Speaker 1:But also on belonging with myself, i couldn't, i didn't realize who I was and I was looking for externals to show me who I was, but wasn't really able to take that space to connect with myself and see who I was and Sometimes we look to our parents to help guide us, but they they're doing the best they can and they don't know either And you know, is it were you moving around, obviously because of your parents work, or your father's work or your mother's work What was, what was, what's the background for your parents work?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so my mom used to work for the big corporate world and, and that's why we had moved around so much, so the last place I lived with them was Portland, oregon, in 2019. So together we moved to three countries, and then I continued after that.
Speaker 1:Sure. So yeah, all that moving around, you just feel like who am I, where am I from? I don't really belong anywhere and with all these other things going on, with these other Diagnosis, you think I can't relate to anybody or anything. So hence the mental Climate that you may have had at that time was feeling, you know, challenged, imbalanced.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and I think I didn't recognize it at the time, you know, because I was just a kid. Yeah, and so I just had this deep feeling of sadness and also as a very Sensitive person, which now is a trait that I love and admire and people and love in myself. But as a kid I was just feeling all these big emotions and didn't know how to do with deal with them. And so, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:So so what happened next? How did you The challenges that you went through? you were 15 at that time. How long did it last for?
Speaker 2:Well, I was all the head.
Speaker 1:When did you recognize you think I've got a problem? because, yeah, that's the main. The main thing is is the healing begins when you recognize it and going hang on, i'm doing something and it's not right here, but you actually able to Step outside of yourself in just a moment of sobriety. It seems to go hang on. This is not right. Something's not right here. So how yeah, how old were you and how long did it last before you got that sort of understanding?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I would say when I started really struggling with my eating disorder and I say really struggling because I had Definitely some tendencies looking back before then, but when I was 15 was when it started. The voice started getting louder and louder in my head and it became harder and harder to listen to my own voice. And this period of deep Suffering, both mentally and physically, eventually, as I was really struggling with anorexia and bulimia, so I hadn't had my period in two years and I was Really struggling with staying awake, having any kind of strength, i was mentally blurry all the time and this would go on until I was 16.
Speaker 2:And Then I realized, after a really traumatic event happened with that, i need to tell someone. And and It's so interesting looking back at that moment, because no part of my eating disorder Wanted to tell someone. And this was the biggest voice in my head Yeah, there was something stronger than it Just saying you need help. And so I told my mom, which, as I was telling her, i had this huge voice Just yelling at me. And so that was the first, the first move that I, that I made.
Speaker 1:Was that? was that yell like a noise of embarrassment, or you know what was the feeling shame.
Speaker 2:Mmm. Yeah, i would say, the biggest feelings was definitely shame.
Speaker 2:Yeah a lot of sadness for my parents, because I know my mom really had worries about this and so I felt bad that I was putting this on them and also this. well, what does it mean now if I tell someone because I don't want to recover, i thought that I was doing great, even though I was struggling and suffering so much, because that was the first time that I felt I had control, which was completely a false sense of control, but that voice felt like it gave me.
Speaker 1:So had there been, just out of interest, had there been, like anything in your family lineage of any eating disorders or anything like that? because this is really interesting to me when I see patterns emerging. Because yeah yeah, so, yeah. So how's there?
Speaker 2:been any patterns in the family. Absolutely like in my mom's side of the family. Yeah it has been a generational trauma and regurgitation of very similar struggles and my mom and I are working on breaking that cycle.
Speaker 1:And breaking that cycle is really important for the next generation.
Speaker 1:Because, yeah, one of the things I realized is that I was the pattern breaker in my family and in your family you're the pattern breaker and if you anyone who's listening, you're the pattern breaker in your family, breaking the patterns of the past, of the family lineage, where things that are negative or traumatic, they need to be dealt with by you.
Speaker 1:Because once you've done that, you've cleaned the line for the generations to come, and that is a really beautiful thing. But it takes a really brave and courageous soul to want to actually do that And it's only if you're willing to face those traumas and challenges head on that you will actually see the light on the other side. You'll see the light through the trees, and so anybody who's listening I really enter Francesco especially I'm like in awe because I've had to do that myself with my drinking and my own addictions, to look at myself at near-death experiences twice, to go hang on. I'm not afraid to speak my truth anymore and in doing speaking your truth, you set yourself free and you set your family free, the people that you love the most and you actually help pave the way for everybody else.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Speaker 1:Oh well, you know, i'm just in awe of you because I know how challenging, you know, a trauma can be, but to be able to. You know, i've met you in person, francesco, and I was like, wow, you've got a light through your eyes. You know, this person is really connected and I was just like wow, i really love this human being. This person has got a big heart and there's really, you know, a shining light. But not only that you know, you're a wonderful example and a great leader of showing that wellness can be achieved, that healing can happen. So you said it started with saying that to your mum or confessing it to your mum. So what happened after that then?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so after that was a year of people trying to help me with short-term healing, not long term. So after that I went to the hospital and they basically gave me a choice either I had to be hospitalized or I had to go to a residential facility. So this is a kind of 24-7 surveillance facility.
Speaker 1:Is this in the USA?
Speaker 2:This was in the US yeah, oregon and so I went and I remember walking in there and there was a huge part of me that was so scared, you know, i felt like my entire identity was my eating disorders and the support that I was getting from doctors, from therapists. At the time they were all telling me I basically was only my eating disorder and so I was like who, who can I be without this? and I don't want to move on. I don't know how to deal with life. But there was a small part of me, a little glimmer, that was relieved, so I would go into this clinic and unfortunately it was terrible.
Speaker 2:And when I speak and have spoken to different people about eating disorder facilities, there's definitely some gems out there. However, most of them aren't that great and actually, james, two out of three people who go to eating disorder clinics come back within 18 months of leaving, and this has been stagnant for years. So clearly there's something, there's something wrong there and it's bigger than the clinic itself. I think it's more a part of the way in which we diagnose people. So, as psychologists and doctors, we diagnose people with the DSM-5, which is this criteria book to diagnose different disorders, and it has a lot of problematics, as you can imagine.
Speaker 2:You know, one book for the whole world, all of us having such different cultures and ways of being. But the biggest thing is This looks at extremities And also, when it came to anorexia, everything on the diagnosis sheet, except for, i think, one thing, is either behavioral or actually physically based. So for behavior and physically based things, of course you're going to change in the clinic because you're going to have to eat a certain way, otherwise they take certain rights away from you and you have to act a certain way. So of course those things are going to get better and we want those things to get better. But when you're not actually working on long term healing and what's lying under the disorder, of course people are going to fall back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it's basically like getting to the root of the problem. Now, one of my mentors that I've had like through reading I don't know how many thousands of book I've read it is Louise Hay, and I've got this book and I use it as like a little bio. it's called Heal Your Body.
Speaker 2:Heal Your Body.
Speaker 1:And this book by Louise Hay. It gives you a list of all these different types of emotional challenges that come with a physical ailment. So, looking at physical healing, you have to look at the emotional cause, and one of the causes of anorexia is eating away at the self. And it's quite interesting the logic behind that. It means that you are, you're disowning self. It means you are not loving self, you're fear of your own physical form and who you are, and that is the root of how it all comes about.
Speaker 1:I'm super interested because if that's where you were, what did you start doing to flip the switch? Because the person that you are, i couldn't even imagine that person, that other person that you were to who you are now. This is what I find absolutely fascinating. When people meet me and they go oh, james, you look like really healthy and vital and alive and energizing. They couldn't imagine the type of lifestyle prior to that. They just I can't. I couldn't even imagine you with a cigarette in your mouth or you know, doing the types of rock and roll lifestyle. Yeah, because I'm not even the same person. You know. The essence is there. I'm not going to say that I didn't have fun, but what I am going to say is that I far prefer the person that I am now than I was then.
Speaker 1:And it feels like a different lifetime. So what did you do? What was the healing process? You went to the clinic. Yeah not so much joy, it seems.
Speaker 2:So, what happened. I went to the clinic and then it would be months, maybe nine months, of trying different things, nothing really working, because everything was working along the lines of how do we cure the DSM-5 criteria.
Speaker 1:Wrong question to ask, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Wrong question to ask, and so I fell. What is the?
Speaker 1:question to ask. So if anyone's got a challenge, what is the question that you should ask? Because to ask a good question, you're going to get a good answer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, that's a great question. Well, i guess I will tell you the question that changed my life.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:I am so grateful to this question and this person. And the aha moment is going to come in different ways for different people, but when you feel that aha moment, hold it and explore it. So, after going to these different clinics, i found my angel, my psychologist, amanda, and I first met her. I hated her because she I knew she could actually see me not pretend to see my eating disorder, but see me, which was super scary. And I at this point didn't see a life past my eating disorder. I was like these people are crazy, thinking that they're going to change my mind. This is my way of living and I can't change. Even if I wanted to, i can't do it.
Speaker 2:So this is how I went into her office And I think the first few sessions I didn't speak, i was just a little angry, her teenager. And then, finally, once I started opening up to her a bit, she asked me where do you see yourself 10 years from now? And I went on to tell her this beautiful life of traveling, of love, of fulfillment, and she asked me that's beautiful. Do you think you can achieve that life with the eating disorder by your side? And that was the first time that someone actually hit on what I wanted and looking into why I wanted to recover, and I was like, no, i can't.
Speaker 2:But in my mind that was the light switch And I started to reflect And finally, for the first time in years, i felt a little glimmer of what was Francesca. So, even though that was the golden question for me, i would say more than a question, the best way to help someone is see them, make them feel seen. You know, don't treat them just as if they're just their disorder, because they're not. That's a part of them. That's really veiling over their life. That's really hard, but there's a beautiful person in that And in order for that person to move on, to move forward, to go to recovery, they need to remember who that person is and how beautiful and how valued they are.
Speaker 1:Sure, and sometimes that you may not get that from a guardian or a parent. They might not be able to find appreciation, because sometimes I mean children all need, everybody needs appreciation. Everybody needs listening too, everybody wants to be heard, everybody wants to feel accepted and loved. But when you don't feel great, there's often not a mirror there for you to hold that space and light, but it seems like just having that ray of light or having somebody who. Can you look past the shell that you'd created. Once it cracks, you can see the light through the middle And, as Rumi says, the wound is the place where the light enters. So Amanda was able to see through the wound and then the light could enter in the healing you begin.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, and for people out there, whether it's an eating disorder or whatever it is you want to heal from, i think a really important reminder is that everyone needs a different kind of healing and a different kind of psychologist. I always say finding the right psychologist is kind of like dating It takes a lot before you find the right one. James the psychologist that I saw some of them were so triggering. There was this one who kept talking to me in bird analogies. There were all kinds of people.
Speaker 1:Okay, so they said that you're always going to get something weird going on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, always going to get something, but there is that person out there who will see you and who will be able to help you. So even if you've gone to a few and they haven't struck you that way, they are out there.
Speaker 1:You might have to excuse me now. G kiss a few frogs before you actually find the right person for you.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:When I see trauma and I see difficulties and then I see healing. The reason why I love doing this show is because when I've managed to heal myself and then just watch other people just feel great around me. That is my gift. It's like that, because I've healed myself and sorted myself out. Watching other people feel happy in around me it just gives me so much joy that I'm so pleased. I decided to walk this path, because it wasn't easy. I knew the next thing I was going to do was probably going to end my life and I didn't want to look to think about those thoughts about what kind of mess I would have left behind to have to clean up in another lifetime. I was just like I can't have that weighing down on my shoulders. But I just wanted to just flip this switch a little bit and I'm just inspired because this TEDx talk that you did You've also written a book, haven't you?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Tell us a little bit about the book. Is that just all about your story and what you did and how you recovered?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:What's the name of the book and where can people find it?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. The book is called Goddess Moon. The book is an evolution. For a long time, i thought I would only work with eating disorders, and that's something I'm so very passionate about, and that's exclusively who I coach right now is people healing from eating disorders. However, i realized that my sense of what I can bring to the world goes a little bit beyond eating disorders as well in general, to helping people heal And I also love art, and so my book is called Goddess Moon and it's a women's empowerment, coloring and mindfulness book. So the coloring pages are all different women's who look completely different from different backgrounds, different bodies, and the coloring aspect is meant to bring a sense of mindfulness and being in the present moment, as well as seeing the beauty in each different body, whereas the journaling pages are bits and pieces of healing I think we could all use.
Speaker 1:Well, art is most certainly healing. My form of art that gives me healing I wouldn't say healing, it probably gives me more joy. It's just making dance, playing the ukulele, but whatever it is, for you, it might be creating, building, it might be, it could be a host of things, writing, it could be, you know, painting, drawing. You know, i've even just started trying to draw now and I'm like I've never really drawn But I'd actually making it some videos, thinking, you know, i've got five minutes, let's just try a bit of sketching, because I'm always intrigued to see what we're capable of. Considering that this isn't rock and roll, i thought, well, i'm not rock and roll anymore, i wanna just see what I'm capable of, and one of the reasons for this podcast is to see what could we tap into as people so that we can unearth our infinite possibilities. I'm just fascinated by what we're capable of And seeing.
Speaker 1:You know, whoever's listening, you know, do you realize how powerful you are? Do you realize how many gifts you have And that you're gonna constantly be unearthing new gifts, as long as you find them? you know, stimulating or finding new things? you're still curious about life. One thing I noticed about you is you're super curious about life and you love to travel and you've got an incredible amount of light and energy And I'm just fascinated that you're only 22,. I'm just really intrigued and eager to see what you're gonna do and how many people you can help with your story already and what you're gonna go on to do. I just wanted to say, francesca, it's been an absolute joy speaking with you and you sharing your story, and if there was just something that you could share to somebody listening that might be going through some difficulty right now, what sort of inspiration would you like to leave? What sort of thought could you leave somebody on?
Speaker 2:Yeah, i would say to anyone, but especially those of you struggling or starting your healing journey, that you are so worthy of healing. There's so much beauty that lives inside of you, inside of your uniqueness, and that it's all there inside of you. Maybe you just need someone to help you clean the mirror a bit, to reflect back to you and to support you in your healing journey and remind you again of that beautiful person that you already are and that that dream life that you have. it's out there for you and all it takes is really believing in yourself and also coming with a sense of gentleness and self-compassion. Healing isn't linear. It's about one step at a time and if you take a little step back, you're not at the bottom of the staircase, it's just one step.
Speaker 1:Francesca, it's been really soothing and healing and beautiful to speak with you And I really hope this inspires you guys, the listeners, to maybe walk your own path of wellness, walk to your own healing, whatever that might be, whatever challenges or traumas you may be going through. I just wanted to say that there is always a way and I just love the way Francesca had put just be gentle with yourself And then, after the gentleness, a little joy will break through the cracks after a while.
Speaker 1:So this week's Super Soul Model thank you so much is Francesca Bass.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. Thank you for doing this show and inspiring so many, and I am so happy to be a part of it.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to this episode And if you've enjoyed it in gotten value and inspiration, please consider leaving a review, because your reviews help push this algorithm up so we can continue to keep giving you better and better content.