Mayim Bialikis opening up about her decision to reveal herbattle with disordered eatingon her podcast and why it has become her “favorite” episode.
Bialik tells PEOPLE that she “wasn’t planning on talking about having an eating disorder” on the podcast, but that Doyle, who has been open about her own past struggles with bulimia and food issues, helped her feel “ready to be vulnerable” and gave her a “safe” space to share her truth.
“I know that it’s such a huge component of [Doyle’s] story and in books that she’s been so open about, that literally in the moment I was like, if she can be brave and be so helpful to people, maybe I can try and be brave too,” Bialik says. “That was it. I was not planning it.”
Bialik, who created the podcast with boyfriend Jonathan Cohen, notes that she and Cohen were both “surprised” the actress discussed her experience with anorexia, compulsive overeating and restrictive eating. During the episode, Bialik said she’s been in recovery from eating disorders for the last two years.
The actress, who also has her Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, says the episode has become a “favorite” for listeners, as well as for herself.
“It has a very personal connection for me,” she says.
The mother of two haslong been open about her mental health strugglesand tells PEOPLE she wanted to create her podcast as a way for people to “have an understanding of mental health and access to information.”
Bialik, who is partnering with brain health supplement Neuriva, says it is important to have a grasp of what goes on in the brain, “an organ that needs support just like our body needs support.”
Mayim Bialik.Presley Ann/WireImage
As part of Bialik’s personal brain health routine, the actress says she has “cut out caffeine in the past year” and is “giving away all of [her] alcohol.”
“There’s no quick fix for brain health. There just isn’t,” she adds. “We have to do ongoing things that support overall brain health.”
If you or someone you know is battling an eating disorder, please contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) at 1-800-931-2237 or go to NationalEatingDisorders.org.
source: people.com
