Jamila Rizvi - Awoken by a Broken Brain

Jamila Rizvi has not been the perfect sick person.

When Jamila was last in our studio, she was deep in the grief stage.

Jamila’s life had been irrevocably changed by the imposition of a brain tumour, and the myriad of health complications due to surgery. To put it simply, Jamila didn’t know who Jamila was anymore, and that terrified her.

This week, in the Vulnerabilitea House, Jamila answers the questions “what aspects of your identity have you held onto for too long?”

The drip-fed loss of cognitive functions and a new hormone condition which made her constantly starving, Jamila felt like her body and mind were no longer her own. Speaking to Hugh, Josh, and Ryan really honestly, Jamila opens up about her eating disorder during this time; how it impacted her sense of self, her relationships, and ability to connect.

Jamila, it was a joy to have you back. We’re so proud of you.

Chapters:
0:00 – Where are they now?
7:31 – What aspects of your identity have you held onto for too long?
20:06 – Phases of identity
25:24 – Impact of a brain tumour on a relationship
29:52 – Constantly starving, craving thinness
36:51 – Intense, urgent desperation
48:38 – Train your brain to love your body
54:12 – Would you take it back?
59:39 – Adrenal Crisis and Crisis of Self

To watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://youtu.be/A_lE3nSA2Mc

🫖Other episodes of The Imperfects mentioned on this episode

• Jamila Rizvi - Living with the effects of a brain tumour - https://bit.ly/3M8QR8V
• Grace Tame - “Sexy-time, Scissoring, Autism” - https://bit.ly/47ZGJqs
• Clare Bowditch - Music, Panic Attacks & Body Image - https://bit.ly/4pkmFGp

📖Things to read:

• Broken Brains by Jamila Rizvi and Rosie Waterland - https://bit.ly/48l6JxP

💻Things to look up:

• The “If And Then” model of happiness - https://bit.ly/4pi0UH6

📱Games to download:

• 2048 - https://bit.ly/43BHpkx

🦋 If this conversation has raised some uncomfortable feelings for you around eating and food, the Butterfly Foundation 1800 33 4673 is a great place check out - https://butterfly.org.au

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, (with the new cards!) purchase here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - http://bit.ly/4mqunxu

🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here - http://bit.ly/4mq5BO5

The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.