Episode Title:
A Different Kind of Anorexia: How Diverticulitis Changed My Relationship with Food
Episode Description:
In this deeply personal episode, acclaimed memoir teacher Laura Davis shares her unexpected health journey through recurring diverticulitis and the profound way it has transformed her lifelong love of food into fear and isolation. With characteristic honesty and vulnerability, Laura opens up about losing 30 pounds in four months, navigating a confusing medical system, and ultimately discovering that healing requires addressing not just physical symptoms but emotional and mental well-being. This episode offers hope and practical insights for anyone dealing with chronic health challenges while maintaining life's non-negotiable commitments.
Episode Highlights
The Shock of Diagnosis: Laura describes her first diverticulitis attack in September 2025 and the confusing lack of guidance from medical professionals
Food as Identity: How Laura's relationship with cooking, entertaining, and shared meals formed a core part of her identity and joy
The Isolation of Illness: The profound loneliness of eating alone while others enjoy shared meals, bringing her own food in bento boxes to dinner parties
Medical System Frustration: Laura's experience with the "you're old, what do you expect" dismissal from healthcare providers
Breaking Point Realization: Discovering that "anorexia" is listed as a diverticulitis side effect—and recognizing she had become afraid to eat
Cancer vs. Diverticulitis: Laura's surprising revelation that her recurring diverticulitis affects her daily life far more than her breast cancer diagnosis
The Turning Point: Recognizing that healing requires more than physical treatment—she needed to address her emotional spiral
Embracing the Journey: Laura's shift from fighting her condition to exploring holistic approaches including hypnotherapy, guided meditation, and magnetic frequency healing
About Host Laura Davis
Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping people craft powerful personal narratives. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura teaches weekly memoir writing classes via Zoom, leads international writing retreats at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California, and hosts "The Writer's Journey" podcast. She also creates the "Midweek Pause for Peace" series pairing poetry with peaceful imagery. Currently based in Sinai, Egypt, Laura continues to teach, write, and support memoirists worldwide while navigating her own profound life transitions and health challenges with the same honesty and courage she brings to her teaching.
Resources Laura Mentions
Laura's Award-Winning Memoir: "The Burning Light of Two Stars" (BookLife Prize Winner 2021)
Villa Maria del Mar: Oceanfront retreat center in Santa Cruz, California, where Laura will teach her upcoming workshop: "Flourishing as We Age,” a seven-day writing workshop for women at Villa Maria del Mar. https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/
Functional Medicine: Alternative approach to gut health and healing
Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese medicine for digestive support
Holistic Healing Modalities: Hypnotherapy for gut health, guided meditation, magnetic frequency healing devices
Key Takeaways from This Episode:
Chronic illness impacts identity: When a core aspect of life (like enjoying food) becomes compromised, it can trigger depression and require grieving what was lost while adapting to a new reality.
The brain-gut connection is real: Anxiety, worry, and negative thought patterns can exacerbate digestive conditions, creating a cycle where physical symptoms worsen emotional state and vice versa.
Healing requires holistic approach: Traditional medical treatment alone may not address chronic conditions—integrating emotional, mental, and alternative healing practices can be essential.
Self-advocacy matters: When medical professionals dismiss concerns or offer inadequate guidance, seeking multiple opinions and exploring various treatment approaches is justified and necessary.
Mindset shifts enable healing: Moving from fighting against illness to accepting the journey and focusing on what you can control (thoughts, emotions, self-care) creates space for genuine healing.
Connect with Laura Davis
Subscribe to The Writer's Journey Newsletter: www.lauradavis.net
Explore Laura's Writing Classes, Books, and International Retreats: https://lauradavis.net/
Listen to More Episodes: The Writer's Journey podcast https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/
Follow Laura's Weekly Essays and "Midweek Pause for Peace" series: Poetry and peaceful imagery for reflection. https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/
The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.
You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/
Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/
