Bryony Gordon: How people pleasing fuelled my OCD, alcoholism, and eating disorder

Happy Place with Fearne Cotton

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Monday, 13 April 2026 - 60 minutes

You’ve heard of fight or flight, but what about fawn – the idea of appeasing others to stay safe? Author and mental health advocate Bryony Gordon thinks there’s a reason so many women feel under pressure to people please.In this chat with Fearne, Bryony explores how she feels people pleasing has fuelled parts of her OCD, alcoholism, and eating disorders over the years.Fearne and Bryony also chat about body image, and both reveal some of the insecurities that have consumed them... that likely no one else has noticed. Bryony reckons feeling ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’ are two sides of the same coin, and offers advice on how to confidently take up space. (Or, as she puts it: “step into your mother*cking majesty!”)Bryony’s novel, People Pleaser, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Break free from people pleasingPoorna BellWill Poulter  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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