Liv Label Free

Last year, I received an email from a lovely individual inquiring about coaching opportunities. I asked if she could briefly share her story and some of her goals for coaching. In true autistic style, she replied with what she described as “a novel to explain herself, lol.” I loved reading this “novel” because, as with most emails I receive, I resonated with so much of her lived experience. In her email, this individual shared how she had struggled with disordered eating for most of her life. At age 46, she was diagnosed with autism, which she said was “life-changing in ways I can't even begin to describe.” Over the years, she'd tried countless “treatments” for her eating challenges – but as I'm sure you can already guess, these attempts had not only failed, but led to feelings of hopelessness. The reason I reflect on this correspondence is because there was one sentence in her email that I immediately thought of after I recorded today's podcast episode. She wrote that she'd been scouring the internet for links between autism and overeating, but ended up finding very little that resonated. “It's all about ARFID and beige food and anorexia,” she wrote. And she's right; there is very little out there on the connection between autism and binge eating, which is why I am BEYOND excited to be diving into this conversation with my good friend Kory Andreas on the podcast today! After we talk about the lost generation of autistic relatives and how our grandmas are basically the same person, Kory opens up about her MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) which is super common in neurodivergent people. Kory also talks about her experience with binge eating, learning that it was rooted in being neurodivergent, and how starting ADHD medication practically made all her binge urges disappear overnight. This was such a high energy conversation (I mean, just put two neurodivergent people in a room together, right?) so I can't wait for you to listen!

For years, I said “I'm recovered” from my eating disorder – but I realize that's not the full truth. In this episode, I open up about my discovery journey and share how I'm living my unique version of freedom as an autistic person with a history of anorexia.

When I was in eating disorder treatment, I was told “it's the eating disorder talking” more times than I can remember.

The world is moving really fast. Especially for us AudDHD folks who are already trying to keep up with the demands of our “human body costume” – let alone the demands of society – merely existing can feel impossible. In this unfiltered catch-up episode with Emilia, my former 1-1 coaching client turned best friend, we share how travel wrecks our nervous systems even when it's worth it, the existential exhaustion of being neurodivergent on planet Earth, and why money can be a serious financial barrier for autistic and ADHD folks. We also get into the impossible tension of craving foods your body won't tolerate, the constant tug-of-war between ADHD wants and autistic needs, and why so many things not going to plan lately have actually been the universe nudging us to exactly where we're supposed to go. If you've ever felt like you're managing a high-maintenance inner world while everyone else seems to be existing without effort, this episode is for you. Key discussion points: Why travel is always a trade-off of your nervous system and why in-person connection can still make it worth it The existential exhaustion of being neurodivergent in a world that never slows down Money as the unspoken barrier in neurodivergent spaces, and the ethical dilemma of serving a community that often can't afford support Managing the demands of a body that needs feeding, watering, bathing, exercising (and Emilia's incredible "single parent to twins" analogy) Craving foods that satisfy sensorially but wreck you physically, and what that has to do with how we understand eating disorders in autistic people The tiny window of activities that work for both ADHD and autism simultaneously Shifting from chasing to receiving, and how the Universe lines up for you when you align with your neurodivergent soul Why things not going to plan might be the most important sign you're being redirected, and the importance of gratitude in tough times

In today's group podcast, participants share their perspectives and experiences in response to the following questions: Does the food noise ever go away? How to deal with mental hunger and the constant desire to restrict in ED recovery? How to support your loved one as they transition back home after being inpatient? Is it okay to NOT eat mindfully in autistic eating disorder recovery? What are distractions that can make eating easier and less stressful? As always, this conversation was filled with deep connection, compassion, and understanding. Want to join our monthly group podcast? You get direct access via the Liv Label Free Membership or after you've completed any of my coaching programs! Check out all my offers: https://www.livlabelfree.com/coaching

Many parents come to me seeking support for their autistic child struggling with an eating disorder only to discover they're part of the lost generation of autistic parents! In today's episode, I chat with Felicity, a mum of two who's passionate about all things art, movement, and creativity. Felicity shares how she began questioning her own neurodivergence when she joined my Autistically ED-Free Academy, how she's rebuilding trust with her daughter after the trauma of traditional ED treatment, and the importance of going on your own discovery journey as a caregiver.

Four years ago, Amy started 1-1 coaching with me, desperate to support her autistic daughter who was struggling with anorexia. FBT had failed the family and Amy just felt so LOST! But through learning neurodiversity-affirming support strategies, Amy's daughter has now taken significant steps on her discovery journey. In this episode, Amy shares priceless insights to support your autistic loved one with an eating disorder.

Today I'm joined by Julia, my former 1-1 coaching client and now my right-hand person behind the scenes at Liv Label Free! In this episode, Julia shares her story for the first time: from feeling misunderstood and struggling within the healthcare system to finding clarity, self-understanding, and a completely different way of relating to herself. Together, we talk about eating disorder treatment, neurodivergence, and what actually creates lasting change. Key Topics Discussed: Julia's journey and how she and Livia ended up working together Why traditional treatment often doesn't work for neurodivergent people What MFT (Multi Family Therapy) is, and why it felt traumatizing for Julia The moment Julia discovered she's autistic Why autonomy is so important for neurodivergent people in eating disorder recovery How 1-1 coaching with Livia changed everything for Julia

Most eating disorder professionals overlook autism. Yet even if they do recognize it, there's a gap in understanding the nuances of just how autistic traits intertwine with eating disorder behaviors. For this reason, many autistic people are invalidated, traumatized, and stamped with countless labels including “hopeless,” “manipulative,” and “too complex” while trying to get help for their eating disorder(s). Just like me, they're often told they're never going to get better and that they'll just have to “manage” an ED for the rest of their life. If you or someone you care for is currently struggling with food, exercise, and their body, I'm here to tell you from the start that full recovery is 100% possible for ANYONE. But here's the catch: you have to want it. In this episode, I share my story growing up undiagnosed autistic, how this led to the development of an eating disorder, and what I did to tip the scales (no pun intended) from being terrified of recovery to actually WANTING to do whatever it took to find freedom from my eating disorder. It goes without saying that there's only so much I can cover in a podcast episode, so if you want to dive even deeper into the complex connection between autism and eating disorders, be sure to grab a copy of my book Rainbow Girl: https://www.livlabelfree.com/rainbowgirl Want to discover your unique version of neurodiversity-affirming freedom? Save your seat in the Autistically ED-Free Academy: https://www.livlabelfree.com/group Blog post of this episode: https://www.livlabelfree.com/blog/autism-and-anorexia-my-ed-recovery-story

In this episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia discusses demand avoidance in autism and how it can influence eating behaviors and eating disorder recovery. She explains what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is, why basic needs like eating can sometimes feel like overwhelming demands, and how this can lead to avoidance around food and eating disorder treatment. Livia also explores the shift from viewing PDA as “pathological” to understanding it as a Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, highlighting why language and perspective matter. Finally, she shares practical strategies for caregivers and individuals to support recovery in ways that respect autonomy, reduce pressure, and foster collaboration.

Family-Based Therapy (FBT) is often hailed as the “evidence based” and “gold standard” treatment approach for anorexia patients. However, FBT can be severely traumatic for autistic individuals. In today's episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia explores the harm of FBT, including theft of autonomy (especially harmful for individuals with PDA!) and the danger of prioritizing weight gain above all other aspects of eating disorder recovery. Livia also discusses how the core principles of FBT can unintentionally increase distress for neurodivergent individuals, whose eating disorders are often tied to needs for predictability, safety, and autonomy. Through both lived experience and insights from working with families, she highlights why one-size-fits-all treatment models may fall short and why more neurodiversity-affirming approaches are needed.

Season 3 of the Autistically ED-Free Academy is OPEN!

This is one of my favorite conversations on PDA to date! Livia Sara and Allyson Inez Ford sit down to discuss the connection between demand avoidance and eating disorders in neurodivergent folks, highlighting the importance of autonomy and purpose on the discovery journey. Key Topics Discussed: Why traditional eating disorder treatment fails people with PDA The need for meaning and purpose beyond abstract recovery goals like “food freedom” How eating disorders create boundaries in a boundless world and serve as distractions from existential overwhelm Why shifting “recovery” to “discovery” helps remove the pressure that healing has to look a certain way How the “why” for discovery must be self-defined, not externally imposed

In this vulnerable episode, Liv opens up about how her OCD has resurfaced since moving back home. Liv and Sharon also discuss how traditional treatments for OCD and eating disorders fail neurodivergent people when the approach isn't person-centered.

How much of your existence is shrouded in resistance? Something a lot of us gifted autistics feel resistance towards is the needs of the human body. Food, water, sleep, bathroom… Every bodily demand feels like an interruption, a violation of autonomy. As Kathi shared in today's group podcast, her father literally says “I want to decide when I want to eat. I don't want my body to tell me when to eat!” If you have PDA (officially “Pathological Demand Avoidance” but I prefer the term “Pervasive Drive for Autonomy”), rejecting bodily needs is an attempt to preserve autonomy. Through this lens, the eating disorder – the ultimate rejection of bodily needs – can almost be seen as an extreme manifestation of PDA. Of course, the paradox is that the ED itself is a violation of autonomy…because when your every next move is decided by the ED force, well you ain't so much “in control” anymore, eh? In today's episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, we dive DEEP into eating disorders and PDA, as well as: How diagnoses help validate our struggles Intergenerational patterns of resisting bodily needs Why mental hunger is a legitimate hunger signal (Kathi shares a great metaphor!) Franz Kafka's “A Hunger Artist” and existential loneliness Why recovery requires surrender before proof I know how “claustrophobic” it can feel to be an infinite soul contained in a human body costume. But as I've been reminding myself lately, suffering is amplified by resisting what is. XO Liv P.S. Want to join these live group calls and connect with other neurodivergent beings on this discovery journey? The Liv Label Free Membership includes 3x monthly group calls, 24/7 WhatsApp support, my extreme hunger course, continued access to the Autistically ED-Free Academy, and hours of previously recorded coaching calls.

Teddie is finally on the podcast! As promised in last week's episode, I'm reading the short story I wrote about wanting to recover but not gain weight.

This might be the most vulnerable episode I've EVER recorded! Just me, a camera, and whatever came out. Watch for a behind-the-scenes peek of my two massive writing projects, why I'm done polishing the podcast, and what “unmasking around yourself” really means. Also: Teddie the autistic alien is coming to the podcast!!

You know what's been missing from the podcast space? A GROUP podcast where neurodivergent aliens with ED lived experience come together to share their struggles & insights. Because let's be real, there's nothing more validating than hearing from others that have the EXACT same thoughts as you… Which is why I'm beyond excited to share that myself and past Autistically ED-Free Academy participants have launched that group podcast! In this first episode, we discuss why eating disorders are distractions from our creative potential, the fear of emptiness in quasi recovery, and how we're one quantum system in different bodies communicating through a collective unconscious energy field

Happy 2026 my friends! It's been a while since I recorded a solo episode, but it feels ✨aligned✨ again, so here we are! In today's podcast, I share 5 things I've left behind in 2025 so that I can step more fully into my BEING.

In this first episode of the Liv and Kathi coalescence, we let the conversation flow where our souls guide us! We chat about breaking free from past identities, following your intuition, how reality is a collective dream, and so much more. Ready to discover your authentic self with others who genuinely understand the neurodivergent experience of eating adaptations? Join us in 51 Days to Freedom! https://livlabelfree.com/freedom Sign up for Liv Label Free emails! https://livlabelfree.com/join

Livia shares a powerful metaphor to help you take the first step to breaking free from quasi recovery. If you're ready to take the next step, join us in 51 Days to Freedom! https://livlabelfree.com/freedom Sign up for Liv Label Free emails! https://livlabelfree.com/join

Livia Sara chats with Rachael Herron about creativity, art, and how words will always fail. If you or your loved one are terrified of letting go of the eating disorder identity, this conversation is going to inspire and empower you to become the person you were born to be! Sign up for Liv Label Free emails: www.livlabelfree.com/join

Livia chats with Anna, who discovered me through my book Rainbow Girl, participated in the Autistically ED-Free Academy, and is on her own journey to discovering what freedom looks like after an eating disorder. This episode is the start of a new podcast era in which I leave behind excessive preparation and scripted episodes. Instead, I'm fully leaning into what my soul has been craving most – authentic, raw, & live connection

Go on a walk with me as I record another spontaneous voice memo! In this episode, I share my evolving relationship with the podcast format, explaining how I'm craving more live, soul-to-soul connections rather than speaking into the void. I discuss feeling claustrophobic as I try to externally match my internal vastness through words, and how authentic connections through 1-1 Coaching, the Autistically ED-Free Academy, and the Existential Autistic Membership have become infinitely more meaningful than solo recordings. This episode covers my shift away from social media and AI-generated content to focusing on my books and my desire to preserve my speaking energy for live connections rather than scripted episodes. All in all, I'm embracing change and adaptation, moving toward a podcast format featuring guests and genuine energy exchange while being transparent about the everyday struggle of existing as an autistic person beyond the facade of “life is perfect” after an eating disorder. ✨ Existential Autistic Membership: https://www.livlabelfree.com/membership

In today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my everyday experience being AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD). I share how trapped I feel in this body, how overwhelmed I am by my own mind, and how masking & giftedness play a role in it all. Discovery resources for you:

In this first installment of Dopamine Diaries, Livia Sara unravels the overlooked connection between autism, ADHD, and anorexia. You'll learn how dopamine differences create a neurodivergent vulnerability for engaging in anorexia behaviors, including restriction, compulsive exercise, ADHD hyperfocus, and constantly thinking about food! Further resources:

Welcome to this Liv Label Free meditation! I'm Livia Sara, an autistic eating disorder recovery coach that's here to help you turn your MESS into your MESSage. Today, I'm delighted to guide you through this meditation designed for autistic people struggling with eating disorders. It's a connection that's hugely misunderstood, which is beyond unfortunate because of how common autism and eating disorders are! My promise to you with this mediation is that you will feel validated and that you will walk away with at least a teensy tiny bit of hope. Because you are absolutely not alone, my friend. Freedom from disordered eating is already out in the Universe waiting for you. Your unique version of a healthy relationship with food is already swirling through the cosmos, waiting for your powerful neurodivergent essence to collide with it! But of course, that can be difficult to imagine, let alone to trust, when you feel stuck. When you feel like food is your only coping mechanism. When you feel that food and exercise are your only way of numbing from this overwhelming world not built for you. So that's what we're going to explore together today. Through your breathing and intention, and my guidance, we're going to regulate your nervous system together, and we're going to create the space for YOU to create a life you don't need to escape from. Which is a life of safety. Because when you feel safe, there's no numbing necessary.

Do you ever have a conversation with someone where you talk about SO much that you have no idea what you talked about afterwards? Well that's literally the experience I had with Rosie in today's podcast episode! Rosie contacted me around this time last year after she had completed my free audiotraining “3 Steps to Recovery From an Eating Disorder as an Autistic Person.” She'd already gotten so many insights from that training that we decided to work together through 1-1 Coaching, and we've been best friends ever since! We both felt it only *made sense* to have her come on the podcast to talk about ALL the things, including: Rosie's lived experience of an eating disorder as an autistic person How eating disorders are adaptive safety mechanisms rather than about weight loss or body image Why freedom isn't about “recovering from” an ED at all, but rather, about creating a life worth suffering for Even I got super vulnerable in sharing how my life AFTER an eating disorder is actually way more challenging than when I was struggling with anorexia – but how this is precisely what we mean when we talk about creating a meaningful life!

In this episode, Livia Sara unpacks the following 3 myths about autism and eating disorders: It's harder for an autistic person to recover from an eating disorder You can't diagnose someone with autism if they have an active eating disorder Autistic people can't eat intuitively You'll also hear a preview of two chapters from Livia's newest book How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery, which you can buy here: https://www.livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybook Book a discovery call for 1-1 coaching: https://livlabelfree.com/coaching Mentioned episode: What if My Autistic Traits Weren't There Before My Eating Disorder? Blog post of this episode: https://www.livlabelfree.com/blog/3-myths-about-autism-and-eating-disorders

Livia answers a listener question about how to get rid of headaches, tinnitus, and dizziness in anorexia recovery. Want more? Find my books, courses, and coaching programs at livlabelfree.com Episode transcript: Hello my friends, well today is another Q&A episode and today's question comes from jellyfish1093 on YouTube and they asked if I could do an episode on physical and mental symptoms no one talks about when in anorexia. And obviously there are an infinite number of things no one talks about – or rather, not enough people are talking about – when it comes to eating disorders, especially when said eating disorders intertwine with autism and LGBTQ+ identity and chronic illness and all the other things that well, no one talks about! And by this point, I do hope you know that a huge goal of mine with this podcast and with my books and my courses is to shed light on these underserved topics because they're things I wish I had known during my own recovery. They're the things my family wished they'd known because they would have been better able to support me. They're things that all healthcare professionals SHOULD know so that they can help individuals unleash their full potential rather than trying to treat a “disorder” that's merely a manifestation of, again, everything no one talks about. Anyways, all that being said, because we've of course gotta have some direction, I replied to jellyfish1093 asking if they could elaborate on what stage of recovery they're in and specifically what symptoms they wanted me to talk about. And here's what they replied: “I'm currently in quasi recovery. My weight is very low and I am still exercising every day and struggling immensely. I am eating 4 meals a day but have been experiencing headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, and other symptoms like brain fog, extreme anxiety and depression. I also have Autism. Just looking to find hope that if I can fully recover that these symptoms can go away. For 4 years I have been trying to find out why these symptoms are happening but now I am wondering if they are all related to anorexia? Just trying to find hope. Thank you.” Well we've got a lot to get into and I am super excited to get into it because, as you may have guessed, I did some research (which basically means I went into multiple research rabbit holes, a very autistic trait, I might add) and I paired my findings with my own lived experience and those of my clients to now bring you this podcast! So buckle up because I'm going to take you on a journey to what I've learned so that hopefully, jellyfish1093, this gives you hope, and to anyone else with similar experiences, I hope this gives YOU hope as well. So without further ado, let's dive in! Alright so we need to establish the facts first. Based on what jellyfish1093 (I freaking love saying that username so thank you for gifting me this opportunity to have a laugh), we're going to establish as a fact that you are malnourished. Your weight is low, you're engaging in exercise that you probably shouldn't be, and you're not eating enough. So, you're in a state of energy deficit. Quasi recovery aside, the fact is that your body is depleted. And the fact that I'm really hammering this down right now is because when the body is in a state of energy deficit, nothing can function correctly. And I mean nothing. Because the truth is that the human body is nothing more than a living organism that uses energy and requires that energy to be replenished. And if that energy replenishment – AKA eating and drinking – is hard for you, trust me, I am right there with ya my friend. The amount of times that I have wished that I could photosynthesize, the amount of times I have wished this body didn't even have needs. The amount of times I have wished I didn't have to drink or eat or sleep or shower or clean or whatever it is that we have to do on a daily basis just because we have bodies…my god, it's fucking exhausting. But all those feelings aside, the bottom line is that we do have bodies. And these bodies do have needs. So what happens when we don't give our body what it needs? What happens is that the body goes into energy conservation mode. It does everything humanly possible (no pun intended) to not use up its limited resources. Now, I'm not going to elaborate on the science behind this too deeply because I literally wrote an entire book called How to Beat Extreme Hunger explaining energy deficit and how this leads to energy debt and why extreme hunger is your body's attempt at getting you back into homeostasis, and of course, in that book I also share my lived experience around all my recovery fears including mental hunger just being a bad habit, that I would become addicted to food and develop binge eating disorder if I gave into my extreme hunger, and of course, I share how to make peace with weight gain because I'm autistic and philosophical and the whole “oh just love your body and appreciate what it can do for you” NEVER resonated with me because to be honest my friends, I still feel hella trapped in this body. I mean for real, it's too freaking constraining and demanding. But we're not gonna go there right now because we were gonna talk about headaches and dizziness and tinnitus and all the things jellyfish1093 has asked about. But yeah, shameless plug for all my books right now because they're awesome and I worked really hard on them and you can find them all at livlabelfreebooks.com or on Amazon. But now back to the episode and why it's so important to understand that energy deficit AKA restriction causes the body to try and conserve energy is that this energy conservation causes all kinds of symptoms that, to put it bluntly, fucking suck. You weaken your digestive system which means that when you start eating again in recovery you'll feel really sick and bloated. You starve your brain which means that there will be imbalances in ALL the neurotransmitters, so hello anxiety and depression. And if you compound energy deficit with being autistic, which I'm just gonna go off on a limb here and say you probably feel permanently burnt out just trying to navigate a world not built for you, well when you take all these factors into account, well no wonder you're in so much pain all the time. But here is the plot twist: You're not broken. You don't need to be fixed. What you need is to create safety within yourself and your environment. But that's of course just the overarching message of all of this. Because essentially, the trauma caused by being autistic in a non-accommodating world compounded with the trauma of an eating disorder, while ironically being the ED being a trauma response in and of itself, well all of this just creates a never-ending spiral of fight-or-flight mode, which is incredibly energetically demanding, and thus not sustainable. So how does all of this connect to anorexia symptoms, specifically headaches and tinnitus? Well, there are a lot of different kinds of headaches, but for me personally, my headaches were always tension headaches. This might sound kinda weird, but I felt my headaches from the front of my head all the way down to my lower back and this is because I carry so much stress with me all the time, and honestly, I still do. But when you are malnourished, your body is way more fragile so everything you experience is going to be experienced on infinitely high volume. This is why we have zero flexibility when we have eating disorders. The body and brain simply do not have enough energy to consider other options. So hello black and white thinking and what is often termed as “rigid” thinking. Now of course there's nuance to this because autistic people often already have difficulty with change. So again, add malnutrition to that, and you've practically just turned that autism dial up a few notches. This is also why many people who are not autistic can actually display autistic traits during active eating disorders. But again, that's a whole nother topic which you can learn more about in my Autistically ED-Free Academy at livlabelfree.com/group or you can book a 1-1 coaching session with me at livlabelfree.com/coaching if you'd like to work with me privately. So, jellyfish1093 and anyone else listening, I don't know what kinds of headaches you're experiencing or if there's anything that makes them worse or better, but what I do know is that restriction is fueling your fight-or-flight response, which scientifically speaking can cause headaches! Why? Well, your body perceives restriction, so energy deficit, as a famine. When you're not eating enough, your nervous system believes there aren't enough resources. I mean, why else would you be starving yourself? As I'm sure I don't have to tell you, a lack of resources is one of the greatest threats to human survival! But because your body is designed to do everything in its power to ensure your survival, it's going to activate that fight-or-flight mode so you can fight or flee whatever is causing you to be malnourished. Of course, your nervous system that obviously doesn't have a logical thinking organ cannot know that you're not actually in a famine environment, and it doesn't know that you're purposely restricting for other reasons, including fear of weight gain, autistic masking, and all the other things I talk about on this podcast and in my books and courses. Now, why is this relevant? Because when you're in a permanent state of fight-or-flight mode, your body is literally tensing up ALL the time! Your neck muscles, your shoulder muscles, your scalp muscles, everything is constantly clenched and ready for battle. And, well, can you guess what happens when those muscles stay contracted for weeks, months, perhaps even years? Hello tension headaches! Of course, tension headaches aren't the only type of headaches that restriction causes. Now, let's talk about what happens when your brain is literally running on empty. As I've talked about before on this podcast, your brain requires glucose – so, sugar! – to function. This is why during extreme hunger, we crave so much sugar. We're not becoming “addicted to sugar,” we're not developing binge eating disorder, our brain is literally screaming for us to help it heal! But because restriction depletes your brain of the glucose it needs to function, you experience not only headaches caused by blood sugar spikes and crashes, but you experience that brain fog, anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles jellyfish1093 mentioned. So you may be wondering, how the heck does this blood sugar stuff work? Well, when you're engaging with an eating disorder, your blood sugar is basically on a constant roller coaster ride because energy deficit makes it harder for the body to properly regulate blood sugar. Why? Because regulating blood sugar costs energy, and well, you don't have enough of that, remember?! Your liver, which normally stores glucose and releases it when needed, doesn't have enough reserves to keep your levels stable. So even if you do eat something, your blood sugar might spike too high and then crash even harder, creating this vicious cycle of glucose instability that leaves your brain in constant distress. And then there's electrolyte imbalances. When you're malnourished, your sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels get thrown off. These minerals fuel the electrical system of your body – they're what allow your nerves to send signals properly. So when those levels are imbalanced, which they absolutely will be during restriction, your nervous system starts misfiring. And where do you feel that neurological chaos? Yep, in your head! So moral of the headache story before we move onto tinnitus is that yes, absolutely anorexia can cause headaches and they're probably not some mysterious separate condition that you need to worry about on top of everything else you're already dealing with. Your headaches are your body's completely predictable response to being in energy deficit – whether that's from your nervous system being stuck in fight-or-flight mode, your brain running on fumes, or your electrical system going haywire from electrolyte imbalances. The really important thing I want you to hear, jellyfish1093, is that these headaches aren't permanent. They're not a sign that you've broken your body beyond repair. They're actually proof that your body is still fighting for you! When you give your body consistent, adequate nutrition – which is probably more than just four meals a day and probably less exercise and yes, weight gain – these systems can and do heal. Your nervous system can calm down, your blood sugar can stabilize, and your electrolytes can rebalance. It takes time, and to be honest, it often gets worse before it gets better. This is where coaching can be so helpful because you have someone who's been there supporting you every step of the way! So if you are interested in working with me, do schedule a discovery session because I would love to meet you and create your freedom plan. And now, onto tinnitus! So jellyfish1093 I'm actually so happy you mentioned this because I used to have really bad tinnitus during my anorexia and in quasi recovery and I had never even connected the dots to malnutrition until your comment, so thank you for enlightening me! And before we get into the science behind how malnutrition can cause tinnitus, it's worth saying what tinnitus is because it can kinda sound like a fancy word! So tinnitus is a condition where a person perceives ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other noises in their ears, even when there is no external sound source. It can be caused by several factors, including aging, ear infections, and can be a side effect of certain medications. But what's not talked about ANYWHERE is how tinnitus can be caused by anorexia! But here comes Reddit to the rescue! Yep, that's right. As I was doing my research for this episode, I googled “tinnitus and anorexia,” and the top hit was a Reddit post! Which is saying a lot about there not being information on this connection. Anyways, maybe you already saw this Reddit post in your own research, jellyfish1093, but I want to read it aloud just in case it's helpful and because it of course provides another lived experience story about how eating enough truly is the only way to heal yourself! So the post is in the subreddit /tinnitus and it's titled “For those with malnutrition/eating disorders…” and here's what the OP writes: “Hey, I just wanted to share that my intense and persistent tinnitus was resolved through recovery from my eating disorder (anorexia). I thought I was getting enough nutrition, however, I was not. Also, you cannot simply take enough vitamins/supplements. I was attempting to do that but it didn't make up for the food I was supposed to be ingesting. The tinnitus for me was like the sound of white noise, particularly in one ear. Machine sounds, such as the low hum of a refrigerator in a store could further intensify it, and I had been to a great ENT doctor that ruled out anything structure-wise on their end. I did not connect the dots, that tinnitus could be caused by malnutrition…but I am SO glad to be free from it. I want you to be free from it too. So I figured I'd share what helped me.” Honestly, this is why I love Reddit. The amount of validation I have felt on there is kind of unmatched. But because I want this podcast to be unmatched as well, I'm gonna give you more than lived experience and hope because I also want to explain WHY tinnitus is a symptom of anorexia. And here's what I discovered: First off, remember those electrolyte imbalances we just talked about with headaches? Well, your inner ear is incredibly sensitive to changes in fluid balance. When your sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels are all over the place, it messes with the fluid in your inner ear. This can create pressure changes and affect how sound waves are processed, which your brain might interpret as ringing or buzzing. But there's also a blood flow component. When you're malnourished, your blood pressure often drops because you're dehydrated and your blood volume is low. But then sometimes your body tries to compensate and your blood pressure spikes. These blood pressure fluctuations affect circulation to your inner ear, and poor blood flow to those tiny, delicate structures can absolutely cause tinnitus. And remember how we talked about your brain being starved of glucose? Well, your auditory system requires a ton of energy to function properly. When your brain doesn't have enough fuel, it can start misfiring, and sometimes that misfiring gets interpreted as sound when there isn't any. It's like your brain is so desperate for stimulation that it starts creating its own – which honestly makes so much sense for those of us with neurodivergent brains that are already seeking stimulation all the freaking time! To bring this full circle with that chronic fight-or-flight state I keep coming back to, sympathetic nervous system activation makes your brain hypervigilant to everything, including sounds that would normally be filtered out. And if you're autistic, you already know how overwhelming auditory processing can be even when we do feel regulated. So imagine how much worse that gets when malnutrition has your nervous system completely dysregulated. Now before we wrap up here, what's worth emphasizing is that none of this is happening in isolation. It's probably not just one thing causing your tinnitus. The mechanisms I just described – so your inner ear fluid being off, your blood flow being chaotic, your brain misfiring from lack of fuel, and your nervous system being hypervigilant – this is all happening simultaneously. This same concoction of mechanisms is likely what's causing your dizziness as well. Your vestibular system, which is a sense that plays a crucial role in balance and spatial orientation – lives right there in your inner ear alongside your hearing. So when malnutrition messes with your inner ear fluid and blood flow, it's not just affecting how you hear, but it's also going to affect your sense of balance and where you are in space. Add in those blood pressure fluctuations and blood sugar crashes we talked about, well, you guessed it, hi there dizziness! So I know this is a lot, but jellyfish1093, you did say in your original comment that you were looking for hope, so that's exactly what I want to leave you with. Your body is so wise, wiser than our mind could ever be. Your body knows exactly what it needs, and it is doing everything in its power to support you and your healing. All the symptoms you're experiencing – the headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, brain fog, anxiety, depression, and I'm sure so much more – these aren't actually separate parts that need individual targeting to heal. In reality, these are all your body's way of saying “Hey, I need consistent fuel to function properly.” And I can promise you that when you give your body what it actually needs, it will take all that energy and utilize it to fully recover. Of course, if you want my help on that journey, you can schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching or enroll in my extreme hunger course or join me and other neurodivergent aliens in the existential autistic membership! You can find all the different ways to work with me on my website livlabelfree.com. I hope to chat with you in real-time, and otherwise, I'll talk to you in the next episode. Bye bye for now!

Livia and Mike chat about the fear of not knowing who you are, redefining success, and how to create a meaningful life in the void of infinite possibilities. ✨ Existential Autistic Membership: https://www.livlabelfree.com/membership

In this spontaneous “walk with me” voicememo, I share my experience with existential nausea and how painful it feels to be confronted with consciousness. Let's connect!

I used to believe quasi recovery was as good as it was going to get – that I'd just have to “manage” an eating disorder for the rest of my life. If you're ready to create FULL FREEDOM, this episode is for you.

How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/ Franz Kafka once wrote “I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound or stab us. If the book we're reading doesn't wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for? We need books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply…like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.” Most eating disorder recovery books are written to make you feel better, to give you hope, to reassure you that “everything will be okay if you just follow these steps.” But real transformation doesn't come from comfort – it comes from books that disturb your comfortable illusions. The truth is, I didn't write How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery to make you feel better. I wrote it to be the axe for the frozen sea of fear within you. That frozen sea is the illusory safety of hiding behind the recovery identity. It's the comfort of endlessly watching other people's “What I Eat in a Day” videos, looking for permission to do the hard work instead of actually doing it. Fear makes you believe that if you just find the right map, the right approach, the right influencer to follow, you won't have to face the terrifying truth: that your path to freedom can only be discovered by you. How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery is designed to wake you up with that “blow to the head” Kafka wrote about…but in service of your freedom. Let me be clear here: this isn't about destroying you. It's about destroying the illusions that have kept you small. And the Discovery Workbook? That's your own axe. It helps you take these uncomfortable truths and use them to chip away at the stories that are no longer serving you.

How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/ Are you constantly second-guessing yourself in eating disorder recovery? With the amount of contradictory messaging in our society – from both diet culture and "ED recovery influencers" – no wonder you're constantly comparing yourself to others! This comparison can lead you to believe you're "doing recovery wrong" and traps you in quasi recovery. In today's episode, I share my personal doubts around recovery and how I stopped living in fear.

How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/ If you're overwhelmed by all the contradictory messages in the ED recovery space, this episode is for you. I explain why you feel stuck in the “recovery trap” and how to break free from quasi recovery.

How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/ Are you stuck in quasi recovery? I know how it feels to be trapped in that frustrating middle ground between your eating disorder and true freedom. You're “recovered” to an extent, but you're still constantly thinking about food, exercise, and whether or not you're doing recovery “right.” The relentless self-doubt and mental questioning is f*cking EXHAUSTING…and it's no way to live! This is why I wrote How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery and created the accompanying Discovery Workbook. With chapters exploring existentialism, perfectionism, conformity, and being “good enough,” both books guide you to transform your relationship not just with food and your body, but with your entire existence.

Quasi recovery is worse than having an eating disorder. In today's episode, Livia and Victoria chat about their experiences with quasi recovery, why the map is a trap, and how to begin trusting your inner wisdom. If you enjoy this episode and want to dive deeper into the topics discussed, you will LOVE Livia's new book How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery!

Do you feel like you're never good enough? Livia Sara and Wouter Kleinsman both know what it's like to chase illusory fulfillment through external identities. In this confrontational conversation, Livia and Wouter discuss how labels imprison us, why conformity is a trap, and how the story you tell yourself is the story that narrates your life. Episode highlights: Why breaking free from the system is the only path to genuine freedom The connection between autism, black-and-white thinking, and eating disorders How to shift from victim mentality to consciously writing your own story Why qualifications are bullshit and don't determine your worth or capabilities Using human design and instinct over logic when making decisions What it really means to live in alignment with your core being Connect with Livia: https://livlabelfree.com Connect with Wouter: https://www.wouterkleinsman.nl/

Have you ever felt that your "gifts" were more of a burden than a blessing? In this Autistically ED-Free Membership call recording, Livia and the community explore the concept of "existential claustrophobia" – that suffocating feeling of being confined within a finite physical form while having an infinitely expansive inner being. Members share their raw experiences of how giftedness, existential anxiety, and neurodivergence can create unique pressures that often manifest as disordered eating. Through authentic, unscripted conversation, this episode reveals how many of us use food behaviors as protective mechanisms when our souls feel too vast for our bodies. Key Topics Discussed: How "existential claustrophobia" creates a disconnect between our infinite inner world and the limitations of physical existence The paradox of neurodivergent creativity: having so many ideas that they become overwhelming rather than inspiring Why words and traditional emotional labels often fail to capture the depth and complexity of neurodivergent experiences The connection between giftedness, perfectionism, and using eating disorders as a way to manage overwhelming expectations How authentic self-expression becomes a pathway to healing when we stop trying to fit our experiences into neurotypical frameworks The importance of forging your own path rather than trying to follow a map that doesn't exist

What if ED behaviors in autistic people were not problems to be fixed, but rather, powerful adaptations to feel safe? More specifically, what if eating disorders themselves are a form of autistic masking? In this episode, Livia Sara explains how eating disorders can manifest through three distinct types of masks, why neurodiversity-affirming approaches form the foundation of freedom, and how to discover your true self – without the masks of fear and limitation. Highlights of today's episode: How autistic masking can be seen as a survival strategy in a neurotypical world How the eating disorder forms three interwoven masks: external, identity, and compensatory Introduction to The Adaptive Eating Spectrum (TAES) and how different eating patterns serve as both escape and mask Why the body itself can feel like a mask for the infinite autistic being The connection between masking, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, and eating disorder behaviors The powerful of transforming eating disorder “recovery” into your unique discovery journey How to embrace neurodivergence and create safety while unmasking

Do you or a loved one ever feel like you were born on the wrong planet? Livia Sara and Dr. Marianne Miller both know what it's like to experience life as a neurodivergent alien. The existential loneliness that comes with this sense of alienation can be so unbearable that the eating disorder becomes an escape – a way to create a sense of meaning and purpose when you feel lost. In today's episode, Livia and Marianne discuss how eating “disorders” are adaptive responses to a threatening world, emphasizing the importance of listening to stories of lived experience. Key Topics Discussed: Growing up feeling existentially lost as an autistic person in a neurotypical world How eating disorders can be viewed as a form of autistic masking – a way to compensate for your innate sense of being “wrong” Unpacking the “atypical anorexia” diagnosis and dismantling harmful hierarchies in eating disorder treatment The difference between autistic routines vs OCD rituals How eating disorders can be considered a form of stimming in neurodivergent individuals

What if unnecessary calories were one of the most necessary aspects of living a meaningful life? In today's episode, Livia Sara explores the concept of “unnecessary calories” through a client's fear of butter, revealing how this restrictive thinking is actually a manifestation of deeper existential fears. You'll learn: The hidden meaning behind labeling foods as having “unnecessary calories” and how it connects to the fear of being “wrong” in the world Why diet culture's contradictory messages can be particularly overwhelming for autistic individuals How the scarcity mindset extends beyond food into every aspect of life, from productivity to pleasure The powerful parallel between fearing “wasted” calories and fearing “wasted” time How to start challenging the labels that keep you trapped in restrictive patterns Want to dive deeper?

What if we viewed “eating disorder behaviors” as adaptive responses to an unsafe world? In this special episode, Livia Sara is interviewed by Harriet Parsons and Jenny Langley from the BodyWhys Podcast about her view of reframing eating disorders as adaptations, and how this perspective can support individuals moving from quasi recovery to a life of freedom and purpose. Highlights of the episode: Livia shares her personal journey with anorexia from age 11-18 and how her autistic traits influenced both her eating disorder development and recovery path The concept of quasi recovery as the frustrating middle ground between active eating disorder and full freedom, and why many people get stuck in this phase How demand avoidance and the drive for autonomy play crucial roles in both eating disorders and recovery, especially for neurodivergent individuals Why the phrase “that's your eating disorder talking” can be harmful, invalidating, and traumatic, particularly for autistic individuals The importance of understanding intention behind behaviors rather than simply categorizing them as “disordered” or “healthy” Reframing exercise and movement as adaptive rather than “compulsive,” and discovering what a healthy relationship with movement looks like for each individual The power of partnering with fear rather than trying to overcome it, and using anxiety as a compass to understand what matters most to us

Traditional eating disorder recovery advice tends to be harmful for autistic people. Many regulation techniques are often labeled as behaviors to be eliminated, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness. But there is another way! In today's episode, Livia speaks to Rob about his personal journey with binge eating disorder and how discovering his autism has helped him develop more effective coping strategies. We discuss the limitations of one-size-fits-all approaches to recovery, the concept of the “adaptive eating spectrum,” and the importance of forging your own path when it comes to living a meaningful life. Key Topics Discussed: The nuanced view of calorie counting as a potential self-regulation tool rather than always being harmful How walking can help anchor autistic people in safety Why traditional eating disorder treatment approaches often fail autistic individuals Impact of the pandemic on eating habits and mental health Viewing eating “disorders” as adaptive responses to a neurotypical world Developing personalized coping mechanisms that work for your unique nervous system