Podcasts about arfid

This week on Headline Highlights: Lindsay Clancy's journals and searches shed new light on her mental state, while the defense challenged key evidence. A Michigan family of eight was found shot to death, with investigators uncovering multiple fires and missing smoke detectors. Newly unsealed records reveal Bryan Kohberger's autism, OCD, ADHD, and ARFID diagnoses, raising questions about his future appeals. A “Philly House of Horrors” investigation uncovered missing women, weapons, drugs, chemicals, and disturbing digital evidence. Chris Watts is reportedly set to marry a woman he met while behind bars, who moved closer to him and changed her name to “Lizzie Watts”..If you're new here, don't forget to follow the show for weekly deep dives into the darkest true crime cases! To watch the video version of this episode, head over to youtube.com/@annieelise. .

A defense evaluation built to protect Bryan Kohberger became the clearest window into how he processes the world. Dr. Rachel Lawson Orr tested Kohberger, interviewed his family, and cataloged behavioral patterns consistent with a lifetime of diagnoses. Those include autism spectrum disorder, OCD, ADHD, ARFID, developmental coordination disorder, depression, anorexia, and opioid use disorder from a heroin addiction he developed as a teenager. Orr documented a man with restricted facial expression, poor social reciprocity, impulsive rule-breaking, and what she called "overall poor" insight. His family confirmed the patterns and told Orr they had been coaching him through social interactions for years without success. Internet forum posts attributed to Kohberger at age sixteen describe the same gap between how he experienced himself and how others experienced him. He wrote about feeling no emotion, acting without remorse, and seeing the world like a video game. He framed his disconnection as making him "smarter." The evaluation puts clinical language to a pattern visible in every public moment since his arrest. A man on rails, cycling through the same fixed positions, unable to see what everyone around him can see.Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#BryanKohberger #Kohberger #TrueCrimeToday #TrueCrime #IdahoMurders #PsychEval #KohbergerPetition #UniversityOfIdaho #MoscowIdaho #HiddenKillers

When I first started learning about PDA six years ago, so much of what I encountered was focused on behavior. What I was not seeing discussed was something I kept observing in my own family, and have since seen in thousands of families I have worked with: the way cumulative nervous system activation can disable a child or teen from accessing the things they need to stay alive.In this episode, an excerpt from the Understanding PDA Masterclass, I walk through what basic needs struggles actually look like across five domains: toileting, sleep, hygiene, eating, and safety. I share why I conceptualize PDA as a nervous system disability, how the survival drive for autonomy can override other survival instincts, and why paradoxically the most effective intervention for a basic needs struggle is often to stop focusing on it directly.Key TakeawaysWhy PDA May Be a Nervous System Disability, Not a Behavioral Disorder | 00:00:00 I define PDA as a survival drive for autonomy and equality that consistently overrides other survival instincts, including the instinct to eat, sleep, stay safe, maintain hygiene, and use the bathroom. This is what makes it distinct from other neurotypes and what led me to begin theorizing it as a nervous system disability. This also makes it distinct from "a behavioral problem". The challenges our children face are physiological, and this is part of what I am researching with the University of Michigan.The Fire, the Traffic, and the River: When Autonomy Overrides Safety in the Moment | 00:03:30 On a night of camping when my son was four and a half, he kept moving toward the campfire the more we told him to stay back, to the point where I had to physically restrain him from running into it. I have heard similar accounts from families of children running toward oncoming traffic or accelerating into a lake when told to move away. These are extreme examples that I share to show how the survival drive for autonomy can override the instinct to stay safe in real time. They are not defiance. They are a nervous system response that has overridden the instinct that should have protected the child.Five Basic Needs and What Struggles Can Look Like | 00:06:32 Toileting struggles can include regression to diapers, UTIs from withholding, accidents, and refusing to use the toilet. Sleep struggles can include a non-twenty-four-hour cycle, intensifying bedtime resistance, and needing to co-sleep at eleven or twelve years old with no prior history of it. Hygiene can include refusing tooth brushing, bathing, nail cutting, or hair cuts. Eating can present as extreme restriction, similar to ARFID but without the body image component, or as compulsive eating. Safety struggles can range from running toward traffic or fire to self-harm, suicidal ideation, or harming others. Two PDA children can have the same root cause and look dramatically different across all five domains.The Paradox: Focusing on the Basic Need Often Makes It Worse | 00:11:09 When my son stopped eating, every instinct told me to find strategies to make him eat. I went to feeding therapy. I tried every approach in the moment. But for a PDA child, focusing attention and gentle pressure on eating registers as a loss of autonomy and can intensify the avoidance. What I have seen across thousands of families is that bringing down cumulative nervous system activation across all domains, not in the moment of the basic need struggle, is what allows the control to release and the need to become accessible again. That is the paradigm shift.Doubt, Fluctuation, and Why Basic Needs Must Be Part of the PDA Profile | 00:09:34 Because basic needs struggles fluctuate, parents are often doubted or doubt themselves. A child may brush their teeth at the beginning of the week and refuse by Friday. They may eat one food for months and then drop it. They may have had no toileting issues and then regress at age eight. This fluctuation is a feature of the cumulative model, not evidence that the disability is inconsistent. Basic needs have largely been left out of the behavioral literature on PDA. I believe they belong at the center of the profile, because if a child cannot access safety, sleep, eating, hygiene, or toileting, their health and survival are at risk.Relevant ResourcesUnderstanding PDA — The free masterclass from which this episode is excerpted, covering the full nervous system disability framework and basic needs indicators described here.Burnout — Free class with context for the burnout threshold at which basic needs struggles tend to intensify and become most disabling.Tracking Progress — Free class on the three dimensions I track with families, including basic needs access as a primary indicator of whether cumulative nervous system activation is coming down.Paradigm Shift Program — My signature program where the basic needs framework, cost-benefit decision making, and the full accommodation toolkit are taught across twelve weeks of live coaching.Mentioned in this episode:Free Live WorkshopI'm offering a free live workshop this month: "Supporting your PDA child or teen through burnout without breaking yourself in the process."Free Live Workshop Registration

A newly unsealed neuropsychological evaluation revealed that Bryan Kohberger had been diagnosed with four conditions during an assessment conducted for his defense in February 2025: Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID. Defense neuropsychologist Rachel Lawson Orr evaluated Kohberger across six sessions over roughly three months and also interviewed members of his family. Orr described Kohberger as having a restricted range of facial expressions, awkward social interactions, unusual speech patterns, inconsistent responses to humor, poor conversational reciprocity, rigid thinking and difficulty adapting to changes in routine. She also noted impulsive behavior during testing and characterized his overall insight as poor, although he occasionally acknowledged his own role in situations when directly challenged. Kohberger's relatives reportedly described many of the same behavioral patterns and said they had spent years attempting to coach him socially without much success.The evaluation also disclosed four additional diagnoses that Orr said Kohberger had met the criteria for at various points in his life: developmental coordination disorder, an unspecified depressive disorder, anorexia nervosa and opioid use disorder stemming from his teenage heroin addiction, which was described as being in sustained remission. The defense had commissioned the evaluation as part of the dispute over how Kohberger's mental health should be treated in the case, arguing that his conditions could constitute mitigating evidence rather than aggravating factors; it was not intended to support a claim that he lacked the mental capacity to stand trial or understand his actions. Kohberger likewise did not rely on the diagnoses to challenge his competency when he pleaded guilty in July 2025 to murdering Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The evaluation became public as Kohberger continued his post-conviction effort to withdraw that plea, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel and seeking a trial.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bryan Kohberger Psych Evaluation Details Killer's 8 ‘Mental Health Disorders'

Is your child's relationship with food already shaped by guilt, fear, or "good food/bad food" rules — even before they can talk? Registered dietitian Jennifer Anderson, founder of Kids Eat in Color, joins Dr. Aliza Pressman to unpack "embodied independence" — the idea that raising confident eaters means combining a healthy relationship with food and the practical skills to take care of one's body. This is a must-listen for any parent trying to raise a healthy eater without passing down diet culture baggage. What you'll learn: Why labeling foods "good" or "bad" creates food rules, guilt, and inflexible thinking later in life Practical scripts for introducing dessert without using food as a reward or a bargaining chip Red flags for extreme picky eating and ARFID — and when to bring concerns to your pediatrician The "sit, connect, and expose" approach that gets even the pickiest toddlers trying new foods How to set boundaries with grandparents and relatives around sweets and body comments

Surviving eight shots of Narcan at twelve years old is one hell of an introduction to chronic illness, and for Haylee, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Meet Haylee, a master's student living with an absolute alphabet soup of diagnoses, including Cerebral Palsy, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), ARFID, AuDHD, OCD, and a recent addition of Bipolar disorder. In this raw and intimate conversation, Haylee breaks down what life is actually like when your body and brain are constantly clashing. From surviving a 26-hour leg surgery and an accidental morphine overdose at just twelve years old, to navigating the cold, isolating reality of transitioning out of pediatric care, Haylee doesn't hold back. She opens up about the trauma of medical PTSD, getting an ableist university professor fired, navigating safe-food obsessions, and using music and song-writing to quiet her brain during manic episodes. It's an honest, eye-opening look at disability, identity, and proving everyone, including her doctors, wrong.Follow Sickboy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sickboypodcastTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sickboypodcastDiscord: https://discord.gg/expeUDN

What happens to eating disorder recovery when the culture around you starts celebrating weight loss again? In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Marianne continues sharing her eating disorder recovery story and talks about something that has surprised her: the return of body insecurities during the Age of Ozempic. After recovering from a decades-long history of anorexia, binge eating disorder, orthorexia, and bulimia, she rarely spends much time thinking about her body size. But the rise of Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications like Zepbound and Wegovy has changed the cultural conversation around weight, thinness, and fat bodies. During the height of the body diversity movement, living in a larger body felt different. Plus-size clothing became more visible. Larger bodies appeared in advertising. Conversations about weight stigma, fatphobia, body neutrality, and fat liberation entered the mainstream. Now, many of those gains seem to be disappearing as celebrities become smaller, plus-size departments vanish from stores, and thinness once again becomes something we're expected to pursue. When Eating Disorder Recovery Meets the Age of Ozempic Dr. Marianne shares what it's like to encounter old eating disorder and body image thoughts after years of recovery. Sometimes those thoughts arrive unexpectedly: Look at that celebrity. They did it. Why can't I? Having that thought doesn't mean eating disorder recovery has failed. Recovery doesn't necessarily erase decades of conditioning around weight and body size. Instead, it can help us recognize internalized weight bias when it resurfaces and decide whether we want to listen to it. Dr. Marianne also discusses an important distinction: wanting a smaller body isn't necessarily the same thing as wanting relief from anti-fat bias. Sometimes the thought, Life would be easier if I were thinner, reflects a painful reality about how fat people are treated rather than a genuine desire to change one's body. The World Is Getting Smaller for Fat People Anti-fat bias doesn't exist only in our thoughts. It shows up in the physical world. Plus-size clothing departments have disappeared from many stores, forcing people in larger bodies to shop online. Airplane seats continue to create accessibility barriers for larger passengers. Cars, restaurant booths, waiting-room chairs, theaters, and other public spaces frequently fail to accommodate body diversity. The message can become impossible to ignore: if the world won't make more space for you, you're expected to make yourself smaller. Dr. Marianne explores the mental health toll of repeatedly navigating environments that weren't designed for your body. Constantly wondering whether a seat will fit, whether a store carries your size, or whether a healthcare provider will blame your symptoms on weight creates an enormous cognitive and emotional burden. Defending the Right to Be Fat Dr. Marianne shares a recent dream in which she found herself defending her fatness to another person. When she woke up, she realized how closely the dream reflected the experience of living in a larger body today. Fat people often have to defend their right to exist without pursuing intentional weight loss. They may have to advocate for appropriate healthcare, accessible seating, clothing, travel accommodations, and the basic right to occupy space without apology. That emotional labor takes energy. For neurodivergent people, the burden can become even greater. Autistic people and ADHDers may already expend significant energy navigating sensory needs, executive functioning, uncertainty, masking, and environments that weren't designed for neurodivergent nervous systems. When neurodivergence intersects with anti-fat bias and other forms of marginalization, the cumulative mental health toll can become significant. Internalized Weight Bias Doesn't Mean You've Failed at Recovery Eating disorder recovery happens in the real world, not in a protected bubble. You can appreciate your body and still feel hurt by weight stigma. You can reject diet culture and feel grief when plus-size clothing disappears. You can practice fat acceptance and still have moments when you wonder whether life would be easier in a smaller body. Those experiences don't erase recovery. Sometimes what looks like body dissatisfaction is actually grief, anger, exhaustion, or a desire to move through the world without constantly having to advocate for your right to belong. Dr. Marianne shares the question that helps her separate internalized weight bias from her own values: Do I actually want a different body, or do I want a different world? Related Episodes How a Part of Me Wanted to Take a Weight-Loss Drug on Apple & Spotify. My Eating Disorder Recovery Story on Apple & Spotify. Finding Liberation-Focused Eating Disorder Support If the Age of Ozempic has stirred up old body image struggles, eating disorder thoughts, or internalized weight bias, you don't have to navigate those experiences alone. Finding an eating disorder therapist or provider who understands weight stigma can make a profound difference. Liberation-focused, trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder treatment can create space to examine these experiences without making weight loss the goal. If you'd like to work with Dr. Marianne, she provides eating disorder therapy in California for adolescents and adults navigating anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, body image concerns, and neurodivergence. If you live elsewhere, Dr. Marianne also offers consultations and coaching for individuals, families, and professionals. Learn more about working with Dr. Marianne at drmariannemiller.com.

When does trying to be healthy cross the line into rigid or disordered eating? Healthmaxxing focuses on optimizing nutrition, protein, exercise, sleep, steps, and other health metrics. But for someone with an eating disorder or history of disordered eating, healthmaxxing can become another way to follow rigid rules, compulsively track behaviors, and disconnect from the body. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne talks with registered dietitian and eating disorder specialist Amy Ornelas, RD, about healthmaxxing, diet culture, protein obsession, fitness trackers, compulsive exercise, and eating disorder recovery. Is Healthmaxxing the New Diet Culture? Healthmaxxing may look different from traditional dieting, but some of the messages sound familiar: eat the “right” foods, maximize protein, hit your steps, exercise consistently, track your metrics, and keep improving. Dr. Marianne and Amy discuss how healthmaxxing can become a socially acceptable form of rigid or disordered behavior. For someone recovering from an eating disorder, relying on an Apple Watch, Oura Ring, calorie tracker, or wellness influencer may also make it harder to rebuild trust in hunger, fullness, fatigue, and other body cues. Protein, Fitness Trackers, & Compulsive Exercise Protein has become one of the biggest trends in nutrition and wellness culture. Amy compares today's protein obsession to previous diet trends, including the fat-free craze of the 1980s and 1990s. Protein matters, but maximizing protein at every meal doesn't automatically make eating healthier. Dr. Marianne and Amy also unpack step counts, exercise goals, calorie tracking, and wearable fitness devices. Fitness data can provide useful information for some people, but it can also reinforce compulsive exercise, perfectionism, and eating disorder behaviors. Your body's needs change. Rest, relationships, sleep, pleasure, and spontaneity matter too. Eating Disorder Recovery & Rebuilding Body Trust Eating disorders can make hunger, fullness, fatigue, emotion, and physical sensations difficult to interpret. That uncertainty can make external rules and health metrics especially appealing. Amy explains how eating disorder nutrition therapy can provide appropriate structure as someone rebuilds nourishment and reconnects with their body. Unlike an algorithm or influencer, individualized nutrition support considers a person's history, eating disorder behaviors, physical needs, and recovery. Dr. Marianne and Amy also discuss what happens when fitness becomes part of your identity. Letting go of compulsive exercise or rigid health behaviors can raise a difficult question: Who am I if I'm no longer the person who always works out, eats a certain way, or prioritizes fitness? Recovery can create room to discover an identity beyond food, weight, exercise, and optimization. What You'll Learn You'll hear Dr. Marianne and Amy discuss healthmaxxing and disordered eating, diet culture and wellness culture, protein obsession and nutrition trends, fitness trackers and calorie tracking, compulsive exercise and step goals, fitness identity, hunger and fullness cues, body trust, and nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery. They also ask a bigger question: What happens when trying to optimize your health starts taking away from your life? About Amy Ornelas, RD Amy Ornelas is a registered dietitian and eating disorder specialist with more than two decades of experience. She incorporates nutrition therapy, somatic therapy, yoga, and intuitive practices into her work with adolescents and adults. Her own eating disorder recovery helped shape her commitment to helping people move away from diet culture, rigid food rules, body image struggles, and disconnection from their bodies. Instagram: @amyornelasRD Website: i-heart-nutrition.com Related Episodes Have you ever had the experience of suddenly feeling huge in your body, even though nothing about your body has actually changed? That moment of intense body distress is incredibly common in eating disorder recovery. But what if that feeling is not really about body size at all? In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne Miller is joined by Amy Ornelas, RDN, an eating disorder dietitian, yoga teacher, and somatic therapy practitioner, to explore what body distress may actually be signaling underneath the surface. Together, they unpack how thoughts like “I feel huge” can often reflect emotional activation, overwhelm, grief, shame, anger, or stress rather than a literal change in body size. Amy explains how eating disorder behaviors such as restriction, binge eating, and purging can alter brain chemistry and disconnect people from their internal emotional world. When those behaviors begin to shift in recovery, many people suddenly find themselves face to face with emotions that may have been numbed or pushed aside for years. This can feel confusing, intense, and sometimes even frightening. Dr. Marianne and Amy talk about how eating disorders can function as powerful survival strategies that help people manage overwhelming emotional states. Rather than demonizing these behaviors, they explore how they often develop as adaptive coping mechanisms in environments where emotional expression was discouraged, dismissed, or unsafe. The conversation also highlights how family dynamics, culture, trauma, and neurodivergence can shape the way people learn to relate to their emotions. Many individuals grow up hearing messages that they are too sensitive, too emotional, or should simply get over what they feel. Over time, these messages can make emotional awareness feel dangerous or overwhelming. Amy introduces the role of somatic therapy in eating disorder recovery and explains how body-based approaches can help people reconnect with their internal sensations in a gradual and supportive way. Instead of forcing emotional processing, somatic work focuses on building safety in the nervous system and slowly increasing the capacity to notice and tolerate emotional states. Dr. Marianne and Amy also discuss how body image distress can function as a powerful distraction. It can feel easier to focus anger, fear, or grief on the body than to confront deeper sources of pain, such as relational conflict, social stress, or systemic injustice. Learning to translate body distress into emotional language can help people understand what their internal system is truly trying to communicate. This episode also addresses an important reality in eating disorder recovery: sometimes people appear more emotionally dysregulated as they begin healing. That increase in emotional expression can actually be a sign that someone is reconnecting with their inner world after years of emotional numbing. Amy shares several practical tools that can help people begin reconnecting with their emotions, including brief emotional check-ins throughout the day, asking simple questions about what feelings may be present when eating disorder urges arise, and using movement to help emotional energy move through the body. Dr. Marianne also brings in a neurodivergent-affirming lens, discussing how stimming, rocking, sensory soothing, and other nervous system supports can help people stay connected to themselves during emotionally intense moments. Together, they emphasize that emotions are not problems to eliminate. They are information from our internal systems that help guide us toward safety, boundaries, authenticity, and healing. In this episode, we discuss How eating disorder behaviors can numb or redirect difficult emotions. Why recovery often brings a surge of feelings to the surface, What somatic therapy is and how it can support eating disorder recovery. Why the thought “I feel huge” often reflects emotional distress rather than body change. How trauma, family systems, and culture shape emotional expression. Why body image distress can act as a distraction from deeper pain. The difference between compartmentalizing emotions and avoiding them. Why increased emotional intensity can be a sign of progress in recovery. Practical ways to begin noticing and naming emotions during recovery. How neurodivergent people may benefit from stimming and sensory supports. About the guest Amy Ornelas, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, eating disorder specialist, yoga teacher, and somatic therapy practitioner based in California. She works with individuals, families, and groups and integrates nutrition care with somatic and nervous system–informed approaches to eating disorder recovery. Connect with Amy Ornelas Instagram: @amyornelasRD Website: i-heart-nutrition.com Listen if you are Experiencing intense body image distress during eating disorder recovery. Trying to understand why recovery can bring more emotion, not less. Curious about somatic therapy and body-based approaches to healing. Looking for tools to help manage urges to restrict, binge, or purge. Interested in understanding the emotional layers beneath body distress. Related episodes On "I Feel Huge" Versus "What I'm Actually Feeling": Translating Body Distress Into Emotions" via Apple or Spotify. On Eating Disorders as a Coping Strategy for Deeper Pain via Apple or Spotify. On Eating Disorders in Midlife & Our Personal Recovery Stories via Apple or Spotify. On Atypical Anorexia via Apple or Spotify On Eating Disorder Recovery, Higher Level of Care, & Renourishment via Apple or Spotify On Reconnecting With Your Body in Eating Disorder Recovery via Apple or Spotify On Trauma, Eating Disorders, & Levels of Care via Apple or Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne If healthmaxxing, compulsive exercise, rigid food rules, body image concerns, or anxiety around eating have become tangled up with your eating disorder, Dr. Marianne offers a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed approach to eating disorder recovery. Dr. Marianne specializes in ARFID, binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia, including the ways eating disorders intersect with autism, ADHD, sensory needs, and trauma. She offers eating disorder therapy in California and Washington, D.C., as well as virtual coaching for people elsewhere. She also offers a self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating course for adults with ARFID, parents and caregivers, and providers. Visit drmariannemiller.com to learn more about working with Dr. Marianne. Follow @drmariannemiller on Instagram and listen to Dr. Marianne-Land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Does it matter whether your eating disorder therapist has personally recovered from anorexia or bulimia? In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore that question from two perspectives: as an eating disorder therapist and as someone who spent about 25 years navigating anorexia, binge eating, orthorexia, bulimia, compulsive exercise, and the long road to recovery. Lived experience does not replace professional training, and professional training does not require lived experience. Both forms of knowledge have value. In this episode, I share how my personal recovery has shaped my clinical work and why that perspective can be especially meaningful for autistic people, ADHDers, AuDHDers, and other neurodivergent adults recovering from anorexia and bulimia. What You'll Learn You'll hear five lessons that have transformed the way I understand eating disorder recovery. We discuss why what appears to be resistance is often nervous system overwhelm, how to tell the difference between neurodivergent traits and eating disorder symptoms, why shame rarely creates lasting recovery, how safety supports sustainable healing, and why recovery ultimately becomes about building a meaningful life instead of simply eliminating symptoms. Why Neurodivergent People Often Need a Different Recovery Conversation Traditional eating disorder treatment does not always account for sensory processing differences, executive functioning challenges, autistic burnout, ADHD, interoceptive differences, or the ways trauma and neurodivergence can intersect with anorexia and bulimia. In this episode, I explain why understanding your nervous system can make recovery feel more compassionate, more realistic, and more sustainable. Rather than forcing yourself to fit a rigid recovery model, you can begin building an approach that respects both your neurodivergence and your recovery goals. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for adults recovering from anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia, bulimia nervosa, chronic eating disorders, or long-term restrictive eating. It's also for autistic adults, ADHDers, AuDHD adults, highly sensitive people, therapists, dietitians, parents, caregivers, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder treatment. Mentioned in This Episode If you want to learn more about sensory processing, autonomy, nervous system regulation, and neurodivergent-affirming approaches to eating, check out my ARFID and Selective Eating Course. Although the course focuses on ARFID, many of the concepts also apply to neurodivergent people recovering from anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. Related Episodes Harm Reduction for Eating Disorders: How Lived Experience Shapes Recovery, Support, & Long-Term Healing on Apple & Spotify. Lived Experience of ARFID in Autistics & ADHDers: Sensory Survival & Misunderstandings With Dr. Panicha McGuire, LMFT, RPT on Apple & Spotify. Unmasking in Eating Disorder Recovery: What Neurodivergent People Need to Know About Safety & Healing via Apple & Spotify. Connect With Dr. Marianne Miller If you're looking for eating disorder therapy in California or Washington, D.C., or eating disorder coaching from anywhere in the world, I'd love to help. I specialize in anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, autism, ADHD, AuDHD, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder treatment. Visit www.drmariannemiller.com to learn more about working with me, explore my ARFID course, and listen to more episodes of Dr. Marianne-Land. If you found this episode helpful, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and share it with someone who could benefit from hearing that recovery does not have to look the same for everyone.

In this week's Reddit Stories episode, Jordan and Simon discuss three thought-provoking neurodivergent dilemmas shared by the online community.They begin with a discussion around whether it's wrong to hope your future children aren't neurodivergent, exploring disability, parenting, acceptance, and whether it's society—not neurodivergence itself—that creates many of the challenges autistic and ADHD people face. They then unpack a story about a young man who refuses to eat in front of other people, leading to a wider conversation about ARFID, sensory differences, eating disorders, and why curiosity is often more helpful than judgement. Finally, they discuss a chaotic birthday party where an autistic guest delivers a 45-minute presentation about Five Nights at Freddy's, exploring masking, alcohol, family dynamics, special interests, and the importance of understanding behaviour before jumping to conclusions.*The stories discussed in this episode are public Reddit posts. Titles may be shortened for readability, and all opinions expressed are those of the original posters.• I Don't Want My Kids to Be Neurodivergent• AITA for Asking My Daughter's Boyfriend to Stop Having Dinner With Us?• AITA for Walking Out of an Autistic Man's 45-Minute Five Nights at Freddy's Presentation?Our Sponsors:

In this week's Reddit Stories episode, Jordan and Simon discuss three thought-provoking neurodivergent dilemmas shared by the online community.They begin with a discussion around whether it's wrong to hope your future children aren't neurodivergent, exploring disability, parenting, acceptance, and whether it's society—not neurodivergence itself—that creates many of the challenges autistic and ADHD people face. They then unpack a story about a young man who refuses to eat in front of other people, leading to a wider conversation about ARFID, sensory differences, eating disorders, and why curiosity is often more helpful than judgement. Finally, they discuss a chaotic birthday party where an autistic guest delivers a 45-minute presentation about Five Nights at Freddy's, exploring masking, alcohol, family dynamics, special interests, and the importance of understanding behaviour before jumping to conclusions.*The stories discussed in this episode are public Reddit posts. Titles may be shortened for readability, and all opinions expressed are those of the original posters.• I Don't Want My Kids to Be Neurodivergent• AITA for Asking My Daughter's Boyfriend to Stop Having Dinner With Us?• AITA for Walking Out of an Autistic Man's 45-Minute Five Nights at Freddy's Presentation?Our Sponsors:

Many people with eating disorders get labeled as perfectionists. Sometimes that's accurate. Sometimes it's only part of the story. In this episode of the Dr. Marianne-Land Podcast, I explore the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, perfectionism, anxiety, autism, ADHD, and the cognitive effects of malnutrition. I explain why similar behaviors can have very different underlying causes and why understanding those differences can change the course of eating disorder treatment and recovery. If you've ever found yourself stuck in food rules, body checking, repetitive thoughts, calorie calculations, reassurance-seeking, or endless self-doubt, this episode offers a more nuanced way to understand what's happening beneath the surface. Rather than focusing only on what behaviors look like, I discuss why identifying their function leads to more effective and compassionate care. What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll learn how perfectionism differs from OCD in eating disorder recovery and why the distinction matters. I discuss why intrusive thoughts, compulsive checking, and reassurance-seeking are often mistaken for perfectionism, how anorexia nervosa and other restrictive eating disorders can increase obsessive thinking, and why starvation affects cognitive flexibility and mental rigidity. I also explain how autism, ADHD, sensory needs, and routine dependence can sometimes resemble OCD while reflecting very different underlying experiences. Finally, I share why understanding the function of eating disorder behaviors helps clinicians, individuals, and families choose more effective treatment approaches. OCD, Perfectionism, and Eating Disorders Perfectionism has long been associated with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders. At the same time, many people who believe they're simply perfectionists may also experience OCD, significant anxiety, or both. Looking only at outward behaviors can miss what is actually maintaining the cycle of restriction, compulsions, fear, and distress. In this episode, I discuss why food-related rituals, repeated checking, body checking, calorie counting, and reassurance-seeking may look similar across different conditions while serving very different purposes. Understanding those differences helps people receive more individualized, neurodivergent-affirming care instead of one-size-fits-all treatment. Why Neurodivergence Makes the Picture More Complex Autism, ADHD, ARFID, sensory processing differences, and nervous system regulation can all influence eating behaviors, routines, and food preferences. Predictability and consistency often help neurodivergent people reduce overwhelm and make eating feel safer. Those experiences are not automatically signs of OCD or perfectionism. I explain why clinicians need to understand the role of sensory processing, cognitive load, executive functioning, and nervous system regulation before drawing conclusions about repetitive eating behaviors. This perspective supports more accurate assessment and more compassionate eating disorder treatment. Why This Matters for Recovery Recovery looks different depending on what's driving the behavior. Someone whose eating disorder is fueled primarily by perfectionism may need different interventions than someone struggling with OCD, autism, or multiple overlapping conditions. When treatment targets the underlying process instead of the surface behavior alone, recovery often becomes more individualized, effective, and sustainable. Understanding the "why" behind eating disorder behaviors creates opportunities for greater self-compassion and more meaningful healing. This Episode Is For You If... This episode is for anyone recovering from anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, or another eating disorder who has wondered whether perfectionism tells the whole story. It's also for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD individuals, parents, caregivers, therapists, dietitians, physicians, and other professionals who want a more nuanced understanding of OCD, perfectionism, neurodivergence, and eating disorder recovery. Related Episodes OCD & Eating Disorders: Why Food Rules, Rituals, & “Not Feeling Right” Take Over on Apple & Spotify. When Eating Disorders Meet Anxiety, OCD, or Depression: Co-Occurring Challenges & Recovery Strategies on Apple & Spotify. Obsessions, Compulsions, and Control: How OCD Intertwines With Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. Food, Fear, & Fixation: How OCD Shapes Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you're looking for a neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder therapist, I provide therapy for adults and adolescents throughout California and Washington, D.C. I also offer parent consultation and eating disorder coaching worldwide. My practice specializes in ARFID therapy, anorexia treatment, bulimia treatment, binge eating disorder therapy, autism and ADHD, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. I use a sensory-attuned, trauma-informed, autonomy-supportive approach that honors each person's unique nervous system and lived experience. Learn more about therapy, consultation, my ARFID & Selective Eating Course, and additional resources at www.drmariannemiller.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the Dr. Marianne-Land Podcast, leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and share this episode with someone who may benefit from a more compassionate understanding of OCD, perfectionism, and eating disorder recovery.

What happens when years of eating disorder treatment reduce symptoms but never fully address the trauma underneath? In this episode of the Dr. Marianne-Land Podcast, I welcome Jennifer Lancaster, LCSW, for a conversation about complex trauma treatment for eating disorders, including the role of EMDR therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), attachment trauma, nervous system healing, and shame recovery. Whether you're recovering from anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, or another eating disorder, understanding the connection between trauma and eating disorders can open new possibilities for healing. Jennifer is a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Houston Healing Collective. Drawing on more than a decade of experience treating eating disorders and complex trauma, she explains why many clients arrive after years of therapy saying they understand why they struggle but still feel trapped in the same patterns. We discuss how trauma-informed treatment can move beyond symptom management by addressing the underlying experiences that shaped the nervous system in the first place. Why Complex Trauma Often Fuels Eating Disorders Complex trauma is not always one catastrophic event. It can develop through repeated experiences of emotional neglect, attachment disruptions, chronic criticism, unsafe relationships, community violence, poverty, or growing up without feeling consistently seen, safe, or emotionally supported. Jennifer shares how her own experiences and years of clinical work helped her recognize that many eating disorders function as adaptive responses to unresolved trauma rather than isolated illnesses. We also discuss why many people in eating disorder recovery become frustrated when treatment focuses primarily on changing behaviors without creating space to process traumatic experiences. Although symptom stabilization remains important, Jennifer explains why many clients eventually seek treatment that addresses the deeper emotional wounds beneath restrictive eating, binge eating, purging, or other eating disorder symptoms. EMDR Therapy for Trauma and Eating Disorders Jennifer explains how she integrates EMDR therapy into eating disorder treatment. She discusses the importance of building trust, strengthening nervous system regulation, assessing readiness, and helping clients expand their window of tolerance before trauma reprocessing begins. She also describes how EMDR allows people to process traumatic memories without needing to repeatedly tell every painful detail, making the work feel more manageable for many survivors of complex trauma. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Explained If you've been curious about ketamine-assisted therapy for PTSD, trauma, or eating disorders, Jennifer offers an accessible explanation of how this treatment works. She discusses why ketamine differs from traditional psychiatric medications, how it may temporarily increase neuroplasticity, and why those changes can create opportunities for deeper therapeutic work. We also talk about the brain's default mode network, rigid thinking patterns, and why many people experience new perspectives during treatment that previously felt impossible to access. One of the most important messages in this episode is that ketamine itself is not the treatment. Jennifer emphasizes that preparation, psychotherapy, and thoughtful integration before and after medicine sessions are what help lasting healing occur. Rather than replacing therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works alongside trauma-focused treatment approaches like EMDR and other evidence-informed therapies. Healing Shame Through Safe Relationships Jennifer also shares her own experience receiving ketamine-assisted therapy and how it transformed her relationship with shame. She describes participating in a therapeutic group experience where she felt safe enough to openly share parts of her story for the first time. That experience inspired her to develop group ketamine retreats because she witnessed how healing can deepen when people experience connection, compassionate witnessing, and emotional safety alongside trauma treatment. Our conversation also explores why shame often survives in isolation but begins to loosen when people experience safe therapeutic relationships. Whether treatment happens individually or in a carefully facilitated group setting, safety remains the foundation of meaningful trauma recovery. Who Should Listen This episode is for adults recovering from anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, or other eating disorders. It is also valuable for parents, caregivers, therapists, dietitians, physicians, and other healthcare professionals who want a deeper understanding of complex trauma, EMDR therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, PTSD, attachment trauma, and trauma-informed eating disorder treatment. In This Episode Jennifer explains how complex trauma contributes to eating disorders, why attachment wounds often remain hidden beneath eating disorder symptoms, how EMDR therapy helps people process traumatic memories, what ketamine-assisted psychotherapy actually involves, why preparation and integration matter just as much as the medicine itself, how neuroplasticity may support healing, why shame often decreases through safe therapeutic relationships, and how trauma-informed care can help people move beyond surviving toward genuine recovery. Content Cautions This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, PTSD, complex trauma, childhood adversity, attachment trauma, emotional neglect, shame, poverty, community violence, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and ketamine-assisted therapy. Listen to Related Episodes Using EMDR & Polyvagal Theory to Treat Trauma & Eating Disorders With Dr. Danielle Hiestand, LMFT, CEDS-S on Apple & Spotify. The Connection Between Unresolved Trauma & Long-Lasting Eating Disorders (Content Caution) on Apple & Spotify. How Childhood Trauma Shapes Eating Disorders & Body Shame (Content Caution) on Apple & Spotify. Childhood Trauma & Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. Connect With Jennifer Lancaster Jennifer Lancaster is the founder of Houston Healing Collective, where she specializes in complex trauma treatment, EMDR therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, eating disorder treatment, psychotherapy intensives, and therapeutic retreats. Learn more through Houston Healing Collective or follow her on Instagram at @_jenlightened. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you're looking for a California eating disorder therapist, Washington, DC eating disorder therapist, ARFID therapist, anorexia therapist, bulimia therapist, or binge eating disorder therapist, I provide neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed eating disorder therapy throughout California and Washington, DC, along with eating disorder coaching worldwide. If you or your child has ARFID or selective eating, be sure to explore my self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating Course for practical, evidence-informed support. Check out my website at drmariannemiller.com for all the latest info!

In this episode of Autism Help, Heather McKay explores avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, commonly known as ARFID, and how it can affect autistic people.Heather discusses the different treatments currently offered for ARFID and explains why some approaches may be ineffective or even make eating more difficult for autistic people, including contributing to the loss of safe foods. She also introduces some of the changes that may help make support more appropriate and accessible.Content NoteThis episode includes detailed discussion of food, restrictive eating, eating disorders, and experiences of ARFID. Please listen with care if these subjects may be difficult or triggering for you.DisclaimerThis podcast is for general information only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Please consult an appropriately qualified professional about your individual circumstances.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Olivia Soha, the founder of Uncovery, to discuss the often-invisible line between "wellness culture" and a life-threatening eating disorder. Olivia shares her harrowing journey from an early childhood struggle with ARFID to a medical crisis in her twenties that resulted in a near-death experience and a spiritual vision that changed her life forever. They explore the dangerous way society praises disordered behaviors as "healthy discipline" and the vital role that recovery coaching plays in bridging the gap between clinical treatment and reclaiming a real, lived life. Whether you are struggling yourself or supporting a loved one, Olivia's story offers a profound map of resilience and the unwavering hope that full recovery is truly possible. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Olivia Soha, the founder of Uncovery, to discuss the often-invisible line between "wellness culture" and a life-threatening eating disorder. Olivia shares her harrowing journey from an early childhood struggle with ARFID to a medical crisis in her twenties that resulted in a near-death experience and a spiritual vision that changed her life forever. They explore the dangerous way society praises disordered behaviors as "healthy discipline" and the vital role that recovery coaching plays in bridging the gap between clinical treatment and reclaiming a real, lived life. Whether you are struggling yourself or supporting a loved one, Olivia's story offers a profound map of resilience and the unwavering hope that full recovery is truly possible. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to another edition of This Week in Autistic Culture, our Sunday magazine that brings together the stories, conversations, and ideas shaping Autistic culture each week.As Angela is away this week, James Hepworth, host of Collecting Fish and Hyperfocus FC, joins Simon as a guest co-host.We begin with a look back at Collecting Fish, reflecting on the first season and sharing an update on how James' marine tank is developing. Then we turn to the FIFA World Cup Final, where Spain lifted the trophy while Argentina's tournament ended in controversy, before looking back at the competition as a whole and what made this year's tournament so memorable.As always, we'll also take you through everything coming up this week across the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, with new episodes exploring Hamilton, masking and burnout, therapy, genetics, humour, ARFID, basketball, and much more. Let's dive in.

Understanding autism means understanding everything that comes with it.Welcome to Autism Help, a podcast exploring the co-occurring conditions, daily challenges, and practical realities that shape the lives of autistic people and those who support them. Part of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network.Hosted by Heather McKay (she/they)—a late-diagnosed autistic mother of two, educator, company director, and author of Autism: The Big Book Set of Help—the series provides honest, neuroaffirming conversations about topics that are often overlooked, misunderstood, or poorly explained by mainstream services.Drawing on lived experience, years of facilitating support groups, and extensive research, Heather explores subjects including ARFID, executive dysfunction, sleep disorders, fibromyalgia, incontinence, literacy, and supporting multiply-disabled children. Each episode aims to provide practical knowledge, reduce isolation, and help listeners better understand autistic life beyond the diagnostic criteria.Whether you're autistic yourself, a parent, educator, support worker, or healthcare professional, Autism Help offers accessible, evidence-informed conversations grounded in both expertise and lived experience.

Aaliya ist 21 und leidet schon ein Leben lang unter "ARFID". Das ist eine unbekannte Essstörung, bei der Betroffene aus Angst oder Ekel viele Lebensmittel vermeiden. Aaliyah ekelt sich vor Gemüse und isst überwiegend Tiefkühl-Essen. Ihr Endgegner: Spinat. Gleichzeitig will sich Aaliyah unbedingt gesünder ernähren. Y-Kollektiv-Reporter Leon Hüttel begleitet sie bei dem Versuch, seit Jahren das erste Mal Spinat zu essen. Und er fragt: Wieso ist diese Essstörung bisher so unbekannt? Unser aktueller Podcast-Tipp: Die Lösung – der Psychologie-Podcast: https://1.ard.de/die-loesung?at Habt ihr Feedback oder Kritik? Schreibt uns gerne an y-podcast@ard.de oder https://www.instagram.com/y_kollektiv/ Reporter: Leon Hüttel Host: Annika Prigge Redaktion: Pamina Rosenthal "Y-Kollektiv – Der Podcast" ist ein Podcast von der ARD. Diese Episode ist eine Produktion von Radio Bremen 2026.

Erin Lamb has been a speech language pathologist for 26 years. She runs a Baltimore nonprofit with its own school for autistic kids. She has a Ph.D. She still missed her own daughter's autism. Why does autism get missed in girls? Most of the foundational autism research was done on boys. As Erin puts it, everything she knew about autism she learned from boys in the 90s, because that's what the research was done on. That research shaped the training, and the training shaped what people picture when they hear the word autism. Girls who talk early, who mask well, or whose struggles get read as anxiety often reach their teens before anyone says it out loud. This is a Seen and Heard episode, so Erin gets the floor. She walks Rob through what a day actually looks like in a house with a kid in autistic burnout, with a PDA profile and ARFID, where separation anxiety is the most clinically significant thing in the room. She's honest about what it costs her. "People are like, what are you doing this weekend? And my answer is always caregiving. Because I do not know. I cannot plan." Then she tells us what changed. She calls it outsourcing the panic. If the school professional isn't panicking, why is she? She handed the worry to the people whose job it is to worry, and her daughter started coming back to her within weeks. She also gives the best description of an autistic kid this show has had. In the wrong environment it's like parenting all the kids from Willy Wonka at once. In the right one, with the right accommodations and supports, her kid is Charlie. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR Why a speech language pathologist with 26 years of practice missed autism in her own daughter What a day really looks like with a kid in autistic burnout, a PDA profile, and ARFID What outsourcing the panic means, and how she started doing it Who her daughter actually is: the Lorax, Willy Wonka, and Charlie What she wishes the outside world, and the autism community, understood TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE Autism in girls: autism is underdiagnosed in girls largely because the foundational research was conducted on boys, so the diagnostic picture most clinicians trained on describes boys. Girls who mask well or present as anxious are routinely missed. PDA, pathological demand avoidance: a profile in which an autistic person's nervous system treats demands as threats, even small or pleasant ones. Approaches that add pressure usually make it worse. ARFID, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder: more than picky eating. A child avoids whole categories of food by texture, smell, or fear, to the point that nutrition and growth are affected. Autistic burnout: exhaustion and loss of previously held skills following a long stretch of masking, sensory overload, and unmet needs. Recovery takes fewer demands and real rest, not more pushing. Outsourcing the panic: Erin's strategy of handing specific worries to the professionals whose job it is to hold them, instead of carrying every worry herself. ABOUT ERIN LAMB Erin Lamb is the President and CEO of Gateway Maryland, the Baltimore nonprofit formerly known as HASA, which has served Maryland families for nearly 100 years. She's a licensed speech language pathologist, holds a Ph.D. in public policy, and is the mom of two neurodivergent teenage daughters. SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Mightier, a biofeedback emotional-regulation gaming program for kids, developed and tested at Boston Children's Hospital. Kids wear a heart-rate monitor and play games that get harder when they get dysregulated and easier as they calm down, so they practice regulating themselves in the moment. Read Rob's full review at theautismdad.com/mightier-review and use code theautismdad22 for 10% off. #ad RESOURCES Gateway Maryland: gatewaymaryland.org Rob's full Mightier review: theautismdad.com/mightier-review More Seen and Heard episodes: listen.theautismdad.com Find Rob at theautismdad.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at The Autism Dad.

127. Psilocybin for Anorexia: Inside UCSF's TrialDr. Amanda Downey on UCSF's psilocybin trial for anorexia, why caregivers enroll, and what the medicine can and can't reach in eating disorders.Episode SummaryEating disorders are the deadliest psychiatric illness we have. Someone in the United States dies of one every 52 seconds, and two of every three people who get conventional treatment never fully recover. Anorexia nervosa has had no new FDA-approved treatment since the 1990s. That is the ground this conversation stands on, and it is why I sat down with Dr. Amanda Downey at Town Hall Seattle. Dr. Downey is a pediatrician and psychiatrist at UCSF and a lead investigator on an active Phase 2 trial studying psilocybin for anorexia in young adults. We talk about why her trial enrolls caregivers as participants, what psilocybin might reach that decades of treatment have not, and where the science is still honestly uncertain. This one is close to me. I recovered from anorexia myself, and I know how little the map has changed.

Protein bars in the lunchbox. Protein powder in the smoothie. Protein added to everything from waffles to mac and cheese. If it feels like protein is suddenly everywhere! You're not imagining it. In this episode, I'm pushing back on the idea that more protein is automatically better for kids, walking through what the RDA actually recommends, what newer research on "optimal" protein intake really means, and the research-backed downsides of overdoing it, especially for younger kids. I also draw a clear line for families navigating severe picky eating, ARFID, or an eating disorder, where the real concern is too little protein, not too much. I'll share a story from my practice that shows exactly how this trend can backfire, and what I want you to know before you reach for another scoop. Get The Protein Guide here: www. thenourishedchild.com/product/protein

What if you could choose exactly which days you work, which clients you see, and even when you're home for your kids after school? Today's guest did exactly that.I'm thrilled to introduce you to Heidi Miller, a speech-language pathologist and the founder of HMS & Associates in New Jersey. Heidi has built a boutique, multi-location private practice known for its highly specialized, relationship-driven care with clinics in Florham Park, Park Ridge, and most recently Oakland.But here's what makes her story so different: She didn't start with a grand vision of multiple clinics. She started with a clear vision of three days a week.With over 25 years of experience, Heidi has worked across a range of clinical settings before opening her first in-person clinic 15 years ago. Today, her practice focuses on pediatric feeding disorders, ARFID, apraxia, and myofunctional therapy with an emphasis on advanced, evidence-based treatment and individualized care. She remains closely involved in mentoring her team and shaping the clinical standards across all three locations, ensuring a consistently high level of care.Outside of patient care, Heidi is passionate about building a private practice model that blends clinical excellence with strong family partnerships — creating a trusted, referral-based brand where children, families, and clinicians can truly thrive. She also creates continuing education courses for other therapists and is a mom to three kids.In Today's Episode, We Discuss:How she slowly and systematically built a niche practice around her actual passionsWhy saying "no" to clients outside your specialty actually grows your reputation fasterHow she opened a second location not by throwing a dart at a map, but by following one family's needThe simple way she retains therapists for years letting them reset their schedules every summer and school yearHeidi's story is proof that you don't have to choose between being a present parent and a successful practice owner. She didn't throw a dart at a map. She followed the need, trusted her skills, and built a practice that fits her life — not someone else's idea of success.Want to build a private practice that gives you freedom without burning out? Learn more about our Start Your Private Practice Program, where Heidi got the step-by-step guidance she needed to go from employee to business owner. To learn more, please visit www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com.Or, if you already have an existing private practice and you're ready to take it to the next level we'd love to support you inside the Next Level Private Practitioner. You can learn more at www.nextlevelprivatepractitioner.com.Whether you want to start a private practice or grow your existing private practice, I can help you get the freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, and financial abundance that you deserve. Visit my website www.independentclinician.com to learn more.Resources Mentioned:Follow Heidi onInstagram: instagram.com/heidimillerspeechandassociates/TikTok: tiktok.com/@hmsspeechandfeedingFacebook: HMS & Associates, LLCCheck out her website: heidimillerspeech.comWhere We Can Connect:Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Originally released in June 2023, this episode features Dr. Cynthia Bulik in a discussion of eating disorders, nutrition, and the brain. The conversation explores anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, common misconceptions about eating disorders, and the evolving understanding of how biology, genetics, and environment shape risk, diagnosis, and recovery.   Cynthia Bulik, PhD, FAED, is a Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Professor of Nutrition in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is the founding director of the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders and directs the Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation at Karolinska Institutet, with research focused on the biology, genetics, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders.  Fall Congress   Get $100 off NEI Fall Congress registration with code POD26. Go to https://nei.global/fall to sign up today!   Membership  As a valued NEI Podcast listener, Dr. Cutler's offering you 20% off new NEI Membership with code CUTLER20. Go to https://nei.global/member and join now!  Never miss an episode!

OCD, Eating Disorders & ARFID: Where Do You Start? | Dr Alissa Knight (Part 2)In Part 2 of our conversation with eating disorder specialist with Dr Alissa Knight, we dive deeper into one of the most complex areas of mental health treatment: the overlap between OCD, eating disorders, autism, trauma, and ARFID.How do clinicians untangle symptoms when OCD and eating disorders are working together? What happens when OCD disguises itself as an eating disorder, or when an eating disorder hides behind OCD? And how do you know where to begin treatment when both conditions are causing significant distress?Dr Alissa shares her unique, person-centred approach to formulation, treatment planning, and building trust with clients who have often been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or passed between services. She also provides practical insights into working with ARFID, including how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can be adapted to help people gradually overcome intense fears around food.This episode is packed with clinical wisdom for psychologists, therapists, students, families, and anyone interested in understanding the deeper relationship between OCD and eating disorders.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why OCD and eating disorders so commonly occur together• How OCD can unintentionally protect and reinforce eating disorder behaviours• The difference between OCD-driven food restriction and eating disorder pathology• How to determine which condition to treat first• Why collaboration and client buy-in are essential for successful treatment• The role of trauma, autism and nervous system dysregulation in eating disorders• Practical ways to adapt ERP for ARFID treatment• Why rapport is often more important than any therapy model• The biggest mistakes clinicians make when working with eating disorders• How to help clients feel safe, understood and empowered in treatmentDr Alissa also shares a powerful reminder for clinicians: your greatest therapeutic tool isn't a treatment manual, it's your ability to connect with another human being.Whether you're treating OCD, ARFID, anorexia nervosa, or working with complex presentations, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what effective and compassionate care can look like.To learn more about Dr Alissa Knight follow this linkwww.melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Livia Sara is joined by Maddie, a psychology student, content creator, and face behind the Instagram account @love.madelaine_ where she shares her journey through OCD and eating disorder recovery, autism discovery, and embracing her authentic identity. In this episode, we explore the overlap between autism, OCD, orthorexia, anorexia, and why so many neurodivergent people struggle to find support that truly fits. Maddie reflects on her diagnoses of ARFID, anorexia, and OCD, and how her autism discovery was the missing piece that transformed her healing process. This episode offers a fresh perspective on healing, self-understanding, and creating a life that feels aligned with who you truly are. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself, supporting someone with an eating disorder, or questioning whether traditional recovery approaches are working for you, this episode is for you! Key Topics Discussed: Maddie's journey through anorexia, orthorexia, OCD, and autism discovery Why neurodivergent people often feel misunderstood in traditional eating disorder treatment Why embracing autistic traits is the key to freedom The importance of autonomy, self-trust, and individualized support Why recovery is not about fixing yourself, but about discovering who you truly are

If the idea of ARFID treatment feels just as overwhelming as ARFID itself, you're not alone. Many people avoid seeking help because they worry treatment will involve pressure, forced food exposures, or having their sensory experiences dismissed. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne Miller explains what neurodivergent-affirming ARFID treatmentactually looks like. She discusses why understanding the function of food avoidance matters, how autism, ADHD, trauma, sensory processing differences, and executive functioning can shape eating challenges, and why collaboration and autonomy are essential parts of effective treatment. Whether you're an adult with ARFID, the parent of a child with ARFID, or a healthcare professional looking to better understand Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, this episode offers a compassionate, evidence-informed look at what meaningful treatment can be. What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll learn why ARFID treatment should begin with understanding rather than immediately trying to change eating behaviors. Dr. Marianne explains how neurodivergent-affirming care differs from compliance-based approaches and why treatment should account for sensory processing, nervous system regulation, executive functioning, and trauma history. She also discusses what exposure work can look like when it's collaborative, respectful, and tailored to the individual instead of relying on pressure or coercion. Finally, she explains why successful ARFID recovery is not about eating every food, but about creating a safer, more flexible, and less distressing relationship with eating. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for adults living with ARFID, parents and caregivers of children or teens with ARFID, autistic and ADHD individuals with restrictive eating, healthcare professionals seeking a neurodivergent-affirming understanding of ARFID, and anyone wondering what to expect from ARFID treatment. Why a Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach Matters ARFID doesn't look the same for everyone. Some people experience intense sensory sensitivities, while others struggle because of fear of choking, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, or a longstanding lack of interest in food. Many people experience more than one of these patterns at the same time. Effective treatment begins by understanding why eating feels difficult rather than assuming all food avoidance has the same cause. A neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed approach recognizes that meaningful progress comes from working with the nervous system instead of against it. Learn More About ARFID If you'd like a deeper understanding of ARFID, autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, trauma, and evidence-informed treatment approaches, check out Dr. Marianne's self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating Course. The course is designed for adults, parents, caregivers, and professionals who want practical, neurodivergent-affirming strategies that move beyond compliance-based treatment. Related Episodes When Safe Foods Stop Working: ARFID Plateaus, Burnout, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. ARFID Explained: What It Feels Like, Why It's Misunderstood, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. Why Sensory-Attuned Care Matters More Than Exposure in ARFID Treatment on Apple & Spotify. ARFID, PDA, and Autonomy: Why Pressure Makes Eating Harder on Apple & Spotify. Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne If you or your child are struggling with ARFID, Dr. Marianne Miller provides ARFID therapy for clients in California, Texas, and Washington, DC, along with coaching services worldwide. Learn more about therapy, coaching, courses, and additional resources at www.drmariannemiller.com. Connect With Dr. Marianne Website: www.drmariannemiller.com ARFID & Selective Eating Course: www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid Instagram: @drmariannemiller

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #380: What If It's Not Just Picky Eating? ARFID In ADHD & Autism ExplainedListen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If eating still feels overwhelming after years of living with anorexia or bulimia, you're not alone. Long-term eating disorders often make every meal feel mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting, even when you're deeply committed to recovery. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, eating disorder therapist Dr. Marianne Miller shares five practical, compassionate strategies to help reduce eating overwhelm, manage food anxiety, and make meals feel more manageable. If you're recovering from anorexia, bulimia, or another long-term restrictive eating disorder, this episode offers realistic tools that support sustainable recovery instead of perfection. Why Eating Can Still Feel So Hard Many people believe eating should feel easy after years of recovery work. In reality, long-term anorexia and bulimia often leave behind deeply ingrained patterns involving the brain, nervous system, and learned responses to food. Dr. Marianne explains why eating can continue to feel overwhelming long after someone decides they want recovery, and why those struggles do not mean you're failing or doing recovery incorrectly. Five Practical Ways to Reduce Eating Overwhelm Dr. Marianne walks through five strategies that can help make meals feel more manageable. She discusses how breaking eating into smaller, achievable steps can reduce overwhelm, why simplifying food decisions conserves mental energy, and how shifting your definition of success away from comfort can support long-term healing. She also explores ways to support your nervous system before and during meals and explains why consistency matters more than striving for the perfect recovery day. Recovery Is Built One Meal at a Time When you've lived with an eating disorder for years, it's easy to believe that every difficult meal means you're moving backward. This episode offers a different perspective. Recovery rarely happens through dramatic breakthroughs. More often, it develops through ordinary moments of choosing nourishment, returning after setbacks, and continuing to practice recovery skills even when eating still feels difficult. Those small decisions add up over time and become the foundation for lasting change. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for adults recovering from anorexia, bulimia, chronic restrictive eating, or long-term eating disorders who continue to feel overwhelmed by meals. It's also helpful for family members, loved ones, and clinicians who want to better understand why eating can remain challenging even after years of treatment and recovery work. Related Episodes Beyond Anorexia: The Truth About Long-Term Restrictive Eating on Apple and Spotify. Understanding Harm Reduction: Why "Full Recovery" May Not Be the Goal for Lifelong Eating Disorders on Apple and Spotify. Why Eating Still Breaks Down for Neurodivergent People With Long-Term Eating Disorders on Apple and Spotify. Navigating a Long-Term Eating Disorder on Apple & Spotify. When an Eating Disorder Becomes Chronic: Recovery Tools for Persistent Anorexia & Bulimia on Apple and Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you're looking for compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed support for anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, or other eating challenges, I'd love to help. I provide therapy for adults throughout California and Washington, D.C., as well as coaching for clients worldwide. Learn more about working with me at www.drmariannemiller.com. You can also follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller for more education and practical recovery resources, and subscribe to Dr. Marianne-Land on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

Why do so many autistic and ADHD girls grow up believing they're simply "too much," anxious, or broken? In this episode, I sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and neurodiversity advocate Jamie Roberts @neurodivergenttherapist to talk about why autism and ADHD so often go undiagnosed in girls, how masking hides neurodivergence, and what changes when people finally receive answers later in life. We also explore the overlap between neurodivergence, eating disorders, anxiety, body image, and identity, along with what true neurodivergent-affirming care can look like. What You'll Learn Jamie shares her own journey to a late diagnosis of autism and ADHD and explains why so many girls first receive diagnoses like anxiety or depression instead of having their neurodivergence recognized. We discuss perfectionism, people-pleasing, masking, sensory differences, and why many neurodivergent girls become experts at hiding their struggles. We also talk about healing your inner teen, embracing authenticity after years of masking, and learning that taking up space is not something you have to earn. Jamie explains why neurodiversity-affirming therapy focuses on understanding rather than changing who someone is, and why autonomy, identity, and self-acceptance matter so much for long-term well-being. We Also Discuss How autism and ADHD often present differently in girls Why anxiety and depression can mask underlying neurodivergence The emotional impact of receiving a late autism diagnosis Masking, perfectionism, and people-pleasing Healing your inner teen after years of feeling misunderstood The relationship between neurodivergence, body image, and eating disorders Why compliance-based approaches can harm neurodivergent people Universal Design and creating environments that work for everyone Jamie's new book, Neurodiversity for Teen Girls. About Jamie Roberts Jamie Roberts, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, speaker, and author specializing in neurodivergent-affirming mental health care for teens and young adults. She is the founder of Neuropebble, a neuroaffirming clinical training platform, and Equilibrium Counseling Services. Jamie openly shares her own experience with late-diagnosed autism and ADHD while helping clinicians, parents, and neurodivergent individuals better understand neurodiversity through education, advocacy, and practical support. Follow Jamie on Instagram @neurodivergenttherapist and @neuropebble. Related Episodes Late-Diagnosed Autism, ADHD, & “Neurohybridity”: Why Some People Never Fit One Label With Dr. Emma Offord @divergentlives on Apple & Spotify. Autism, ADHD, & Eating Disorders: Recovery, Sensory Needs, & Late Diagnosis With Margo White, CPN @margo_wholebodynutrition on Apple & Spotify. “Stuck” Isn't Lazy: Inertia in ADHD, Autism, & Eating Disorder Recovery With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW on Apple & Spotify. About Dr. Marianne Miller I'm Dr. Marianne Miller, PhD, LMFT, an eating disorder therapist, neurodivergent-affirming clinician, and host of Dr. Marianne-Land. I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, and bulimia while supporting neurodivergent adults, teens, athletes, and LGBTQIA+ clients through a sensory-attuned, trauma-informed, weight-neutral approach. I provide therapy throughout California and coaching worldwide. Learn more at www.drmariannemiller.com and follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller. Listen and Subscribe If this conversation helped you better understand late-diagnosed autism, ADHD, masking, or neurodivergence in girls and women, please follow Dr. Marianne-Land, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who has spent years wondering why they always felt different. Your support helps more people find neurodivergent-affirming information and compassionate eating disorder care.

Have you ever looked at a plate of food, known you needed to eat, and still felt like your brain and body simply couldn't do it? Many people assume this experience reflects a lack of willpower or motivation. In reality, sensory overload, trauma, ARFID, and food restriction can all make eating feel genuinely inaccessible. When your nervous system stays in survival mode, even choosing, preparing, and tolerating food can become overwhelming. In this episode, I explain why eating can feel impossible, how sensory processing and trauma influence appetite and food intake, and why restriction often creates a cycle that makes eating even harder. I also share the fictional story of Jasper to illustrate how nervous system overload, chronic stress, and inadequate nutrition can quietly reinforce one another. If you've ever wondered why food feels so much harder for you than it seems to be for everyone else, this conversation offers a compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming perspective. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN You'll learn why eating requires much more than hunger and willpower, and how sensory processing, executive functioning, and nervous system regulation all influence your ability to nourish yourself. I explain how trauma can shape eating patterns long after stressful experiences have ended and why many people develop food avoidance without consciously trying to restrict. I also discuss the overlap between ARFID, restrictive eating disorders, autism, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, and chronic stress. Finally, I share practical ways to approach eating with curiosity instead of shame so you can better understand what your nervous system may be communicating. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR This episode is for adults and teens with ARFID, anorexia, atypical anorexia, or other restrictive eating disorders. It's also for neurodivergent people with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing differences who find eating exhausting or overwhelming. Parents, caregivers, therapists, dietitians, physicians, and other providers will also gain a deeper understanding of why food avoidance often reflects nervous system overload rather than defiance or a lack of motivation. CONTENT CAUTION This episode includes discussion of ARFID, anorexia, restrictive eating disorders, food restriction, trauma, sensory overload, and food avoidance. TAKEAWAYS Eating difficulties don't always begin with body image concerns or intentional dieting. Sometimes a nervous system carrying chronic stress, trauma, or sensory overload simply doesn't have enough capacity to manage the complex task of eating. Food restriction can also become both a consequence of these struggles and a factor that keeps them going. As nutrition decreases, flexibility often narrows, sensory sensitivity may increase, and eating can become even more difficult. Understanding that cycle allows us to replace self-blame with curiosity and build recovery from a place of compassion rather than criticism. RELATED EPISODES What Is Mechanical Eating? Pros, Cons, & How It Can Work When Eating Feels Hard (ARFID, Binge Eating, Restriction) on Apple & Spotify. ARFID, PDA, and Autonomy: Why Pressure Makes Eating Harder on Apple & Spotify. Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify. The Connection Between Unresolved Trauma & Long-Lasting Eating Disorders (Content Caution) on Apple & Spotify. RESOURCES If you or someone you love struggles with ARFID or selective eating, check out my self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating Course. I created it for adults, parents, caregivers, and providers who want a neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed approach to treatment and recovery. To learn more about working with me for eating disorder therapy in San Diego, California or virtually throughout California and Washington, D.C., or coaching worldwide, visit my website at drmariannemiller.com. CONNECT WITH DR. MARIANNE MILLER If this episode helped you better understand your relationship with food, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this conversation. You can also connect with me on Instagram @drmariannemiller for more education on ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, neurodivergence, trauma, sensory processing, and eating disorder recovery.

Sarah Rzemieniak is a Carolyn Costin Institute Certified eating disorder recovery coach. Since 2018, she has provided one-on-one recovery coaching to individuals worldwide, working alongside her small team of other CCI-certified coaches in private practice. Before this, Sarah worked as an eating disorder dietitian until she realized that her true passion was in the coaching and counselling aspect of the work.Sarah has her own lived experience of an eating disorder and considers herself fully recovered from anorexia nervosa. She lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada with her husband and their two young sons.My main website: https://sarahrzemieniak.com/My bi-weekly blog: https://sarahrzemieniak.com/blog/My free recovery practices, to help ritualize the recovery journey in an inspiring way:  https://sarahrzemieniak.com/free-eating-disorder-resources/Recorded at ROC Vox Recording & Production Studios, Rochester, NY  rocvox.com

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews Ashantis Jones, a counselor and ASM-certified personal trainer, about healing body image and movement through an intersectional, weight-inclusive lens. Ashantis shares how her eating disorder recovery, later neurodivergence diagnoses (ADHD/autism traits and ARFID), and experience with fibromyalgia shaped her approach to care, emphasizing that diagnoses can be useful but aren't always required to provide support. They discuss body positivity as a social justice movement, how privilege and systemic oppression—including racism, fatphobia, ableism, and capitalism—shape access to care and eating disorder treatment, and why decolonizing mental health matters. Ashantis explains that weight-inclusive fitness can look the same as weight-centric training, but focuses on functional goals, accommodations, rest, and building body trust rather than weight loss. 06:38 Recovery Origin Story 11:47 Eating Disorder Realizations  13:19 ARFID ADHD Nuance  15:58 Diagnoses And Shame  19:34 Intersectionality Basics 24:10 Decolonizing Mental Health  31:02 Defensiveness And Learning  32:26 Learning Beyond Your Bubble  33:12 Pandemic Backlash and Diet Culture  40:12 Movement as Body Trust  42:45 Chronic Illness and Ableism Realities  56:13 Read Books Not Hot Takes   WANT MORE OF ASHANTIS? https://www.ashantisjones.com/  https://www.patreon.com/bodykindnutrition/about  WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri
 *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance

Why do some people with ADHD feel like no amount of food is ever enough? Why can you finish a satisfying meal and still find yourself searching the pantry, thinking about dessert, or feeling like something is missing? In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore the often-overlooked connection between ADHD and binge eating disorder (BED). I explain why many ADHDers describe feeling like a "bottomless pit" around food, why satisfaction can remain elusive even when physical hunger has passed, and why traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) doesn't always address the executive functioning and nervous system challenges that drive binge eating. Using the fictional case example of Zoe, we look beyond willpower and self-control to better understand how ADHD can shape reward processing, food thoughts, understimulation, sensory needs, and the search for regulation. If you've ever wondered why your relationship with food feels different from what most recovery advice describes, this episode offers a compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming perspective. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN You'll learn why ADHD and binge eating frequently occur together, how executive functioning differences can influence eating behavior, and why the feeling of "never being satisfied" isn't always about physical hunger. I also discuss why food often becomes a source of stimulation after mentally demanding days, how shame keeps many people stuck, and why ADHD-informed eating disorder treatment may look very different from traditional CBT. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR This episode is for adults with ADHD, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, chronic food thoughts, or food noise. It's also for anyone who has worked on emotional eating, stopped dieting, or completed eating disorder treatment but still feels confused by persistent urges to eat. Therapists, dietitians, and other eating disorder professionals who work with neurodivergent clients will also find this discussion helpful. IN THIS EPISODE We explore why binge eating isn't always driven by restriction, how ADHD changes the way many people experience reward and satisfaction, why executive functioning matters in eating disorder recovery, and what clinicians often miss when they focus only on changing thoughts or behaviors. I also explain how approaching binge eating with curiosity instead of self-criticism can open the door to more effective, sustainable healing. RELATED EPISODES ADHD & Bulimia: Dopamine, Impulsivity, & the Hidden Link to Binge Eating With Kirsten Book, PMHNP-BC on Apple and Spotify. Why Eating Feels So Chaotic With ADHD: Binge Eating, Bulimia, & Executive Function Challenges on Apple and Spotify. Eating Disorders & ADHD: Neurodivergent-Affirming Recovery With Taylor Ashley, RP @taylorashleytherapy on Apple and Spotify. RESOURCES If you're looking for additional support, check out my Binge Eating Recovery Membership, where you'll find practical tools, education, and guidance through a neurodivergent-affirming, weight-neutral lens. You can also explore my ARFID & Selective Eating course, blog, podcast archive, and additional recovery resources at www.drmariannemiller.com. WORK WITH DR. MARIANNE MILLER I'm Dr. Marianne Miller, PhD, LMFT, an eating disorder therapist specializing in ADHD, binge eating disorder, ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming care. I provide virtual therapy throughout California, TWashington, DC, as well as coaching worldwide. If this episode helped you better understand your relationship with food, please follow Dr. Marianne-Land, leave a rating or review on Apple and Spotify Podcasts, and share this episode with someone who has spent years wondering why food never seems like enough.

¿Tu hijo come solamente unos cuantos alimentos? ¿Rechaza ciertas texturas, colores o temperaturas? ¿Las comidas se han convertido en un momento de estrés, negociación o preocupación constante? En este episodio abordamos una de las inquietudes más frecuentes en la alimentación infantil: la selectividad alimentaria. ¿Es simplemente una etapa normal del desarrollo, conocida como picky eating, o podría tratarse de algo más complejo como ARFID (Trastorno de Evitación/Restricción de la Ingesta de Alimentos)? Para responder estas preguntas nos acompaña la Dra. Cipatli Ayuzo del Valle, pediatra, investigadora y directora de la Clínica de Adolescentes del Hospital Zambrano Hellion TecSalud, quien nos ayuda a entender qué es normal, qué no lo es y cuáles son las señales que justifican una evaluación especializada. Hablamos sobre cómo evoluciona el apetito durante la infancia, qué factores aumentan el riesgo de desarrollar problemas de alimentación, cuáles son los distintos perfiles de ARFID y cómo esta condición puede afectar el crecimiento, el estado nutricional, la salud emocional y la dinámica familiar. Además, discutimos estrategias prácticas para padres y cuidadores, qué errores suelen empeorar el problema y qué intervenciones tienen mejor respaldo científico para favorecer una relación saludable con los alimentos. Un episodio indispensable para padres, profesionales de la salud, educadores y cualquier persona que conviva con niños que presentan dificultades para comer. Porque no todos los niños que son "picky" para comer tienen un trastorno alimentario, pero identificar las señales correctas puede hacer una enorme diferencia en su salud y bienestar.

What happens when you stop viewing yourself through a pathology lens and start seeing your differences as part of your identity instead of evidence that something is wrong with you? In this thought-provoking conversation, I sit down with Shira Collings, LPC, a neurodiversity-affirming, fat-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, disability justice-aligned therapist, to explore neurodivergence as a social identity and how that perspective can transform the way we think about eating disorders, mental health, and recovery. Together, we discuss the concept of sanism, the oppression faced by people whose minds fall outside societal expectations of "normal," and how shame often develops when people internalize messages that they are broken, defective, or in need of fixing. We also examine the overlap between neurodiversity, anti-fatness, eating disorder recovery, and disability justice. Shira shares their personal journey with neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self-acceptance. We discuss why many people identify as neurodivergent without pursuing formal diagnosis, how neurodivergence can function as a cultural identity, and why community often plays a powerful role in healing. We also unpack radical acceptance, harm reduction, and the limitations of all-or-nothing recovery narratives. Instead of focusing on perfection, we explore how people can reduce suffering, increase self-compassion, and build lives that align with their values. In This Episode, We Discuss Neurodivergence as a social identity rather than a diagnosis The origins of the neurodiversity paradigm What sanism is and how it affects mental health care Self-diagnosis, formal diagnosis, and personal identity The intersection of neurodiversity, eating disorders, and anti-fatness How shame fuels both mental health struggles and eating disorders Radical acceptance and self-compassion Harm reduction approaches in eating disorder recovery Why recovery does not need to be all-or-nothing How disability justice can reshape the way we support neurodivergent people About Shira Collings Shira Collings, LPC (she/they), is a feminist, neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, fat-affirming, and disability justice-aligned psychotherapist. They specialize in reproductive mental health, eating disorders, body image concerns, trauma, grief, and loss. Shira supports clients in healing from internalized and systemic oppression while building lives that align with their values. Follow Shira on Instagram: @threadandthreshold.therapy Website: threadandthreshold.com Who This Episode Is For This episode is for neurodivergent people, eating disorder survivors, therapists, advocates, caregivers, and anyone who has ever wondered whether they have spent too much of their life trying to fix parts of themselves that were never broken. Key Takeaway Healing does not always come from becoming someone different. Sometimes healing begins when you stop treating yourself like a problem to solve and start approaching yourself with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. Related Episodes Why Eating Still Breaks Down for Neurodivergent People With Long-Term Eating Disorders via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking, Embodiment, & Trust: A Neurodivergent Approach to Eating Disorder Recovery With Dr. Emma Offord @divergentlives via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking in Eating Disorder Recovery: What Neurodivergent People Need to Know About Safety & Healing via Apple & Spotify. Autism & Anorexia: When Masking Looks Like Restriction, & Recovery Feels Unsafe via Apple & Spotify. Recovering Again: Navigating Eating Disorders After a Late Neurodivergent Diagnosis (Part 1) With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW @edadhd_therapist via Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. I provide therapy in California and Washington, DC, as well as coaching and educational resources worldwide. Learn more at www.drmariannemiller.com On my website, you can also explore my ARFID & Selective Eating Course, Binge Eating Recovery Membership, and additional resources for neurodivergent eating disorder recovery. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this message.

What if the behaviors that frustrate, worry, or confuse you most aren't the real problem? What if anxiety, OCD, emotional outbursts, picky eating, and even focus issues are all clues pointing to something deeper?In this eye-opening episode, Rebecca welcomes Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, licensed therapist, certified school psychologist, parenting expert, and author of The Dysregulated Kid. With more than 30 years of experience helping children and families, Dr. Roseann explains how nervous system dysregulation may be at the root of many common childhood struggles, including anxiety, OCD, emotional reactivity, picky eating, ARFID, and behavioral challenges.Together, Rebecca and Dr. Roseann discuss why regulation must come before learning, coping skills, discipline, and even therapy. They explore practical ways parents can support both their children and themselves, while offering hope for families who feel overwhelmed or stuck.This conversation may completely change the way you view your child's behavior.Key Takeaways→ Behavior is often a clue, not the problem.→ A dysregulated nervous system can look like anxiety, ADHD, OCD, emotional outbursts, or lack of focus.→ Parents are their children's emotional anchors and co-regulation matters.→ ARFID and severe picky eating are often connected to nervous system and sensory challenges.→ Small, consistent regulation practices can create powerful long-term changes.If this episode helped you see your child through a new lens, please share it with another parent, grandparent, teacher, or caregiver.Listen, subscribe, and learn more at:https://whinypaluza.com/Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-whinypaluza-podcast/id1534167756

Have you ever wondered whether ARFID is something a person lives with forever? It's one of the most common questions people ask after an ARFID diagnosis, yet the answer is rarely as straightforward as people hope. Adults with ARFID, parents of children with ARFID, and even clinicians often want to know what recovery really looks like, whether meaningful change is possible, and how neurodivergence influences the long-term course of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne Miller explores the question, "Is ARFID lifelong?" through a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed lens. She examines how conversations about ARFID recovery often become oversimplified and why many people focus on the wrong markers when trying to determine whether treatment is working. The discussion moves beyond food variety alone and considers broader questions about quality of life, flexibility, self-understanding, sensory processing, and participation in meaningful life experiences. Is ARFID Lifelong? Many people assume there are only two possible outcomes: either ARFID completely disappears or nothing changes. The reality is often far more nuanced. Dr. Marianne discusses why the future cannot be predicted by a diagnosis alone and how growth, adaptation, treatment, accommodations, and self-understanding can shape a person's relationship with food over time. What Does ARFID Recovery Look Like? Recovery from ARFID does not always fit traditional eating disorder narratives. In this episode, Dr. Marianne explores how recovery may involve reduced distress around food, increased flexibility, improved nutrition, greater participation in social experiences, and less time spent managing food-related anxiety. She also examines why quality of life deserves a central place in conversations about recovery. ARFID, Autism, ADHD, and Neurodivergence ARFID frequently overlaps with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, OCD, anxiety, chronic illness, and other neurodivergent experiences. Understanding these intersections can dramatically change how people view treatment, accommodations, and long-term outcomes. Dr. Marianne discusses why neurodivergent-affirming care matters and why recovery may look different from person to person. Why the Question Matters For many people, the question "Is ARFID lifelong?" is not simply about food. It is often about identity, hope, relationships, travel, family experiences, social connection, and the desire to spend less mental energy managing meals. Dr. Marianne explores the emotional weight behind this question and why understanding the future can feel so important after years of struggle. In This Episode, You'll Learn You'll learn why ARFID recovery is rarely a simple yes-or-no answer, how sensory processing and neurodivergence influence treatment outcomes, why quality of life matters alongside food variety, and how people can experience meaningful growth even when challenges remain. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of why conversations about ARFID often benefit from curiosity, flexibility, and a broader definition of recovery. Related Episodes When Safe Foods Stop Working: ARFID Plateaus, Burnout, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. ARFID Explained: What It Feels Like, Why It's Misunderstood, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. Why Sensory-Attuned Care Matters More Than Exposure in ARFID Treatment on Apple & Spotify. Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify. Learn More About ARFID If you're looking for neurodivergent-affirming support for ARFID and selective eating, check out Dr. Marianne Miller's self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating Course. Designed for adults with ARFID, parents, caregivers, and providers, the course explores sensory processing, nervous system regulation, autism, ADHD, family dynamics, food flexibility, accommodations, and practical strategies that move beyond shame, pressure, and one-size-fits-all approaches. Learn more at: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid About Dr. Marianne Miller Dr. Marianne Miller is a licensed marriage and family therapist, eating disorder therapist, and host of the Dr. Marianne-Land podcast. She specializes in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. Dr. Marianne developed the Neurodivergent-Affirming Integrative Therapy for ARFID (NAIT-AR) framework and provides therapy, coaching, courses, and educational resources for individuals, families, and professionals. Website: https://www.drmariannemiller.com Instagram: @drmariannemiller

Have you ever wondered where your beliefs about food, weight, and body image actually came from? Many people assume their eating disorder, body dissatisfaction, or disordered eating patterns developed entirely from personal experiences. In reality, family food rules, generational diet culture, and inherited beliefs about bodies often shape our relationship with food long before we recognize what's happening. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore how eating disorders can develop within family systems, why body shame often travels across generations, and what happens when you begin questioning the food and body rules you inherited. Through the story of a fictional client named Esme, we examine how childhood messages about weight, dieting, health, and appearance can become deeply embedded in adulthood, even when they were never spoken directly. Whether you're recovering from anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, ARFID, chronic dieting, or longstanding body image struggles, this conversation offers a compassionate look at the ways family history and diet culture can influence recovery. What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll learn how family food rules shape eating behaviors and body image across generations, why children often absorb beliefs about food and weight without realizing it, and how multigenerational diet culture can contribute to eating disorders and disordered eating. You'll also learn why inherited beliefs often feel like facts, how anti-fat bias and cultural beauty standards influence family conversations about bodies, and why recovery frequently involves examining long-held assumptions about food, health, worth, and appearance. Why Family Systems Matter in Eating Disorder Recovery Eating disorders rarely develop in a vacuum. Many people grow up surrounded by messages about dieting, weight loss, body size, exercise, and food morality that seem completely normal at the time. Those messages often become part of a family's culture, shaping how people think about hunger, fullness, health, self-worth, and belonging. When clients begin recovery, they often discover that some of the rules guiding their relationship with food did not originate with them. Instead, those beliefs may have traveled through multiple generations, influenced by diet culture, weight stigma, sexism, anti-fat bias, food scarcity, trauma, and larger social systems. Recognizing these patterns can create opportunities for healing, self-compassion, and greater freedom around food. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for anyone recovering from an eating disorder, struggling with body image, questioning family food rules, or trying to understand how childhood experiences continue to affect their relationship with food. It may be especially helpful for people navigating anorexia recovery, binge eating recovery, bulimia recovery, ARFID recovery, chronic dieting, weight cycling, body image concerns, or the emotional impact of growing up in a family where weight and appearance received significant attention. Related Episodes Family Dynamics & Eating Disorders: How Early Relationships Shape Disordered Eating on Apple & Spotify. How Childhood Trauma Shapes Eating Disorders & Body Shame (Content Caution) on Apple & Spotify. Childhood Trauma & Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you're struggling with an eating disorder, disordered eating, ARFID, binge eating, body image concerns, or the long-term effects of family food rules and diet culture, I offer eating disorder therapy and coaching services designed to help you build a more peaceful and sustainable relationship with food and your body. I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, neurodivergent eating challenges, and eating disorder recovery for adults and teens. Learn more about working with me at www.drmariannemiller.com. Connect With Me Website: www.drmariannemiller.com Instagram: @drmariannemiller If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from this conversation.

What happens when children struggle with body image and restrictive eating? In this conversation, I welcome back eating disorder advocate, educator, and JenUp founder Jenny Tomei @askjenup to discuss a troubling trend she is seeing in schools across the UK. Children as young as elementary school age are making comments about each other's bodies, judging what peers eat at lunch, and absorbing diet culture messages long before most adults realize it. Jenny shares what students, teachers, and parents are telling her about body image concerns, food shame, social media pressure, and the growing influence of TikTok on how young people think about food, weight, and appearance. We also discuss why some students avoid eating at school altogether, how body-based teasing affects children, and what adults can do to create safer environments around food. Later in the episode, we explore concerns about weight loss injections and GLP-1 medications being used with young people, the messages children receive about success and thinness, and why eating disorder prevention efforts need to start much earlier than many schools currently address them. What You'll Learn Children as young as elementary school age are already absorbing diet culture messages and making comments about peers' bodies and food choices. Many students avoid eating lunch at school because they fear judgment, teasing, or unwanted attention. Social media trends on TikTok continue to shape how young people think about weight loss, nutrition, and appearance. Food policing and body-based comments can increase shame and elevate eating disorder risk. Parents, teachers, and other adults play a powerful role in shaping children's relationships with food and body image. Digital literacy skills can help young people question nutrition myths and appearance-focused content online. Growing interest in GLP-1 medications and weight loss injections raises important concerns about youth health and eating disorder prevention. Early intervention and prevention efforts can help create safer school environments around food, bodies, and self-worth. About Jenny Tomei Jenny Tomei is an eating disorder advocate, speaker, educator, and founder of JenUp Community CIC. Drawing from her own recovery from anorexia and compulsive exercise, Jenny works with schools, students, educators, and families throughout the United Kingdom and internationally to increase awareness of eating disorders, challenge harmful body image messages, and promote early prevention. Through JenUp, she delivers workshops, staff trainings, and educational programs focused on body image, disordered eating, social media literacy, and mental health awareness. Who This Episode Is For Parents concerned about body image issues, food anxiety, or eating disorder risk in children and teens. Teachers, school counselors, and educators who want to create more supportive environments around food and body image. Eating disorder professionals, therapists, dietitians, and healthcare providers. Anyone interested in eating disorder prevention, youth mental health, and the influence of social media on young people. Connect With Jenny Tomei Follow Jenny on Instagram at @askjenup. Check out her TikTok: @JenUpCommunity Learn more about her work through JenUp at JenUp.com. Listen to her JenUp podcast Apple & Spotify. Other Episodes With Jenny Tomei SkinnyTok & Anorexia: How Harmful Trends Thrive Despite TikTok's Ban with Jenny Tomei @askjenup on Apple & Spotify. Overexercising, ADHD, & Eating Disorders with @askjenup Jenny Tomei on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller I provide eating disorder therapy for adults in California and Washington, DC, along with coaching services worldwide. I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, neurodivergent eating challenges, and complex relationships with food. You can learn more about working with me, my ARFID and Selective Eating Course, and my Binge Eating Recovery Membership at DrMarianneMiller.com.

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!

Do you spend the entire day feeling in control around food, only to find yourself eating far more than expected at night? If nighttime eating leaves you feeling confused, ashamed, or convinced that you lack willpower, this episode may offer a different perspective. Many people with Night Eating Syndrome focus on what happens after dinner without realizing that the story often begins much earlier. Delayed meals, subtle restriction, chronic stress, ADHD, autism, masking, trauma, sensory overwhelm, and nervous system exhaustion can all shape eating patterns that become more intense in the evening. When we look only at nighttime eating, we often miss the conditions that created it. In this episode of the Dr. Marianne-Land Podcast, Dr. Marianne Miller explores Night Eating Syndrome through a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed lens. She discusses why nighttime eating is often a predictable response to unmet physiological and emotional needs rather than a sign of laziness, lack of discipline, or personal failure. Understanding Night Eating Syndrome Night Eating Syndrome, often called NES, involves consuming a significant portion of daily food intake during the evening hours or after waking during the night. Many people with Night Eating Syndrome notice little appetite earlier in the day and increasing hunger as the day progresses. Although Night Eating Syndrome can overlap with binge eating disorder, the two experiences are not identical. Understanding the distinction can help people find more effective support and avoid treatments that fail to address the underlying drivers of nighttime eating. Why Nighttime Eating Often Starts Earlier in the Day One of the most overlooked aspects of Night Eating Syndrome is the role of daytime deprivation. Restriction does not always look like skipping meals or intentionally dieting. Sometimes it shows up as rushing through meals, ignoring hunger cues, eating foods that never feel satisfying, relying on caffeine to suppress appetite, or becoming so busy that nourishment consistently falls to the bottom of the priority list. Over time, the body responds to those unmet needs. For many people, nighttime becomes the point when hunger, exhaustion, stress, and emotional depletion can no longer be ignored. ADHD, Autism, Masking, and Eating at Night Neurodivergent adults often face unique challenges around food and eating. ADHD can make meal planning, meal timing, and hunger awareness more difficult. Autism can influence sensory experiences, interoception, routines, and food preferences. Many neurodivergent people also spend significant energy masking throughout the day, navigating sensory demands, social expectations, and executive functioning challenges. By evening, the nervous system may be depleted. Food can become a source of grounding, comfort, regulation, predictability, stimulation, or relief. This episode explores how neurodivergence can shape nighttime eating patterns in ways that are frequently misunderstood within traditional eating disorder treatment models. The Connection Between Restriction and Night Eating Syndrome Many people blame nighttime eating for their distress while overlooking the role of restriction. Whether restriction stems from dieting, weight stigma, food rules, sensory challenges, executive functioning barriers, or chronic stress, the body often responds by increasing attention to food and hunger later in the day. Rather than viewing nighttime eating as evidence of a lack of control, Dr. Marianne encourages listeners to consider what their body may be trying to communicate. Weight Stigma, Diet Culture, and Shame Diet culture frequently rewards people for disconnecting from hunger and ignoring physical needs. At the same time, society often condemns the very eating behaviors that emerge when deprivation accumulates. This contradiction leaves many people feeling trapped in cycles of guilt and self-criticism. In this episode, Dr. Marianne examines how anti-fat bias, productivity culture, and cultural pressure to suppress needs can contribute to Night Eating Syndrome and nighttime eating struggles. What You'll Learn You'll learn how Night Eating Syndrome differs from binge eating disorder, why subtle forms of restriction often go unnoticed, how ADHD and autism can influence eating patterns, why masking and burnout can increase vulnerability to nighttime eating, and how shame frequently keeps people stuck in cycles that make sense from a nervous system perspective. You'll also gain a more compassionate framework for understanding nighttime eating and practical ways to begin approaching these patterns with curiosity instead of self-judgment. Related Episodes Anorexia & Night Eating Syndrome: Why Restriction Fuels Night Eating & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. Night Eating Syndrome on Apple & Spotify (my 2nd most popular podcast episode of all time!) Understanding Night Eating Syndrome: Executive-Function Tools for Real Recovery on Apple & Spotify. Why Am I Eating at Night? Understanding Night Eating Syndrome in Your 30s, 40s, & 50s on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you are struggling with Night Eating Syndrome, binge eating disorder, ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, chronic dieting, or neurodivergent eating challenges, support is available. Dr. Marianne Miller is a licensed eating disorder therapist providing therapy throughout California and Washington, D.C. She also offers coaching services worldwide. Her work integrates eating disorder treatment, neurodivergent-affirming care, trauma-informed approaches, and weight-inclusive support for adults, teens, and families. Learn more about therapy, coaching, courses, and resources at www.drmariannemiller.com. You can also follow Dr. Marianne on Instagram at @drmariannemiller and subscribe to the Dr. Marianne-Land Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

What happens when anorexia no longer feels like something you struggle with and starts feeling like who you are? Many people with long-term anorexia, so-called "atypical" anorexia, and restrictive eating disorders fear recovery for reasons that go far beyond food. They worry about losing structure, purpose, safety, achievement, or even their sense of self. In this episode, I explore the powerful connection between anorexia and identity, why recovery can feel emotionally disorienting, and how people begin rebuilding a life that feels larger than the eating disorder. Whether you've lived with anorexia for years, support someone in recovery, or work in the eating disorder field, this conversation offers a compassionate look at one of the most overlooked barriers to healing. Why Anorexia Can Become Part of Your Identity I explain how long-term restrictive eating disorders often become intertwined with self-worth, achievement, emotional regulation, relationships, and daily routines. I also discuss why recovery can feel like losing a familiar version of yourself, even when you desperately want freedom. The Hidden Fear Behind Anorexia Recovery Many people assume that food is the hardest part of recovery. While nutritional rehabilitation matters, identity loss often creates an equally powerful challenge. I explore why letting go of anorexia can trigger grief, uncertainty, and fear, especially when the eating disorder has shaped your life for years. How Neurodivergence, Trauma, and Oppression Shape Eating Disorders I discuss how autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, trauma, perfectionism, and chronic stress can influence restrictive eating patterns. I also examine how social pressures around thinness, productivity, compliance, and self-sacrifice affect women, queer people, trans people, people of color, disabled people, immigrants, fat people, and other marginalized communities. A Case Example: When Recovery Feels Like Losing Yourself Through the story of Angela, a composite case example, I illustrate how anorexia can become a trusted coping system and why recovery often requires building safety, flexibility, and self-trust rather than simply eliminating symptoms. Rebuilding Identity Beyond the Eating Disorder Recovery involves much more than changing eating behaviors. It often includes discovering values, interests, relationships, boundaries, creativity, and sources of meaning that exist outside the eating disorder. I share practical ways people begin reconnecting with themselves while navigating the uncertainty that recovery can bring. Key Takeaways Anorexia can become deeply intertwined with identity, especially after years of living with the disorder. Fear of recovery often reflects fear of losing safety, predictability, or self-understanding. Grief can be a normal part of healing and does not mean you want to stay sick. People in all body sizes can experience anorexia and restrictive eating disorders. Recovery creates opportunities to build a life that feels larger, richer, and more flexible than the eating disorder. Related Episodes The Quiet Places Where Anorexia Meets Identity & Expression on Apple & Spotify. “Slips” in Eating Disorder Recovery in 2026: Why Setbacks Are Part of Progress, Not Failure (With Mallary Tenore Tarpley, MFA) on Apple & Spotify. Chronic Eating Disorders in 2026: What Hope Can Actually Look Like on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you are looking for support with anorexia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, bulimia, chronic eating disorders, or neurodivergent eating challenges, I would love to help. I provide eating disorder therapy for clients in California and Washington, D.C., along with coaching services worldwide. My practice specializes in neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, weight-neutral care for adults, teens, and families. Learn more at www.drmariannemiller.com or connect with me on Instagram @drmariannemiller.

What happens when eating disorder recovery does not look neat, linear, or complete? In this episode of the Dr. Marianne-Land podcast, Dr. Marianne Miller explores the emotional reality of living with a chronic eating disorder, including long-term anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and restrictive eating disorders that persist for years or decades. This conversation examines the grief, shame, exhaustion, and isolation many people experience when they do not relate to polished recovery narratives or dramatic “before-and-after” transformations. Dr. Marianne discusses how eating disorders can become intertwined with identity, nervous system regulation, trauma, neurodivergence, sensory processing differences, OCD, ADHD, autism, chronic illness, and anti-fat bias. She also explores why many people feel invisible inside traditional eating disorder treatment spaces, especially when recovery feels nonlinear, partial, or emotionally complicated. Rather than framing recovery as all-or-nothing, this episode offers a more nuanced conversation about hope, harm reduction, quality of life, and what meaningful healing can look like when vulnerability still exists. Dr. Marianne also discusses the emotional burden of perfectionism in eating disorder recovery and why redefining progress may help people reconnect with themselves more compassionately. In This Episode, Dr. Marianne Addresses the Following Topics: Chronic Eating Disorders & Long-Term Recovery How chronic eating disorders can affect identity, relationships, emotional regulation, and quality of life over time, including the hidden grief many people carry when recovery feels more complicated than expected. Eating Disorders, Neurodivergence, & Nervous System Differences How autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, executive functioning struggles, OCD, trauma, and chronic illness can shape eating disorder recovery in ways that traditional treatment models often miss. Anti-Fat Bias & Eating Disorder Misdiagnosis Why people in larger bodies are frequently overlooked, misdiagnosed, or praised for dangerous eating disorder symptoms because of weight stigma and diet culture. Redefining Hope Beyond Perfect Recovery A compassionate conversation about recovery ambivalence, harm reduction, emotional complexity, and why meaningful healing does not always require perfection or complete symptom elimination. ARFID & Selective Eating Support Dr. Marianne also shares resources for ARFID and selective eating support, including her self-paced virtual course grounded in neurodivergent-affirming care. Get more information at drmariannemiller.com/arfid. Related Episodes Orthorexia, Quasi-Recovery, & Lifelong Eating Disorder Struggles with Dr. Lara Zibarras @drlarazib on Apple & Spotify. The Truth About "High-Functioning" People With Lifelong Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. Understanding Harm Reduction: Why "Full Recovery" May Not Be the Goal for Lifelong Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. About Dr. Marianne Miller Dr. Marianne Miller is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in eating disorders, ARFID, binge eating disorder, neurodivergent-affirming care, and body liberation. She provides therapy and coaching for adults, teens, and families and works with clients throughout California, Washington, D.C., and globally through coaching and educational offerings. Check out her website at drmariannemiller.com. Listen & Connect Follow the Dr. Marianne-Land podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for conversations about eating disorders, ARFID, binge eating disorder, neurodivergence, chronic illness, trauma, body image, anti-fat bias, and recovery outside rigid wellness culture narratives.

What do you do when your child will only eat three foods — and none of them are vegetables? For Natalie Peltro, certified nutritional therapist and lifestyle medicine expert, that was her reality. Her son was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism at 18 months, and the journey to help him heal through food became the foundation of her entire career. In this episode, Natalie shares the framework she's used with hundreds of families to overcome picky eating — not through force, pressure, or sneaky tricks that backfire — but through biology, nervous system awareness, and what she calls the Four E's. Whether you're navigating picky eating in your household, supporting clients who struggle with ultra-processed food habits from childhood, or just trying to understand why your kid will eat mac and cheese but nothing green, this conversation is full of practical, compassionate strategies you can start using today. In this episode, we cover: How Natalie's son went from eating only 3 foods (nonverbal, severely autistic) to graduating mainstream school with honors Why "fed is best" may be an outdated framework in today's ultra-processed food environment The biology of picky eating — zinc deficiency, taste perception, and why green foods taste bitter to nutrient-deficient kids The 10% Fading Rule: how to transform mac and cheese into a nutrient-dense meal without your child noticing The Three Stages of Picky Eaters: Resistor, Adventurer, and Negotiator — and why the approach must be different for each The Four E's Framework: Expectation, Emotional Intelligence, Environment, and Encouragement Why "taste training" works faster in kids than adults (3–5 days vs. 7–14) How your nervous system is sabotaging mealtime — and what to do before you even pick up the plate The coupon system, safe plates, and other creative strategies that actually work How to talk to grandparents and caregivers about food changes without blowing up the relationship About Natalie Peltro: Natalie is the co-founder of Blue Life RX and creator of the Neuronutrition Program (formerly "Bring the Fun Back to Mealtime"), which helps families with picky eaters — including children with autism and ARFID — expand their food diversity through biology-first, fun-first strategies. She's also the host of the upcoming Brilliant Brains podcast.

What happens when eating disorder recovery starts colliding with nervous system overwhelm? In this episode of the Dr. Marianne-Land podcast, Dr. Marianne Miller explores one of the most confusing parts of restrictive eating disorder recovery: learning how to tell the difference between genuine nervous system dysregulation and eating disorder avoidance disguised as self-protection. Many people with anorexia, ARFID, orthorexia, chronic dieting histories, OCD, autism, ADHD, trauma, or sensory processing challenges struggle to know when they truly need accommodations and support versus when the eating disorder is quietly shrinking their world through avoidance. This episode explores why restrictive eating disorders often borrow the language of nervous system regulation, why food anxiety does not always mean danger, and why recovery sometimes requires gentle exposure to discomfort instead of waiting to feel completely “safe” before eating. When “Listening to Your Body” Gets Complicated in Eating Disorder Recovery Social media often promotes messages about protecting your peace, avoiding discomfort, and never forcing yourself into situations that feel activating. But what happens when restrictive eating disorders begin using that language to reinforce food fear, rigidity, and avoidance? In this episode, Dr. Marianne talks about: Anxiety Around Eating and Restrictive Eating Disorders Why anxiety during meals does not automatically mean you are unsafe. How starvation and undernourishment intensify emotional dysregulation, obsessive thinking, rigidity, panic, sensory sensitivity, and distress tolerance difficulties. Why many people get trapped waiting to feel calm enough to eat while restriction continues worsening nervous system symptoms. ARFID, Autism, ADHD, and Sensory Food Struggles Why neurodivergent people often need both accommodations and recovery support at the same time. How sensory overwhelm, executive functioning challenges, contamination fears, and burnout can complicate restrictive eating disorder recovery. Why recovery does not need to become harsh or punishing in order to challenge avoidance patterns. Restrictive Eating Disorders and the “Shrinking Life” Pattern How anorexia, ARFID, and restrictive eating disorders gradually narrow food choices, social experiences, spontaneity, travel, and daily functioning. Why temporary anxiety relief from food avoidance can increase long-term nervous system sensitivity. How to begin recognizing when the eating disorder is quietly gaining more control over your life. Neurodivergent-Affirming Support for ARFID and Selective Eating Dr. Marianne also shares more about her ARFID and selective eating course, which explores restrictive eating through a neurodivergent-affirming lens. The course addresses sensory sensitivities, executive functioning challenges, nervous system regulation, autonomy needs, accommodations, and gentle food expansion without shame-based recovery approaches. Related Episodes Fear of Uncertainty in Eating Disorder Recovery: Why It Feels So Terrifying + 5 Practical Skills That Help on Apple and Spotify. An Open Letter to the Body: Listening to the Part That Fears Getting Better on Apple and Spotify. Eating Disorders as Safety Systems: Why Letting Go Can Trigger Fear on Apple and Spotify. If Recovery Feels Unsafe Right Now: A Guided Moment for Eating Disorder Recovery Fear on Apple and Spotify. About Dr. Marianne Miller Dr. Marianne Miller, LMFT is a fat eating disorder therapist, podcast host, and educator specializing in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, neurodivergence, OCD, and restrictive eating disorders. She provides eating disorder therapy and coaching for people across California, Washington, D.C., Texas, and globally through coaching services. Dr. Marianne is especially passionate about neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care for autistic clients and ADHDers navigating complex relationships with food, sensory overwhelm, and body image distress. Check out her website at drmariannemiller.com. Listen and Subscribe to the Dr. Marianne-Land Podcast If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating restrictive eating recovery, ARFID, anorexia, food anxiety, or nervous system dysregulation.

Have you ever felt like you're constantly trying to "fit into a box" that just wasn't made for you?This week on the Full of Beans Podcast, Han is joined by Dr. Lauren Lovegood, a psychologist who specialises in the intersection of Eating Disorders, Neurodiversity (ADHD/Autism), and the LGBTQ+ community.We talk about the "internal sense of difference" that so many of us feel growing up and how, sometimes, an eating disorder can sneak in as a way to find control, "mask" our true selves, or even seek out that much-needed dopamine.In this episode, we explore:The Treatment Spectrum: Why anorexia is actually a much smaller piece of the ED puzzle than society thinks.Identity & Belonging: The unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community and how gender-affirming care can coexist with a healthy body image.The Neurodivergent Brain: Why "Executive Function" makes university transitions so tricky and why your "fidgety brain" might be driving your food behaviours.Gender Affirming Care: We discuss the desire to align our physical bodies with our internal identity.The Glorification of Weight Loss: Exploring the challenges of restrictive behaviours in the queer community to cause a more "feminine" or "masculine" look.Identity Roles & Stereotypes: How to find where we belong without fuelling obsession with our appearance.ARFID & Sensory Safety: Understanding why "beige foods" feel safe and how to branch out without the fear and force gently.The Low Self-Esteem Trap: How external pressure to be "disciplined" can fuel the eating disorder voice.Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeConnect with Lauren via her website⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, body image, neurodiversity, gender and sexuality. Please look after yourself as you listen.If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness.Sending positive beans your way, Han

If you've done years of eating disorder recovery work and suddenly find old trauma surfacing, you are not alone. In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Marianne Miller and Debbie Saroufim explore the complicated overlap between eating disorders, trauma recovery, body image, nervous system responses, and healing after survival mode. They discuss why trauma can emerge later in recovery, how eating disorders sometimes function as protection, and what happens when old coping strategies no longer work. Debbie shares personal experiences with trauma recovery, sexual trauma, body image struggles, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS)/parts work, parenting, co-parenting, and navigating major life transitions while continuing the recovery process. Together, they unpack the emotional reality of healing in a world shaped by diet culture, misogyny, fatphobia, and systemic oppression. CONTENT CAUTION This episode includes discussion of trauma, sexual trauma, PTSD symptoms, body image distress, eating disorders, dissociation/freezing responses, misogyny, and systemic oppression. Eating Disorders and Trauma Recovery Many people assume eating disorder recovery means the hardest part is over. But for some people, healing from eating disorder behaviors can uncover trauma that had been buried underneath survival strategies for years. Dr. Marianne Miller and Debbie Saroufim discuss how eating disorders can function as protection, why trauma may surface later in recovery, and how recovery does not make people immune to pain, grief, fear, or nervous system overwhelm. The conversation explores the relationship between trauma and eating disorders, including how body image struggles, restrictive eating, binge eating, compulsive behaviors, and nervous system responses can become intertwined with survival. They also discuss the emotional shock that can happen when eating disorder symptoms are no longer the primary coping mechanism and unresolved trauma begins demanding attention. PTSD Symptoms, Nervous System Responses, and Survival Mode This episode examines trauma responses like freezing, dissociation, hypervigilance, minimization, emotional shutdown, and nervous system dysregulation. Debbie shares how experiences from adolescence resurfaced decades later during trauma recovery work and how those memories affected her relationships, parenting, body image, and sense of safety in the world. Dr. Marianne Miller and Debbie Saroufim also discuss the connection between trauma, body image, misogyny, fatphobia, oppression, and diet culture. They explore how living in a culture shaped by systemic inequality and body oppression can create chronic emotional stress that deeply affects mental health and eating disorder recovery. EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Parts Work Dr. Marianne Miller and Debbie Saroufim discuss how EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS)/parts work can help people process trauma and eating disorder recovery with greater self-compassion. Debbie explains how parts work helped her understand eating disorder thoughts as information instead of commands and how learning to “unblend” from different parts of herself changed her recovery process. The conversation also explores how eating disorders can begin as protective adaptations, why self-compassion can feel inaccessible during trauma recovery, and how nervous system regulation becomes an important part of healing. They discuss the idea that multiple truths can coexist at once and why recovery often requires compassion for every part of the self, including the parts carrying fear, shame, anger, grief, or overwhelm. Fat Liberation, Body Image, and Intergenerational Trauma This episode also explores the connection between fat liberation, trauma, body image, and intergenerational trauma. Debbie discusses how body image struggles are shaped by cultural messaging and systemic oppression rather than appearance alone. Dr. Marianne Miller and Debbie Saroufim talk about how trauma can be passed through generations, how children absorb messages about bodies and safety, and why many people are trying to break cycles of shame and silence within their families. They also discuss the emotional complexity of parenting while healing, the pressure many people feel to “fully recover,” and the reality that recovery is often ongoing maintenance work rather than a final destination. About Debbie Saroufim Debbie Saroufim is a body acceptance coach in Los Angeles, California. She helps people all over the world build resilience against diet culture and heal their relationship with food and body image through a harm reduction and fat liberation lens. Her work focuses on body image healing, eating disorder recovery support, trauma-informed coaching, and helping people navigate life in a world shaped by body oppression and systemic inequality. Debbie works with people of all body sizes through individual and group coaching and is passionate about bringing conversations about body diversity and fat liberation into schools and community spaces. Find Debbie Saroufim on Instagram at @bodyacceptance_coach and at thebodyacceptancecoach.com. Listen to Other Episodes With Debbie When Weight Loss Isn't a Win: Eating Disorders, Stress, & Body Image Confusion (Content Warning) on Apple or Spotify. Anti-Fat Bias in Schools and Society on Apple or Spotify. How Eating Disorder Recovery Heals Life Overall on Apple or Spotify. Let's Talk Recovery: Ditching Diet Culture & Crushing Eating Disorder Thoughts on Apple or Spotify. About Dr. Marianne Miller Dr. Marianne Miller is a San Diego, California-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), eating disorder therapist, podcast host, and advocate specializing in eating disorders, ARFID, binge eating disorder, body image, neurodivergence, and trauma-informed care. She works with adults, teens, and children and is known for her neurodivergent-affirming, fat-liberation-informed approach to eating disorder recovery. Dr. Marianne Miller provides eating disorder therapy (California) and coaching (worldwide) for people struggling with ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OCD, body image distress, and complex relationships with food. Her work focuses on compassionate, evidence-based support that honors the role of nervous system regulation, sensory experiences, executive functioning, and systemic oppression in recovery. She is the host of the Dr. Marianne-Land podcast, where she explores eating disorders, mental health, neurodiversity, trauma, body image, and recovery through honest, nuanced conversations with clinicians, advocates, and people with lived experience. Learn more about Dr. Marianne Miller, therapy services, coaching, and courses at drmariannemiller.com. If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and review the Dr. Marianne-Land podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps more people find eating disorder recovery, trauma recovery, ARFID support, binge eating support, body image support, and neurodivergent-affirming mental health resources.

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews licensed clinical social worker and parent Keri Baker about body image, food, and raising kids—especially when both parent and child live in larger bodies. Keri shares her history of early dieting, years of chronic dieting, likely undiagnosed eating disorder symptoms, and finding intuitive eating and anti-diet care through supportive providers. They discuss parenting a child with ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), how it's often mistaken for picky eating, and the added difficulty of seeking medical care when professionals dismiss concerns or focus on weight.    04:02 From Diet Culture to Intuitive Eating 09:43 Parenting With ARFID 13:04 Weight Stigma in Healthcare 22:30 Talking Body Image With Teens 28:33 Intuitive Eating Starts With You 29:51 Division of Responsibility Basics 31:04 When Kids Eat Differently 37:45 Good Enough Nourishment 39:30 Habituated Foods and Interoception 44:25 Advocating at Doctor Visits   WANT MORE OF KERI BAKER? https://www.keribaker.com/  https://www.dietrecoveryclub.com/    WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri
 *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps 

"Picky eater" is one of the most common labels in pediatrics and one of the easiest to overlook. But when a child's diet is shrinking instead of expanding, when meals are a source of stress instead of routine, or when growth and nutrition start to feel like a question mark, it's worth taking a second look. In this episode, we're discussing ARFID: what it looks like in clinic, how to spot the difference from typical picky eating, and how to approach these patients with a sharper clinical lens. In this episode, we are joined by Kimberly Sheffield, PhD. She is an eating disorders psychologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, as well as the Clinical Director of Pediatric Mental Health Institute (PMHI) day programs, and the Associate Training Director for Psychology Training.  Some highlights from this episode include: Specific growth or nutrition patterns that should raise suspicion of ARFID Treatment options pediatricians can manage in clinic  Overlap between ARFID and neurodiversity   Patterns to look for in certain age groups  This episode is underwritten by Ent Credit Union, proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Ent is Colorado's largest credit union serving more than 550,000 members at 60 service centers across the Front Range. Ent generously responded to Children's Colorado's State of Emergency for pediatric mental health in 2021 and is pleased to support this episode. Visit ent.com, insured by NCUA.  For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.