Advertise on podcast: Dr. Marianne-Land: An Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast

How to Stop Binge Eating Without Dieting or Restricting Food Struggling to stop binge eating without falling back into dieting, food restriction, or rigid food rules? The binge-restrict cycle can make binge eating worse, even when you're trying to regain control over your eating. But binge eating recovery doesn't have to involve weight loss, deprivation, or more food rules. In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, eating disorder therapist Dr. Marianne explains how to reduce binge eating without dieting, why physical and psychological restriction can fuel binge eating episodes, and how a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach supports sustainable recovery. Learn why binge eating often decreases gradually, how to recognize meaningful progress, and why self-compassion is essential to breaking the binge-restrict cycle. WHY RESTRICTING FOOD CAN MAKE BINGE EATING WORSE Food restriction isn't always intentional. Skipping meals, avoiding certain foods, eating too little, or struggling with ADHD-related executive functioning can leave your body inadequately nourished. Psychological restriction, including labeling foods as bad or forbidden, can also intensify cravings and binge eating urges. Dr. Marianne explains how consistent nourishment, food flexibility, and mechanical eating can help reduce binge eating without creating another set of restrictive rules. HOW TO BREAK THE BINGE-RESTRICT CYCLE Trying to compensate after binge eating by skipping meals, exercising excessively, or restricting food can perpetuate the cycle. Binge eating recovery involves learning to nourish yourself consistently, including after a binge episode. Rather than focusing on controlling food intake, Dr. Marianne discusses how to address the underlying biological, emotional, and sensory factors that contribute to binge eating. HEALTH AT EVERY SIZE (HAES) AND BINGE EATING RECOVERY A Health at Every Size approach shifts the focus away from weight loss and toward reducing and eventually eliminating binge eating episodes, supporting adequate nourishment, and improving your relationship with food. This weight-neutral approach is especially important for people in larger bodies who experience pressure to diet, even when food restriction contributes to their binge eating. WHY BINGE EATING RECOVERY TAKES TIME Stopping binge eating rarely happens overnight. As recovery progresses, binge eating episodes may gradually become less frequent, involve smaller amounts of food, or feel less intense. Eventually, episodes may stop altogether. Dr. Marianne explains why reducing the frequency and intensity of binge eating represents meaningful progress, even when episodes haven't completely stopped. Recovery isn't linear, and setbacks don't erase the changes you've made. SELF-COMPASSION AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION IN BINGE EATING RECOVERY Binge eating can provide emotional comfort, sensory regulation, stimulation, or relief from distress. This can be particularly relevant for autistic people and ADHDers who experience sensory overwhelm, executive functioning challenges, or difficulty recognizing hunger cues. Instead of responding to binge eating with shame or punishment, learn how curiosity, emotional regulation, and self-compassion can support long-term recovery. Being patient with yourself is part of the process, not something you have to earn after binge eating stops. WORK WITH DR. MARIANNE Dr. Marianne is an eating disorder therapist with nearly 30 years of experience in mental health. She provides weight-neutral, neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed therapy for binge eating disorder, bulimia, anorexia, and ARFID. Binge Eating Disorder Therapy: Available via telehealth throughout California and Washington, D.C., and in person in the San Diego area. Binge Eating Recovery Membership: Explore Dr. Marianne's self-paced membership for support with binge eating recovery, emotional regulation, and developing a more compassionate relationship with food. Visit drmariannemiller.com to learn more about therapy, coaching, and binge eating recovery resources. Remember: You can work toward stopping binge eating without dieting, restricting food, or pursuing weight loss. Recovery takes time, and self-compassion is an essential part of lasting change.

Binge eating recovery can feel challenging when weight loss messages surround you. Registered dietitian Toni Rudd joins Dr. Marianne to discuss finding food freedom, navigating body image struggles, and healing your relationship with food amid growing pressure to take GLP-1 medications for weight loss. Drawing on their professional and personal experiences, Toni and Dr. Marianne discuss how a non-diet approach can support recovery from binge eating while helping you build a life with less food guilt and more room for what matters. BINGE EATING, FOOD NOISE & THE RESTRICTION CYCLE Toni explains why her approach begins with eating regularly and eating enough. The conversation addresses binge eating shame, secretive eating, and the exhausting cycle of dieting and restriction. Food freedom includes greater flexibility, trusting yourself around food, and spending less mental energy questioning what you eat. BODY IMAGE & WEIGHT LOSS PRESSURE How do you work toward body acceptance when people around you are pursuing weight loss? Toni and Dr. Marianne discuss social comparison, social media boundaries, and separating your self-worth from the number on the scale. Body neutrality can offer a place to begin, even when loving your body feels out of reach. GLP-1 MEDICATIONS & EATING DISORDER SUPPORT The conversation considers eating disorder screening, nutrition support, and medical monitoring for people taking GLP-1 medications. Toni shares concerns about access without adequate assessment while acknowledging the benefits she has seen in diabetes care. They also discuss the emotional pull of weight loss promises when you struggle with binge eating or body dissatisfaction. WHAT FOOD FREEDOM CAN LOOK LIKE Recovery takes time and unlearning. Toni and Dr. Marianne reflect on having more space for relationships, enjoying shared meals, and being present without constant calculations about food or exercise. They share why moving away from restriction can create possibilities beyond the scale. ABOUT TONI RUDD Toni Rudd is a UK registered dietitian who specializes in eating disorders, particularly binge eating. Based in Manila, she offers virtual support to clients internationally. Her compassionate, non-diet approach helps people improve their relationship with food and work toward body acceptance. Connect with Toni on Instagram: @the.binge.dietitian Connect with Toni on her website: https://www.thebingedietitian.com/ RELATED EPISODES WITH TONI Food Neutrality & Binge Eating Recovery: Apple & Spotify ADHD & Binge Eating Disorder: Apple & Spotify. Reasons Behind Binge Eating & What To Do After a Binge: Apple & Spotify WORK WITH DR. MARIANNE Dr. Marianne offers eating disorder therapy in California, including in-person support in San Diego, plus virtual coaching worldwide. Learn about support for binge eating, bulimia, anorexia, and ARFID at drmariannemiller.com. For neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned education for adults, parents, and providers, visit the ARFID & Selective Eating Course. CONTENT NOTES Includes discussion of binge eating, restrictive eating, eating disorder histories, body dissatisfaction, weight loss pressure, and GLP-1 medications. This conversation provides education and does not replace individualized medical, nutrition, or mental health care.

Intuitive eating can feel frustrating when hunger cues are unclear, meals slip your mind, or sensory needs make food difficult to tolerate. In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne discusses why “just listen to your body” may leave autistic people and ADHDers needing more practical support during eating disorder recovery. Why Intuitive Eating Can Feel Difficult With ADHD & Autism Recognizing hunger and responding to it involve different skills. ADHD executive functioning challenges can make remembering meals, choosing food, and starting preparation difficult. For autistic people, sensory sensitivities and interoception differences can complicate identifying hunger, fullness, and foods that feel manageable. Dr. Marianne explains how these experiences can affect eating without making them a personal failure. Hunger & Fullness Cues in Eating Disorder Recovery Recovery from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or ARFID may require support beyond internal cues. Low appetite, early fullness, and difficulty recognizing hunger can make consistent nourishment challenging. Learn why hunger and fullness provide only part of the picture, and how a treatment team can help you meet your nutritional needs. Mechanical Eating, Meal Structure & Neurodivergent Support Mechanical eating uses planned eating times and structure to support nourishment when internal cues aren’t enough. Flexible routines, familiar meals, accessible snacks, and reminders can reduce the work involved in eating. Needing ongoing structure or sensory accommodations does not make your recovery less meaningful. Support can respect your autonomy while helping you eat adequately. Who This Episode Is For This conversation is for autistic adults, ADHDers, people with ARFID, and anyone who feels discouraged by intuitive eating during eating disorder recovery. Providers and loved ones will also find language for understanding eating challenges and offering practical support. Work With Dr. Marianne Dr. Marianne offers neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned eating disorder therapy in California and Washington, D.C., including support for ARFID, binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. Visit DrMarianneMiller.com to learn about working together. For adults, parents, and providers seeking a deeper understanding of ARFID, visit the ARFID & Selective Eating Course. Follow @drmariannemiller on Instagram and subscribe to Dr. Marianne-Land for more conversations about autism, ADHD, and eating disorder recovery.

Food waste guilt can make eating feel like an obligation. When you have ARFID or binge eating disorder, the pressure to clean your plate may intersect with sensory sensitivities, scarcity fears, family food rules, and anxiety about grocery costs. Dr. Marianne discusses making peace with throwing away food while supporting nourishment, autonomy, and eating disorder recovery. With a neurodivergent-affirming approach, she considers how autism and ADHD can complicate leftovers, food preparation, and the expectation to finish everything. ARFID, Sensory Sensitivities, & Food Waste Guilt A familiar food can become difficult to eat when its texture, temperature, or smell changes. For someone with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, discarding that food may bring up shame about money or frustration with their sensory needs. Learn how shifting the question to “What would help me eat now?” can support access to food without adding pressure. Binge Eating & the Pressure to Clean Your Plate Thoughts like “I need to finish this before it goes bad” or “I won’t be allowed to eat this tomorrow” can make food decisions feel urgent. Dr. Marianne examines food waste guilt, restrictive food rules, and permission to save food for later. She also explains why eating past comfortable fullness does not automatically mean someone has binge eating disorder. Food Scarcity, Family Rules, & Eating Disorder Recovery Childhood messages about gratitude, money, and finishing every bite can remain powerful in adulthood. Current food insecurity also deserves practical support. Hear ways to identify the fear beneath the guilt and respond with greater self-compassion. ADHD, Autism, & Practical Food Support Visible leftovers, accessible safe foods, freezing portions, and convenient packaging may make food management easier. The focus stays on accommodations that fit your sensory needs, executive functioning, budget, and capacity. Permission to discard food does not create a requirement to leave food behind. Adequate nourishment and your individual recovery needs remain central. Work With Dr. Marianne Dr. Marianne offers eating disorder therapy, including ARFID and binge eating disorder support, in California and Washington, D.C., with in-person appointments in San Diego and virtual coaching available worldwide. Visit DrMarianneMiller.com to learn more. For adults with ARFID, parents, caregivers, and providers, the ARFID and Selective Eating Course offers neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned education. Follow Dr. Marianne on Instagram @drmariannemiller and follow Dr. Marianne-Land on Apple Podcasts for more conversations about ARFID, binge eating, autism, ADHD, and eating disorder recovery.

Living in a larger body doesn’t mean eating comes easily. Sensory issues with food, difficulty recognizing hunger, and the executive functioning demands of preparing meals can make eating challenging. Anti-fat bias can leave those struggles unseen or dismissed. Dr. Marianne brings her perspective as an eating disorder therapist, a fat autistic woman, and someone with lived experience of eating disorders and recovery to this conversation about body size, autism, ADHD, and food struggles. Autism, Sensory Issues With Food, and Body Size Food textures, smells, temperatures, and unpredictable ingredients can make eating overwhelming for autistic people in any body size. Familiar brands, packaged foods, and repeated meals can provide predictability. Learn why sensory needs deserve respect and how pressure to eliminate accessible foods can make eating harder. ADHD and Executive Functioning Challenges With Eating Meal planning, grocery shopping, remembering to eat, and preparing food involve multiple executive functioning skills. ADHD can make it difficult to start cooking, shift away from a task, or choose a meal. Being in a larger body doesn’t make those barriers disappear. Weight Stigma and Unrecognized Eating Struggles Assumptions about weight can prevent people from receiving support for restrictive eating, ARFID, and other eating difficulties. Dr. Marianne discusses how anti-fat bias adds shame and why providers and loved ones need to ask about someone’s experience rather than make assumptions based on appearance. Neurodivergent-Affirming Support for Eating Making eating more accessible may involve convenient meals, sensory accommodations, fewer preparation steps, and practical support. Hear ways to communicate your needs, set boundaries around food commentary, and build eating routines that fit your autistic or ADHD brain. Eating Disorder Therapy and ARFID Resources Dr. Marianne offers neurodivergent-affirming, weight-neutral eating disorder therapy in California and Washington, D.C. Visit DrMarianneMiller.com to learn about support for eating disorders, ARFID, and eating challenges. For sensory-attuned education for adults, parents, and providers, visit the ARFID and Selective Eating Course. Follow @drmariannemiller on Instagram. Share this episode with someone who wants to better understand autism, ADHD, and struggling to eat in a larger body.

Eating disorder recovery needs trust, connection, and care that sees the whole person. Dr. Melissa Spann joins Dr. Marianne to discuss why the therapeutic relationship matters in eating disorder treatment and body image therapy, alongside nutrition support, medical stabilization, and evidence-based interventions. Drawing from nearly 25 years in the eating disorder field, Dr. Spann shares insights from her book, Building and Maintaining Authentic Relationships in Eating Disorders and Body Image Therapy. Together, they discuss therapist authenticity, feeling seen in treatment, and how weight stigma can undermine recovery. WHY CONNECTION MATTERS IN EATING DISORDER RECOVERY The therapeutic alliance is the collaborative relationship between a clinician and the person receiving care. Dr. Spann explains why a treatment manual cannot replace presence, attunement, and trust. How a therapist listens, responds, and connects shapes the experience of eating disorder therapy. Dr. Marianne and Dr. Spann also discuss “common factors,” the elements that different therapy approaches share, and why those relational foundations deserve attention alongside specific treatment techniques. EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT AND THE PERSON RECEIVING CARE Eating disorder treatment often emphasizes measurable outcomes, including nutritional and medical stabilization. Those needs matter, and so does the person experiencing treatment. The conversation considers how clinicians can use approaches such as family-based treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy while staying responsive to individual needs. Dr. Spann reflects on the pressures of higher levels of care and the importance of maintaining human connection within structured programs. WEIGHT STIGMA AND BODY IMAGE THERAPY Weight bias can appear within eating disorder care, including treatment team conversations, family expectations, and inaccessible spaces. Dr. Spann and Dr. Marianne discuss how anti-fat bias affects both clients and clinicians, and why addressing it belongs in conversations about authentic, respectful care. They also address the challenges of supporting young people when parents fear weight gain, and why eating disorder recovery requires examining the messages families receive about body size. AUTHENTICITY AND FEELING SEEN IN THERAPY Showing up authentically creates room for honest conversations about shame, identity, and vulnerability. Dr. Marianne shares reflections on autistic and ADHD masking, expectations to please others, and practicing as a therapist in a larger body. A trusting therapeutic relationship can also offer a starting point for recognizing and building safer connections beyond therapy. ABOUT DR. MELISSA SPANN Melissa Spann, PhD, MBA, is a certified eating disorder specialist, clinical supervisor, educator, and healthcare leader specializing in complex eating disorders, trauma, and adolescent development. She serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami. Her book, Building and Maintaining Authentic Relationships in Eating Disorders and Body Image Therapy, addresses the relational foundations of clinical care. WORK WITH DR. MARIANNE Dr. Marianne is an eating disorder therapist with nearly 30 years of experience as a therapist. She offers neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, weight-neutral therapy in California and Washington, D.C., including in-person appointments in San Diego. Visit drmariannemiller.com to learn about eating disorder therapy, global coaching, and parent consultation. Her ARFID & Selective Eating Course offers self-paced education for adults, parents, caregivers, and providers. CONTENT CAUTIONS This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, weight stigma, anti-fat discrimination, parental comments about body size, treatment experiences, and brief references to GLP-1 medications and “food noise.”

Feeling like a burden can make asking for ARFID support harder than staying silent. Dr. Marianne discusses food anxiety, shame, and the fear of drawing attention to your eating needs, with practical language for requesting safe foods and setting boundaries. ARFID, Food Anxiety, & Feeling Like a Burden Living with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder can mean checking restaurant menus, planning around familiar foods, and anticipating comments about your plate. Past criticism or pressure may make asking for accommodations feel vulnerable. Dr. Marianne addresses how guilt can lead you to hide your needs, even when that means going without food you can eat. Autism, ADHD, & Hiding Your Food Needs For autistic people and ADHDers, ARFID self-advocacy may connect with a longer history of masking sensory needs and trying to avoid inconveniencing others. Learn how these experiences can shape your willingness to request support and why needing a different approach to eating deserves understanding. How to Ask for Safe Foods & ARFID Accommodations Hear practical scripts for choosing a restaurant, requesting a specific food or preparation, and bringing familiar foods to gatherings. Dr. Marianne also shares ways to communicate through text or with help from a trusted person when speaking in the moment feels difficult. Setting Boundaries Around Food Comments Support can include less attention to your eating. Learn how to ask others to stop commenting on your plate, decline pressure to try foods, and respond when someone keeps questioning your needs. Clear requests can help you stay connected while protecting your privacy. Who This ARFID Podcast Is For Adults and teens with ARFID, autistic people, ADHDers, parents, partners, caregivers, and providers will find language for more supportive conversations about food. Content includes food-related criticism, shame, social eating anxiety, and difficulty accessing enough food. ARFID Support & Resources Learn more about Dr. Marianne’s neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed ARFID and Selective Eating course. Adults with ARFID, parents and caregivers, and providers will benefit. For eating disorder therapy in California and Washington, D.C., visit drmariannemiller.com. Follow @drmariannemiller on Instagram. This episode provides education and does not replace individualized care. If eating difficulties regularly prevent you from getting enough food or fluids, seek medical and ARFID-informed support. Related ARFID Podcast 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.

Long-term eating disorder recovery can feel exhausting, especially when you wonder whether your body and mind can still heal. Dr. Marianne shares five small steps to support physical and emotional well-being while making room for uncertainty, ongoing symptoms, and individualized care. Chronic Eating Disorder Recovery: Finding Hope After Years of Struggling Years of living with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or ARFID do not determine your future. Dr. Marianne offers a compassionate, weight-neutral perspective on healing, acknowledging that some complications require ongoing treatment and that meaningful progress can take different forms. Five Small Steps to Support Your Body & Mind Learn how to ask for medical support, make eating more predictable, reduce daily overload, understand the functions of eating disorder behaviors, and recognize specific signs of progress. These manageable starting points can complement a treatment plan without turning recovery into another performance standard. Autism, ADHD & Accessible Eating Disorder Support Sensory overwhelm, executive functioning challenges, and unclear hunger cues can make eating harder. Dr. Marianne discusses mechanical eating, familiar foods, convenience foods, and accommodations that help autistic people and ADHDers make nourishment more accessible. Understanding Eating Disorder Behaviors Without Shame Restriction, binge eating, and purging may serve different functions, including temporary relief, comfort, or certainty. Understanding what happens before an urge can help you identify nutritional, emotional, sensory, and relational needs with your treatment team. Recognizing Progress in Long-Term Eating Disorder Recovery Asking for help sooner, accepting meal support, or returning to your care plan after a difficult day can represent meaningful change. Persistent symptoms still deserve attention, even as you acknowledge improvements in daily functioning and quality of life. Content Cautions & Medical Safety Includes discussion of chronic eating disorders, restriction, binge eating, purging, and physical symptoms. Educational content does not replace individualized treatment. Increasing nutrition after significant restriction may require medical supervision. Related Episodes Anorexia & Binge Eating: The Binge-Restrict Cycle in Long-Term Eating Disorder Recovery on Apple & Spotify. Beyond Anorexia: The Truth About Long-Term Restrictive Eating on Apple & Spotify. Anorexia & Bulimia Recovery: 5 Ways to Manage Eating Overwhelm in Long-Term Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. Eating Disorder Therapy & ARFID Resources Dr. Marianne offers eating disorder therapy in California and Washington, D.C. Her neurodivergent-affirming ARFID and Selective Eating course provides education for adults, parents, caregivers, and providers. Learn more at DrMarianneMiller.com and find the course at DrMarianneMiller.com/arfid. Follow @drmariannemiller on Instagram.

Transitioning from residential eating disorder treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), or intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) can bring relief, uncertainty, and new demands. For autistic people and ADHDers, losing built-in meal support while navigating changes in routines, sensory environments, and daily responsibilities can make eating disorder recovery feel harder than expected. Dr. Marianne, an AuDHD eating disorder therapist with nearly 30 years of experience as a therapist, discusses how to build a transition plan that supports your brain, nourishment, and ongoing care. Autism, Transitions & Eating Disorder Recovery For many autistic people, even positive changes require significant adjustment. Leaving familiar providers, schedules, and spaces can add stress alongside the everyday transitions involved in preparing and eating meals. Learn how advance notice, written plans, predictable routines, and opportunities to practice can support the move toward outpatient eating disorder care. ADHD, Executive Function & Meal Support Remembering meals, switching tasks, grocery shopping, and preparing food require executive-function skills. Dr. Marianne explains why following a nutrition plan can become more difficult when program support decreases and how accessible foods, practical reminders, and help from trusted people can reduce barriers. Sensory Needs, ARFID & Recovery Accommodations Sensory overload, unfamiliar foods, and unpredictable household expectations can complicate eating after treatment. Hear how sensory accommodations, familiar foods, and convenient meals may support nourishment, with guidance from your eating disorder treatment team. The conversation also addresses distinguishing supportive accommodations from patterns that maintain restriction. Discharge Planning & Ongoing Eating Disorder Support A useful discharge plan identifies who will provide medical monitoring, nutrition support, therapy, and practical help. Dr. Marianne discusses communicating treatment experiences, adjusting responsibilities, and recognizing early signs that support needs to change. Needing additional care does not erase your progress. Who This Episode Is For Autistic adults, ADHDers, and people with both autism and ADHD who are transitioning between levels of eating disorder care will find practical support here. Parents, partners, caregivers, and providers supporting recovery from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or ARFID may also benefit. Content Cautions & Medical Guidance Includes discussion of eating disorder treatment, missed meals, binge urges, restriction, and compensatory behaviors, without graphic details. This episode provides education and does not replace individualized care. Consult your treatment team about nutrition, medical monitoring, and changes in your level of care. Related Episodes Eating Disorder Recovery, Higher Level of Care, & Renourishment With Amy Ornelas, RD on Apple & Spotify. Eating Disorder Therapy & ARFID Resources Dr. Marianne offers neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder therapy in California and Washington, D.C. Learn more at drmariannemiller.com. For adults with ARFID, caregivers, and providers, find the ARFID and Selective Eating course at drmariannemiller.com/arfid. Follow @drmariannemiller on Instagram.

Dating in a larger body can bring up body image struggles, dating anxiety, and fears of rejection. Messages from diet culture can convince you that you have to lose weight before someone will find you attractive or want a relationship with you. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne welcomes back body image educator and licensed mental health counselor Bri Campos for an honest conversation about dating while fat, body grief, and making room for connection without waiting for your body to change. Body Image, Dating Anxiety, & Fear of Rejection Bri shares how she spent years believing her body size stood between her and finding love. She reflects on hiding her body, questioning whether someone could genuinely find her attractive, and learning to approach dating with greater self-trust. Dr. Marianne and Bri explore how body image concerns can become a focus when dating brings up vulnerability. They discuss the fear of rejection that can remain even after substantial body image work, and why difficult feelings deserve curiosity and compassion. Body Grief & Letting Go of the Thinness Requirement Body grief can include grieving the experiences you postponed while waiting to become thin. Bri discusses how her body grief work helped her question the belief that love, attraction, and belonging require a smaller body. The conversation also explores fat representation in romance novels, narrow beauty standards, and the cultural messages that make it harder to imagine yourself as someone’s romantic lead. ADHD, Autism, Masking, & Dating Dr. Marianne and Bri discuss how neurodivergence can shape dating and social experiences. Unfamiliar places, sensory overwhelm, small talk, and pressure to mask can create discomfort that you might attribute to your body size. They reflect on the importance of recognizing your actual needs, choosing more comfortable environments, and questioning whether the desire for thinness sometimes connects to a desire for social acceptance. Small Steps Toward Connection You can explore dating at a pace that respects your capacity. Bri shares examples of manageable starting points, such as creating a dating profile before committing to a date. Together, Dr. Marianne and Bri discuss treating emotional reactions as information, making space for uncertainty, and recognizing that a hard body image day does not erase your progress. About Bri Campos Bri Campos is a licensed mental health counselor based in New Jersey, a body image educator, and the founder of Body Image With Bri. She combines clinical experience and lived experience through a fat-positive approach, with a particular focus on body grief. You can follow Bri on Instagram @bodyimagewithbri. Explore her podcast, free seven-step body image and body grief guide, Body Grievers course, and resources for providers through Body Image With Bri at her website: https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/ Related Episodes Fat Vulnerability & Our Eating Disorder Recovery Stories With Bri Campos @bodyimagewithbri on Apple & Spotify. Eating Disorders in Midlife: Ageism, Body Image, & the Pressure to Stay Thin & Young With Deb Benfield, RDN @agingbodyliberation on Apple & Spotify. Resilience Skills for Body Image & Disordered Eating: Cultivating Confidence With Rachelle Heinemann, LMHC, LPC on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Dr. Marianne offers neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, weight-neutral support for body image concerns and eating disorders. She provides therapy in California and Washington, D.C., including in-person sessions in the Scripps Ranch/Mira Mesa area of San Diego, and virtual coaching for clients worldwide. Visit drmariannemiller.com to learn about working with Dr. Marianne. For sensory-attuned education about ARFID and neurodivergent eating experiences, explore her ARFID & Selective Eating Course. Subscribe to Dr. Marianne-Land for more conversations about body image, neurodivergence, and eating disorder recovery.

AI chatbots can offer quick answers and a sense of support, but they can also reinforce food rules, reassurance seeking, and eating disorder behaviors. Dr. Marianne examines how AI use can complicate eating disorder recovery and where these tools might provide limited, practical support. AI & Eating Disorder Recovery: Benefits and Risks Learn how chatbot responses can reinforce restriction, exercise compensation, and weight stigma in people with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Dr. Marianne also discusses why a reassuring answer may still undermine recovery and how repeated questions about food can become a checking ritual. Autism, ADHD, ARFID & AI Support For autistic people and ADHDers, chatbots may offer an accessible way to organize thoughts, draft messages, and break everyday tasks into smaller steps. However, generic advice can overlook sensory needs, executive functioning challenges, and the complexity of ARFID. Hear examples of possible uses that support communication and existing care plans. What Research Says About Eating Disorder Chatbots Dr. Marianne explains the distinction between open-ended AI chatbots and structured tools developed specifically for eating disorder support. Early findings from a small chatbot trial offer promise, but they do not establish that everyday AI tools can safely replace eating disorder therapy or medical care. Recognizing When AI Use Undermines Recovery Consider whether chatbot use helps you take a supported recovery step or increases checking, secrecy, body comparison, and food anxiety. Learn why bringing AI conversations to your treatment team can help you assess their role in your recovery. Eating Disorder Therapy With Dr. Marianne Dr. Marianne provides eating disorder therapy in California and Washington, D.C., including neurodivergent-affirming support for ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Visit drmariannemiller.com to learn about working with her. Content Cautions Includes discussion of restriction, binge eating, compensatory behaviors, weight stigma, and body image without numbers or behavioral instructions. This conversation provides education and does not replace individualized treatment or medical assessment.

Eating disorder recovery happens within your daily life. For autistic people and ADHDers, sensory overload, executive functioning challenges, masking, and demanding schedules can make consistent nourishment harder. Building a life that fits your brain means taking those needs seriously and creating support that makes recovery more accessible. Dr. Marianne shares how neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder recovery can include changes to your routines, relationships, work environment, and expectations of yourself. Sensory Needs, Executive Functioning, & Regular Eating Learn how quieter eating spaces, predictable meals, convenient foods, and practical help can reduce barriers to nourishment. Dr. Marianne discusses why reminders alone may fall short when choosing, preparing, and accessing food require more energy than you have available. For people with autism, ADHD, ARFID, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, individualized support can help make recovery practices more manageable. Boundaries, Masking, & Neurodivergent Support Protecting meal breaks, allowing time to rest, and communicating sensory needs can create more room for recovery. Hear how to ask for concrete help, approach unmasking with attention to safety, and discuss the difference between supportive accommodations and restrictive eating disorder rules with your treatment team. Work With Dr. Marianne Dr. Marianne offers neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder therapy for clients in California and Washington, D.C., including in-person appointments in San Diego and telehealth in both locations. Visit drmariannemiller.com to learn about working with her. Take the ARFID & Selective Eating Course For more support understanding ARFID, autism, ADHD, and sensory food challenges, take Dr. Marianne’s ARFID and Selective Eating Course. This self-paced course offers neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, and trauma-informed education for adults, parents, caregivers, and providers.

Do chewing, crunching, or slurping sounds make you feel anxious, overwhelmed, disgusted, or desperate to leave? In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne welcomes clinical psychologist and author Dr. Tom to explore misophonia, sound triggers, and their impact on eating, relationships, and everyday life. Drawing on his personal experience with misophonia and his book, Stop That Chewing, Dr. Tom shares coping approaches and discusses how families can respond with understanding and compassion. What Is Misophonia? Misophonia involves strong emotional and physical reactions to specific sounds. Chewing sounds and other mouth noises are common triggers, but reactions vary. Some people experience anxiety or disgust, while others feel anger, overwhelm, or an urgent need to escape. Dr. Marianne and Dr. Tom discuss how recognizing these experiences can help people explain their needs and reduce shame. Misophonia, ARFID, & Sensory Sensitivities When eating sounds feel unbearable, sharing a meal can become overwhelming. Dr. Marianne and Dr. Tom explore how misophonia can complicate mealtimes for some people with ARFID—avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. The conversation also touches on autism, ADHD, and sensory sensitivities, including the distinction between specific misophonia triggers and broader sensitivity to sound. Misophonia in Kids & Teens: Supporting Families Without Blame A child or teen who avoids family dinner may be struggling with sound triggers they cannot easily explain. Parents may feel rejected, while their child feels misunderstood. These experiences can create tension and disconnection around meals. Dr. Marianne and Dr. Tom discuss a collaborative, blame-free approach that includes family education, flexible meal arrangements, background sound, and communication. The goal is to support sensory needs while strengthening family relationships. Misophonia Coping Strategies & Treatment Approaches Dr. Tom introduces his ABCD approach and “five-second plan” for responding to misophonia triggers. He describes environmental adjustments, breathing, muscle relaxation, and ways to address self-critical thoughts or assumptions that others are making sounds intentionally. The conversation also explores cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), carefully paced exposure, and possible medication as topics to discuss with qualified providers. Dr. Marianne emphasizes the value of choice, including knowing you can pause or leave an overwhelming situation. Self-Compassion When Chewing Sounds Feel Overwhelming A strong reaction to eating sounds does not make you a bad person. Understanding your triggers and responding to yourself with compassion can help reduce the shame that often accompanies misophonia. Dr. Marianne and Dr. Tom explore how families can acknowledge distress without blaming either the person experiencing misophonia or the person making the sound. About Dr. Tom Phelan & Stop That Chewing Dr. Tom Phelan is a clinical psychologist with more than 40 years of experience working with children, families, and adults. He is the author of a widely read parenting book called 1-2-3 Magic. Stop That Chewing is his recent book, which explores misophonia and approaches to support individuals and families. Learn more at StopThatChewing.com. Contact Dr. Marianne for Misophonia Support Are sound triggers affecting your meals, relationships, or daily life? Contact Dr. Marianne to discuss misophonia support and explore your needs, sensory experiences, and options for care. You deserve space to talk about what feels overwhelming and support that takes your experience seriously. Explore Dr. Marianne’s ARFID & Selective Eating Course If you or someone you support struggles with ARFID or selective eating, explore Dr. Marianne’s ARFID and Selective Eating Course. The course offers deeper education about ARFID, sensory experiences, and neurodivergent perspectives on eating. Visit Dr. Marianne’s website to learn more about the course and contact her for support.

Certain foods can become closely connected to binge eating because they provide more than taste or energy. For people with ADHD or autism, these foods may offer sensory stimulation, predictability, emotional regulation, comfort, or relief after a demanding day. Dr. Marianne explains why binge foods are not random and why removing them rarely addresses the full problem. She examines the connections among ADHD and binge eating, autism and eating disorders, bulimia, binge eating disorder, sensory processing, interoception, executive dysfunction, and food restriction. ADHD, Executive Dysfunction, and Binge Eating ADHD can make consistent eating difficult. Time blindness, hyperfocus, decision fatigue, appetite changes from medication, and the many steps involved in preparing food can lead to delayed meals or inadequate nourishment. By evening, intense hunger may combine with a need for stimulation and immediate energy. Crunchy, sweet, salty, creamy, cold, or strongly flavored foods can provide rapid sensory input. These foods may help an ADHD brain feel more alert, focused, soothed, or engaged. What appears to be a lack of self-control may actually reflect hunger, executive-function challenges, and a nervous system seeking regulation. Autism, Sensory Regulation, and Binge Foods For autistic people, familiar foods can provide sensory safety and predictability. Packaged foods often offer the same flavor, texture, and appearance every time. That consistency may feel especially regulating after sensory overload, masking, social demands, or unexpected changes. Repetitive eating may also function as stimming. Specific textures, temperatures, and flavors can help an autistic person feel grounded or organized. Interoception differences may make it harder to recognize hunger and fullness until those sensations become intense. Bulimia vs. Binge Eating Disorder Bulimia and binge eating disorder both involve recurrent binge-eating episodes and significant distress. Bulimia also includes compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise, or laxative misuse. People with binge eating disorder may not use regular compensatory behaviors, but they may still diet, skip meals, or restrict food between binges. Restriction, scarcity, and labeling foods as forbidden can increase preoccupation and intensify the binge-restrict cycle. Understanding the Function of Binge Eating Instead of asking only, “How do I stop eating this food?” Dr. Marianne encourages listeners to ask what the food is helping them do. It may provide energy after under-eating, interrupt racing thoughts, soothe emotional distress, support a transition into rest, or meet a sensory need. Recovery may include mechanical eating, low-effort foods, executive-function accommodations, sensory support, regular nourishment, and less moral judgment around food. Understanding the function of binge foods does not minimize the distress or medical risks of bulimia and binge eating disorder. It creates a more compassionate and effective place to begin. Who This Eating Disorder Recovery Episode Is For This episode is for autistic people, ADHDers, and other neurodivergent adults who experience binge eating, bulimia, binge eating disorder, food restriction, delayed eating, sensory-seeking eating, or difficulty recognizing hunger and fullness cues. Eating disorder therapists, dietitians, and other providers may also benefit from this neurodivergent-affirming perspective. Work With Dr. Marianne Dr. Marianne provides neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed, and weight-neutral eating disorder therapy for clients in California and Washington, D.C. She also offers virtual coaching and parent consultations worldwide. Learn more at drmariannemiller.com. This podcast provides education and cannot replace individualized medical, nutritional, or mental health care. Bulimia and other eating disorders can cause serious medical complications. Seek medical support if you are purging, severely restricting, or experiencing concerning physical symptoms. Related Episodes ADHD & Binge Eating: Why You Feel Like a Bottomless Pit (And Why Traditional CBT Often Fails) on Apple and Spotify. 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. Autism, Food Rigidity, & Eating Disorders: How Autistic Traits Can Help & Hinder Recovery on Apple and Spotify.

Chronic pain can make eating disorder recovery more complicated. Pain, fatigue, brain fog, medication side effects, nausea, limited mobility, and sensory overload can interfere with shopping, preparing food, recognizing hunger, and eating consistently. In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne explains why these challenges reflect real barriers to nourishment, not a lack of motivation or commitment to recovery. Drawing from her clinical experience and more than two decades of living with lower back pain, she discusses how chronic pain can become intertwined with food restriction, binge eating, purging, compulsive movement, and body-image distress. Interoception, Hunger, and Fullness Cues Chronic pain can affect interoception, or the ability to notice and interpret signals from inside the body. When pain remains loud and persistent, quieter hunger and fullness cues may become harder to recognize. Hunger may feel like nausea, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, or general physical distress. Fullness may be confused with pain, bloating, or sensory discomfort. Someone may know that something feels wrong without knowing whether they need food, rest, medication, hydration, or another form of support. Dr. Marianne explains why relying entirely on hunger cues may not provide enough structure during a pain flare. Flexible mechanical eating, reminders, and predictable eating opportunities can support nourishment when internal signals feel inconsistent or confusing. Chronic Pain, Food Restriction, and Binge Eating Eating disorder behaviors can serve understandable functions when someone lives with persistent pain. Restriction may create numbness or a temporary sense of control. Binge eating may offer comfort, stimulation, distraction, or emotional regulation. Purging may feel like a release, and compulsive movement may continue despite pain because rest triggers fear or guilt. Understanding what a behavior provides can help identify the unmet need underneath it. That understanding does not make a harmful behavior safe, but it can create a more compassionate and effective path toward change. Medical Weight Stigma and Chronic Illness People in larger bodies often receive weight-loss advice before healthcare professionals fully investigate their pain. For someone with an eating disorder history, restrictive medical advice can reactivate food rules, obsessive thoughts, compensatory behaviors, and body shame. Dr. Marianne discusses why people deserve pain treatment that looks beyond body size and why intentional weight loss is not a neutral recommendation in eating disorder recovery. Accessible Eating During Pain and Fatigue Recovery may require practical accommodations. Frozen meals, packaged snacks, nutrition drinks, prepared ingredients, repetitive foods, and delivery all count as nourishment. Creating options for lower-pain, moderate-pain, and severe-pain days can reduce the physical and executive-function demands of eating. Keeping food near the bed, couch, or desk can also make nourishment more accessible. The goal is not to create an ideal meal. The goal is to make eating possible. Who This Eating Disorder Podcast Episode Is For This episode is for people navigating chronic pain, chronic illness, fatigue, disrupted hunger and fullness cues, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, compulsive movement, or long-term eating disorder recovery. It may also help therapists, dietitians, caregivers, and medical professionals understand why conventional recovery advice does not always fit people living with pain. This content provides general education and support, not individualized medical, nutritional, or mental health care. Seek support from qualified professionals who understand your specific medical and eating disorder needs. Work With Dr. Marianne Dr. Marianne provides eating disorder therapy for clients in California and Washington, D.C., along with virtual coaching for people worldwide. She specializes in ARFID, binge eating, anorexia, bulimia, neurodivergence, chronic pain, sensory needs, and long-term eating disorder recovery. Learn more about therapy, coaching, the self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating Course on her website, drmariannemiller.com. Related Episodes Chronic Illness, Wellness Culture, & Eating Disorder Recovery: Taking an Anti-Diet Approach With Abbie Attwood, MS, @abbieattwoodwellness on Apple and Spotify. Anti-Fat Bias in Healthcare & Chronic Illness: Healing Body Image in a Marginalized Body With Ivy Felicia @iamivyfelicia on Apple and Spotify.