Advertise on podcast: Don't Feed the Fear: Allergy Anxiety & Trauma

Send us Fan Mail If “just take a deep breath” has ever made your breathing feel worse, this practice is for you. Designed by psychologist Dr. Amanda Whitehouse for people living with asthma and other breathing conditions, this short, trauma-informed practice starts somewhere other than the breath. You’ll orient to the room around you, ground through your feet and hands, and then, only if it feels right, try a soft, low-volume breath with a gentle exhale. The practice does not include any counting, breath-holding, or breath extension, just neutral observation. It closes by naming what you feel, a simple step that can help turn down emotional intensity. You can keep your eyes open, move, skip any part, or stop at any time. Please note: this practice is not for use during an asthma attack. If you’re having symptoms, follow your asthma action plan and seek medical care. This practice is for educational purposes only, not medical advice. It is meant to complement your medical care and never replaces it.  Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Alice Bast, founder of Beyond Celiac, joins me to share how a long, painful road to her own diagnosis became a 20-plus-year mission to change what celiac care looks like. Alice traces Beyond Celiac's growth from a small awareness group, founded in 2003 as the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, into a research-driven organization working toward treatments and a cure. Together we explore the therapies in development and the bills now before Congress that could change how gluten is labeled on food and in medicine. In this episode: How Beyond Celiac evolved from awareness to research, and why that shift matteredTreatments in the pipeline: gluten modification, inducing tolerance, immune modulation and the microbiomeGluten labeling legislation: the Celiac Safety Act (H.R. 9048), the FASTER Act of 2026 (H.R. 9988) and the Food Labeling Modernization Act (H.R. 8385 / S. 5166), and how they differThe ADINA Act (H.R. 3821) and why allergens and gluten in medications need labels tooVenture philanthropy: how Beyond Celiac Investments funds early-stage science that traditional grants can't reachWhy the Go Beyond Celiac patient registry is one of the most powerful tools patients haveTake action: Learn more at beyondceliac.org and follow @beyondceliac on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeJoin the Go Beyond Celiac registryFind your Representative at house.gov and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 3821 and the gluten labeling billsTrack the bills: ADINA Act · Celiac Safety ActSpecial thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail This reflection accompanies Episode #100, a reflection as we move into the holiday season.  This time of year can stir up so many difficult things for those living with food allergies or celiac disease, and for the parents and caregivers who keep them safe. Gatherings, expectations, and old family dynamics often reveal patterns we have carried for a long time, such as keeping the peace, carrying everything alone, or waiting to be understood before we can feel okay. This gentle, trauma-informed reflection invites you to explore three questions at your own pace: what this season is revealing to you, where you might share some of what you carry, and what this life has grown in you that deserves to be honored. Everything is offered as an invitation, with no required breathing pattern or posture, and you are welcome to keep your eyes open. For parents, caregivers, and teens/adults managing their own food allergies or celiac disease. Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail The holidays can be one of the hardest times of year for families living with food allergies and celiac disease. Gatherings with family and friends can leave us feeling hurt, stressed, and unseen. This special 100th episode turns the conversation inward. Instead of focusing on how to manage other people, I explores what food allergy and celiac life reveals about us. I looks at some of the patterns this life can uncover and reinforce, including people pleasing, carrying it all on our own, old family roles, hypervigilance, and relationships that were strained long before a diagnosis. I discuss the grief the holidays can bring, share my own family's evolving holiday story, and explore the growth that comes from this journey. Thank you to all my listeners and guests for being part of this huge milestone--we now have listeners in 108 countries! The episode ends with three reflection questions to carry into the holiday season, and an invitation to help shape the future of the show. Resources mentioned Listener survey: https://forms.gle/JmYrxoBF19V8ruDw9Guest recommendation form: https://forms.gle/MzC3hnxSmCzyfMSW8Companion guided meditation: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/20045459Episode #9: A Safe Seat at the Table: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safe Holidays https://dontfeedthefear.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/16069424Episode #48 Gratitude, Grief, and the Gifts We Don't Choose https://dontfeedthefear.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/18116884Episode #53 Holiday Communication and Boundaries in Food Allergy Families https://dontfeedthefear.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/18094550Episode #63 When Safety Creates Distance: Isolation, Connection, and Boundaries in Food Allergy Life https://dontfeedthefear.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/18660952My book From Fear to Freedom: https://a.co/d/0cqJJhdPEpisode References Golding MA et al. A scoping review of the caregiver burden of pediatric food allergy. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2021. 54 studies; lower parental quality of life than comparison groups.Acaster S et al. Peanut allergy impact on productivity and quality of life (PAPRIQUA): caregiver burden. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 2020. The review of earlier research includes mothers reporting greater impact than fathers on meal preparation, social activities, stress, and free time.Shah S et al. Patient perception of treatment burden is high in celiac disease compared to other common conditions. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2014. Celiac treatment burden higher than reflux or hypertension, comparable to end-stage renal disease.Negri-Schwartz O et al. Post-traumatic growth correlates among parents of children with chronic illnesses: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 2024. 34 studies, 5,328 parents.Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1996.Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail For families managing food allergies, celiac disease, alpha-gal syndrome, or food intolerances, safe food is essential — and it's often expensive, time-consuming to find, and missing from food pantry shelves. In this episode, I talk with Mackenzie Farmer, Interim Executive Director of FOODiversity, about the overlooked intersection of food insecurity and dietary restrictions. Mackenzie shares how FOODiversity partners with food pantries, schools, and healthcare providers to expand access to allergen-friendly and gluten-free food, and why a "food as medicine" approach matters for people with chronic conditions. We also explore the emotional toll of food scarcity and how it compounds the fear so many families already live with. As the giving season approaches, we talk about the many ways you can help — including ways that don't cost a thing. Volunteering, sharing this episode, or simply asking a local organization to partner with FOODiversity can make a real difference for a family in your community. FOODiversity: foodiversity.org IG and FB @foodiversityorg Early Intro handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JyPQyYBj9XWABwD6m2r4iMVkGrDDicAT/view FAMP-IT website: famp-it.org Last week's episode with Dr. Mike Pistiner discussing FOODiversity's collab with FAMP-IT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/19856476 Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Pistiner returns to the show to introduce FAMP-IT (Food Allergy Management and Prevention for Infants and Toddlers). It's a free, evidence-based resource supporting families and the professionals who care for them, from the very first bites. FAMP-IT has two sites. FAMP-IT Family is for parents and caregivers and covers early allergen introduction, recognizing reactions, and next steps if a food allergy develops. famp-it.org gives pediatricians, primary care providers, early childhood programs, and support services like WIC up-to-date tools and guidance. We discuss: What info and support families need starting in infancy and whyHow early introduction can reduce the risk of food allergy, and why getting that message out mattersHow FAMP-IT helps primary care and early childhood programs stay currentThe Food Allergy Buddies program, going national in a virtual format with AAFAResources FAMP-IT Family (for parents & caregivers): https://fampitfamily.orgFAMP-IT (for clinicians & professionals): https://famp-it.orgFood Allergy Buddies on Facebook: @foodallergybuddiesMore with Dr. Pistiner #50 New Criteria for Infant and Toddler Anaphylaxis: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/18014268#51 New Criteria for Infant and Toddler Anaphylaxis with Dr. Michael Pistiner: https://dontfeedthefear.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/18014268Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Don’t Feed the Fear, I’m joined by Tal Golan and Stephen Benford of Anjo.ai to explore the intersection of food allergy, wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and real-time physiological monitoring. Tal Golan is the co-founder and CEO of Anjo.ai, a company developing technology designed to use wearable biosignals and AI to provide continuous monitoring and, ultimately, earlier recognition of allergic reactions. Stephen Benford brings both a background in life-sciences finance and a deeply personal connection to anaphylaxis through the KeepSmilin4Abbie Foundation, which he co-founded in memory of his daughter Abbie who passed away due to anaphylaxis. We talk about what wearable technology can tell us about the body, how AI may eventually help identify patterns associated with anaphylaxis, what the current research does and does not tell us, and what earlier detection could mean for families living with food allergy. But we also go beyond the technology itself. Food allergy involves an enormous amount of uncertainty. Parents constantly make decisions based on incomplete information, watch for subtle changes, and try to determine when something is simply normal and when it might signal a reaction. What could happen if we had more physiological information available to us in those moments? AnjoProtect is still in development, and its anaphylaxis-detection capabilities are not currently available as a medical device. But the research raises fascinating questions about where food allergy management may be headed. This is a conversation about innovation, hope, uncertainty, and the possibility that the future of food allergy management may look very different from what it does today.    At the time of publication on 10/13/26, Anjo Connect is available for pre-order at anjo.ai. Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this season 8 finale of Don't Feed the Fear, Dr. Atul Shah joins me to talk about the medical and psychological sides of food allergy treatment. As the founder of NY Food Allergy & Wellness and creator of the FATE approach to food allergy tolerance enhancement, Dr. Shah has spent more than two decades working with patients and families navigating diagnosis, treatment, desensitization, and the pursuit of greater food freedom.  Together, we explore why building physical tolerance is only part of the story, how fear and past experiences can remain even as treatment progresses, what psychological healing can look like alongside medical treatment, and how clinicians and families can keep quality of life at the center of the conversation. This episode brings together many of the themes explored throughout the season: treatment options, informed decision-making, fear, hope, agency, tolerance, and what it really means to move toward greater freedom with food allergy. Follow Dr. Shah:  YouTube: @NYFoodAllergyWellness https://www.youtube.com/@NYFoodAllergyWellnessFacebook: NYFoodAllergy https://www.facebook.com/NYFoodAllergy/Instagram: @newyorkfoodallergy https://www.instagram.com/newyorkfoodallergy/TikTok: @nyfoodallergy https://www.tiktok.com/@nyfoodallergyhttps://www.nyfoodallergy.com/https://www.nyfoodallergy.com/game (FREE Food Allergy Game)Dr. Shah's books: Food Allergy: My Journey: A Complete Guided Journal to Lead You from Early Diagnosis to Oral Immunotherapyhttps://a.co/d/00igH6WP Allergies, and Awesome You: Believe You Can Get There Too! https://a.co/d/016YHjC2 Asthma, and Awesome You: Believe You Can Get There Too! https://a.co/d/009F5ALv My Book: From Fear to Freedom: A Guide For Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy https://a.co/d/0aCXL0G5 Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Dr. Xiu-Min Li, a physician and researcher uniquely trained in both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Dr. Li has spent decades conducting rigorous scientific research exploring how traditional herbal therapies may help treat allergic diseases such as food allergies and eczema. Her work focuses on developing standardized herbal formulas and studying their effects on the immune system through laboratory and clinical research. This includes the development of Food Allergy Herbal Formula (FAHF) and other therapies being studied for conditions such as severe eczema and topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). In this conversation, Dr. Li explains the scientific approach behind her work, how TCM concepts translate into modern immunology research, and what the future may hold for integrative treatments for allergic disease. Contact Dr. Li: 914-257-3754 [email protected] https://www.nymc.edu/gsbms/faculty/li-xiu-min.php Research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Li+Xiu-Min+Valhalla Books: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tradition-chn-med-west-sci-fight-against-allergic-disease-henry-ehrlich/0b01ff3914cea929?ean=9789814733694&next=t https://bookshop.org/p/books/treating-eczema-with-traditional-chinese-medicine-henry-ehrlich/cb1efb84d7fdac75?ean=9789811247538&next=t Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Food allergy treatment looks very different today than it did 17 years ago. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins joins me for a deeply personal conversation about navigating food allergy treatment as a parent long before many of today's options were readily available. Elizabeth is a psychologist, celiac patient, and a celiac and food allergy parent. Her younger daughter has a complex history of multiple severe food allergies alongside asthma, eczema, and environmental allergies, and their family has navigated multiple forms of treatment. We talk about how her experiences shaped what she sees as a psychologist working with food allergy families. We also explore what parents facing immunotherapy decisions today can learn from those who have been navigating these choices for years. This conversation is about more than choosing a treatment. It's about living with uncertainty, knowing your child, making decisions within the reality of your family's circumstances, and finding a way to move forward without letting fear make every decision for you. Follow Dr. Hawkins on IG @foodallergypsychologist and dr-elizabeth.com Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to support a child through oral immunotherapy? The medical protocol is only part of the experience. For children, OIT can involve fear, uncertainty, frustration, procedures, new sensations, and a lot of big feelings—sometimes without the words or skills to communicate what's happening. In this episode, I talk with Kelsey Mora, a dual-certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, about the emotional and developmental side of supporting kids through food allergy treatment. Kelsey brings nearly a decade of hospital-based child life experience together with her training as a therapist, giving her a unique perspective on helping children and families navigate medical experiences. She's also the creator of The Method Workbooks, including The Y Method, an interactive workbook designed to help children understand food allergies and immunotherapy while building communication and coping skills. We talk about preparing children for OIT, helping kids understand what's happening in their bodies, coping with anxiety during treatment, giving children appropriate choices and control, and supporting the whole family through the process. Follow Kelsey: @childlifetherapist childlifetherapist.com The Y Method: https://a.co/d/0cYsEAPW Find my book, From Fear to Freedom: On Amazon - https://a.co/d/0iiOwy04 On bookshop.org -  https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like when a family is navigating multiple complicated medical journeys? In this episode of Don't Feed the Fear, I sit down with Natalie Grijalva to talk about her experience with her son's food allergy immunotherapy and her son's additional medical challenges related to Kawasaki disease. Natalie started her Instagram account @createlikeamom as a space to explore and express her artistic pursuits, but motherhood led her in a different direction and she now uses the account to raise awareness about food allergies and Kawasaki.  We discuss what it takes to make treatment possible for a child when life is already complicated. We discuss the emotional and practical realities of navigating multiple medical concerns. We also talk about Kawasaki disease awareness and the importance of learning from other chronic illness communities—even when our diagnoses and experiences look different. Many families within the food allergy community find themselves navigating their own unique combination of medical concerns. This conversation is ultimately about hope, persistence, and finding meaningful connection even though none of our stories are exactly the same.  Follow Natalie @createlikeamom and her artwork @dragonflycanvasco Order From Food to Freedom on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0bT0HjQi or on bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Danna, the creator behind @sarahandspices, to talk about her life with food allergies, her more recent diagnosis with MCAS, and her experience with immunotherapy through the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) at the Food Allergy Institute. Sarah shares the emotional and practical realities of navigating treatment while also building an online community around allergy-friendly living. We talk about the progress she has experienced through the program, some of the challenges and setbacks along the way, and how her care team is adapting treatment in the context of mast cell activation syndrome. We also discuss what it’s like to share your health journey publicly as a content creator and how community support has shaped Sarah’s advocacy. Thank you Sarah for sharing your honest patient perspective on navigating complex allergic disease and treatment. Find Sarah @sarahandspices and www.sarahandspices.com From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy: https://a.co/d/03L4ZM8g Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Inderpal Randhawa, founder of the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) for allergies, joins the podcast to discuss his program and its approach to food allergy treatment. As part of this season exploring emerging and evolving allergy management options, this conversation aims to provide information directly from the source. TIP has generated both interest and debate within the food allergy community. In this episode, we discuss: • The foundational principles of TIP  • How the program is structured  • Patient selection and goals  • How TIP fits into the broader treatment landscape  • Areas of ongoing discussion within the field This episode does not serve as an endorsement of any specific treatment. The intention is to offer balanced access to information so families and clinicians can make informed decisions in partnership with their own medical teams. As always, we also consider the mental health dimensions of navigating complex medical choices. Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, allergist Dr. Nikhila Schroeder, founder of Allergenity Health, joins the podcast to discuss sublingual immunotherapy as a standalone treatment for food allergies. As the second installment in our SLIT series, this conversation moves beyond introductory discussions and into a broader vision of what SLIT can offer. Dr. Schroeder shares how sublingual immunotherapy may provide meaningful protection, improved quality of life, and a lower intensity pathway for families who may not be pursuing higher-dose oral immunotherapy. We explore: • How SLIT works and how it differs from OIT • Expanding SLIT beyond its traditional framing • Which patients may benefit most from this approach • The importance of aligning treatment with family goals This episode is part of a larger season exploring immunotherapy options in allergy care, highlighting both the promise and the complexity of an expanding treatment landscape. Follow Dr. Schroeder: https://allergenuityhealth.com/ @allergeunityhealth Dr. Whitehouse's book: From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy https://a.co/d/003saZ8p Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist [email protected]