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Demand avoidance can be one of the most misunderstood aspects of autism, especially when it intersects with eating disorders. What may seem like defiance or resistance is often an attempt to preserve autonomy and regain a sense of safety. In this episode, I’ll be breaking down what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) really is, how it impacts eating behaviors, and why reframing our approach can make all the difference in supporting recovery.
You'll learn:
What PDA is and why it’s better understood as a Pervasive Drive for AutonomyHow food and eating can feel like demands for someone with PDAWhy traditional eating disorder treatments often backfire for individuals with PDASimple language shifts to create PDA-friendly communicationPractical strategies for creating a supportive and autonomy-affirming environment👉🏻 Enroll in the Autistically ED-Free Academy
🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia
🎧 In case you missed it: FBT for Autism and Eating DisordersConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS📝 Read the blog post of this episode
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Family-Based Therapy (FBT), often hailed as the "gold standard" for eating disorder treatment, claims to help families take control of recovery. Unfortunately, this approach can be harmful for autistic people. In this episode, Livia shares her lived experience and insights on why FBT can clash with the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals. From issues of autonomy to the oversimplified prioritization of weight gain, we’ll explore how "evidence-based" treatments often overlook neurodivergence.
You'll learn:
The basics of FBT and its three-phase structure
Why FBT's focus on control and weight gain can fail neurodivergent individuals
The importance of autonomy and safety in recovery for autistic people
How eating disorders act as adaptive responses to an overwhelming world
Why "evidence-based" treatments should really be called "evidence-biased"
A compassionate alternative for supporting recovery
👉🏻 Enroll in the Autistically ED-Free Academy
🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and AnorexiaConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS📝 Read the blog post of this episode
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Are you or someone you care for always in fight-or-flight mode? In today’s episode, I’m sharing how a foot injury forced me to stop, rest, and confront the fears I’d been avoiding for years – stillness, emptiness, and a relentless desperation to distract myself. I also answer a listener question about viewing autistic burnout through the lens of energy debt. We’ll explore why this parallel makes so much sense, unpacking some of the unique challenges neurodivergent individuals face in eating disorder recovery.
Episode Highlights:
How a foot injury became a wake-up call to confront stillness and burnoutThe connection between autistic burnout, energy debt, and eating disordersHow distraction serves as a coping mechanism for emptiness – and why it’s counterproductiveInsights into energy deficit, energy debt, and their parallels with masking, sensory overwhelm, and societal pressuresHow crises can be turning points for growth and recovery💗 Join my newsletter to receive episode updates
👉🏻 Enroll in the Autistically ED-Free Academy
🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia
📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme HungerConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS📝 Read the blog post of this episode
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Traditional eating disorder treatment tends to overlook the unique needs of autistic individuals. This leads to invalidation, trauma, and harmful labels. In today's episode, I share my personal story of growing up undiagnosed autistic, how this shaped my eating disorder, and the journey I took to find true freedom. Whether you or someone you care about is struggling with food, exercise, or body image, this episode sheds light on the complex interplay between autism and eating disorders – and why recovery is 100% possible.
You'll learn:
The role of autistic masking in eating disorder developmentHow existential questions and literal thinking contribute to disordered eating behaviorsMisunderstanding of autistic traits in treatment settingsHow interoceptive awareness impacts hunger cuesThe psychological impact of strict dietary changesWhy discovering my autism was the key to full recoveryImportance of separating autistic traits from eating disorder behaviors🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia
👉🏻 Enroll in the Autistically ED-Free AcademyConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS📝 Read the blog post of this episode
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Interoception, the sense that helps us recognize our internal bodily signals like hunger and thirst, is often impaired in individuals with autism and eating disorders. But could this "missing sense" be the key to understanding the overlap between autism and anorexia? In this episode, I explore how interoceptive challenges affect emotional regulation, self-perception, and body image, drawing connections between science and lived experience.
You'll learn:
What interoception is and how it impacts everyday lifeThe role of the insula in interoceptive awarenessHow interoceptive challenges contribute to autistic traits and anorexia behaviorsThe link between interoception and body image, including the Rubber Hand IllusionWhat "allocentric lock" is and its role in anorexiaPractical strategies for improving interoceptive skills🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group CoachingConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS📝 Read the blog post of this episode (with sources)
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Eating disorders present unique challenges for people with sensory sensitivities, which is why traditional treatment can do more harm than good. In this episode, Livia and Jess share their lived experience of neurodivergence and eating disorders, delving into the importance of trauma-informed care for neurodiversity-affirming eating disorder recovery.
Key Topics Discussed:
Managing environmental overwhelmSpeech challenges and developmental processing delaysThe link between sensory sensitivity and eating disorder developmentIatrogenic harm in eating disorder treatmentThe need for trauma-informed care in eating disorder treatmentPolyvagal Theory and our nervous system's response to stress and traumaNeurodivergent perspectives on control and safetyHow treatment environments often fail to accommodate sensory needsMisdiagnosis faced by individuals with both eating disorders and neurodivergent conditions🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia
📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group CoachingConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKSConnect with Jess:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🎙️ PODCAST -
Welcome to part 4 of my series on autism and binge eating! In this final episode, we explore some of the key psychological and hormonal factors that contribute to binge eating in neurodivergent individuals. From black and white thinking to decision fatigue and hormonal changes, this episode covers the many reasons why autistic people may struggle with binge eating.
You'll learn:
A recap of Parts 1-3, including interoception, extreme hunger, the nervous system, sensory experiences, procrastination, and autistic inertiaHow black and white thinking can lead to rigid rules around food, contributing to binge eating behaviorsThe role of analysis paralysis in binge eating, and how too many food choices can overwhelm neurodivergent individualsHow the need for food to “make sense” and be aesthetically “right” can influence eating patterns in autistic peopleWhy constraints and boundaries around food are important for autistic individuals, and how they can avoid triggering demand avoidanceMy personal experiences with food needing to look a certain way, and how this relates to binge eating behaviorsThe role of PMS and PMDD in contributing to hormonal binge eating in autistic individuals💗 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching
📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
📝 Read the blog post of this episodeConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKSMentioned episodes:
☯ Black and White Thinking in Autism and Anorexia
🔟 Childhood Autistic Traits in Girls
❌ Why All In Recovery Didn’t Work For Me
👌 When food has to “make sense”
🌈 3 more ED behaviors that are ACTUALLY autistic traits
🩸 Autism, PMDD, and Extreme Hunger -
Welcome to part 3 of my series on autism and binge eating! In this episode, we dive deeper into the relationship between procrastination, transitions, and binge eating. Autistic people often struggle with transitions and experience something called autistic inertia, both of which can play significant roles in overeating and binge eating behaviors.
You'll learn:
A recap of Part 1 and Part 2, covering interoception, extreme hunger, and the sensory connection to foodHow difficulty with transitions can lead to binge eating, especially when hyperfocus delays eatingWhy compensatory binge eating may occur after prolonged periods of restriction or delayed eatingThe concept of autistic inertia, and how it contributes to starting or stopping activities, including eatingHow eating can be used as a transition tool and why it may be hard to stop once you’ve startedMy personal experiences with binge eating tied to planning food in advance and the flow state of eating📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching
💗 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here
📝 Read the blog post of this episodeConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS -
Welcome part 2 of my series on neurodivergence and binge eating! In this episode, we explore the sensory factors that contribute to why autistic and ADHD individuals may struggle with overeating or binge eating. We also discuss how this connects to the nervous system and how neurodivergent people experience sensory input in ways that impact eating behaviors.
You'll learn:
A basic overview of the nervous system and how it affects sensory processingHow nervous system dysregulation in neurodivergent individuals leads to living in a constant state of fight-or-flight modeHow the sensory experience of eating can either be overwhelming or grounding for autistic peopleThe difference between sensory avoidance and sensory seeking in the context of eating behaviorsMy personal story of shifting from being sensory avoidant to sensory seeking during recovery and how this played into my eating behaviorsHow food can be used as a form of stimming or self-regulation in autistic and ADHD individualsThe connection between binge eating and procrastination as a neurodivergent coping mechanismWhy emotional eating isn’t always bad, and how food can be an effective reward for accomplishing tasks📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching
💗 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here
📝 Read the blog post of this episodeConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS -
Autism and binge eating – is there a connection? While the relationship between autism and eating disorders is well-acknowledged, most of the conversation revolves around the restrictive side of the eating disorder spectrum, specifically anorexia and ARFID. Overeating and binge eating are much less discussed forms of disordered eating in the context of autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence. This is very problematic, considering many autistic people struggle with overeating.
Because every individual is deserving of validation and support, I’ve created this Autism and Binge Eating Series to shed light on the relationship between autism and overeating. Whether you are a neurodivergent individual struggling with binge eating or are seeking to better support someone you care for, I hope this series helps you understand the connection and ultimately, gain insights so you can have the healthy relationship with food you so deserve.
In each episode of the series, I delve into different factors that may contribute to binge eating in the neurodivergent population. In today's episode specifically, you'll learn:
A breakdown of interoception and how it affects hunger and fullness cues in autistic individualsHow the neurodivergent experience of feeling unsafe plays a role in overeating and binge eatingMy personal story with extreme hunger as an autistic person, and how this differs from binge eating disorderWhy addressing energy debt is essential for full recovery and how the body's need for safety influences eating behaviors🍩 Enroll in my course, Extremely Hungry to Completely Satisfied
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching
9️⃣ Autistic Types of Binge Eating
📝 Read the blog post of this episodeConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS -
Do you believe you’re too old to recover from an eating disorder? Have you been struggling for so long that you don’t see a way out? You’re not alone, and today’s episode will show you that recovery is always possible! Livia Sara is joined by Julia Trehane, an eating disorder recovery coach who has herself recovered from over 40 years of anorexia, orthorexia and exercise addiction. She is now on a mission to use her own experience, research and knowledge to help others who are wanting to recover but struggling to do so. Julia is qualified in CBT for eating disorders, transformational life coaching and spiritual life coaching and uses those, alongside a deeply supportive and loving nature to guide and support clients from all over the world.
Topics Discussed:
Family dynamics contributing to eating disordersThe impact of motherhood on eating disorder symptomsSensitivity as a factor in eating disorder developmentThe necessity of Inner Child Work in recoveryTransformative power of Recovery CoachingBuilding effective support systems for recoveryUsing restriction and exercise addiction as emotional suppressantsUnintentional validation for eating disorder behaviors by othersNavigating control vs safetyMoving from self-loathing to self-loveThe challenges of finding appropriate treatmentRecovery is possible at every agePrioritizing self-care and seeking help are essentialThe role of shame and secrecy in eating disorders📖 Download my FREE GUIDE with answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions about extreme hunger!
📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme HungerConnect with Julia:
🌐 WEBSITE
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🎙️ PODCASTConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS -
An eating disorder creates suffering – there’s no doubt about that – but can recovery itself cause suffering as well? This episode takes a philosophical and neurodiversity-affirming approach to creating purpose after an eating disorder, exploring how meaningful suffering can lead to a fulfilling life.
💗 Join my newsletter to receive episode updates
🎙️ Get FREE Audio Training on Autism and Eating Disorders
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group CoachingConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS📝 Read the blog post of this episode
You might also enjoy...
Fear of Growing Up and Being Healthy
Autism, Eating Disorders, and Existentialism
Autism and Existential Loneliness -
How does the intersection of orthorexia, masculinity, and sexuality impact the journey to recovery? In today's episode, Livia Sara chats with Jason Wood. Jason turned his battle with orthorexia into a mission to break the stigma around men’s mental health by publishing his memoir Starving for Survival. He is proud to serve on the board for two eating disorder recovery organizations, Running in Silence and SoulPaws Recovery Project. Jason is the Director of Community Engagement at ANAD and facilitates the organization’s new men’s peer support group. Through speaking engagements, his writing, and his advocacy work, Jason strives to be part of the important conversation that encourages everyone – especially men – to speak up, share their stories, and get the help they deserve.
Key Topics Discussed:
Jason's memoir "Starving for Survival" and his journey with orthorexiaStigma around men asking for help and showing vulnerability, leading to reluctance in seeking supportStruggles with processing emotions and identifying them accuratelyInternalized homophobia and societal pressures around sexualityThe power of words and language in shaping perceptionChildhood relationship with food, bullying, and fear of illnessThe hidden nature of eating disorders, the difficulty in recognizing their impact during the active phase, and the long-term effects they can haveAccepting that we don't know everything and being open to learning from others🎙️ Get FREE Audio Training on Autism and Eating Disorders
🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and AnorexiaConnect with Jason:
🏳️🌈 Website
🌀 Instagram
🌐 ANADConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS -
Have you surpassed your target weight in eating disorder recovery? Are you struggling to cope with weight gain and accept your larger body? This podcast episode is for you! Livia Sara explains the science behind body fat overshooting and how to deal with this challenging aspect of ED recovery. You'll learn:
Why it's important to overshoot your weight when recovering from an eating disorderHow long weight overshoot lastsWhat you need to know about Set Point Weight Theory, BMI, and goal weightsHow to lose your overshoot weight in anorexia recoveryMindset shifts to cope with weight gain in eating disorder recovery📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
🍩 Enroll in my course, Extremely Hungry to Completely SatisfiedConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKSMentioned episodes:
👉 Extreme Hunger While Being Weight Restored
👉 The Simple Truth About BMI
👉 Biological Importance of Honoring Extreme Hunger📝 Read the blog post of this episode (with sources)
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Are you worried that your extreme hunger isn't valid because you're already weight restored? You're not alone! I didn't experience physical extreme hunger until I was at the highest weight I'd ever been in my life. Because I was suddenly so hungry, I feared I would gain weight forever if I gave into my extreme hunger at this point in my eating disorder recovery journey. I feared that I was "swinging to the other side" and developing binge eating disorder. If you resonate, you're not going to want to miss this episode! I explain why you have extreme hunger AFTER gaining weight and what you can do to overcome extreme hunger in anorexia recovery.
🍩 Enroll in my course Extremely Hungry to Completely Satisfied
📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
⚖️ The Shocking Truth About BMIConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS📝 Read the blog post of this episode
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Are you afraid that you're "swinging to the other side" and developing binge eating disorder after a restrictive eating disorder such as anorexia or orthorexia? You're not alone, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. One of the most common fears in ED recovery is the fear that honoring extreme hunger will lead you to become addicted to food and thus, become a binge eater. This is definitely a fear I had! In this episode, you'll learn the key difference between extreme hunger and binge eating disorder so you can embark on the recovery path that's right for you.
🍩 Want more help? Grab a copy of my book How to Beat Extreme Hunger
🫶 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here
📖 Download my FREE GUIDE with answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions about extreme hunger!
📝 Read the blog post of this episodeConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS -
Extreme hunger, like many aspects of eating disorder recovery, can be incredibly frightening. As an autistic person that always needs to know the "why" behind concepts so I can take informed action, understanding the science behind extreme hunger was an important part of my ED recovery journey. This episode delves into the role extreme hunger plays in achieving a state of full recovery, including:
What is extreme hunger and when does it happen in eating disorder recovery?Biological reasons people with a history of restriction, such as anorexia or bulimia, experience extreme hungerDifferent types of extreme hunger in ED recovery, including mental hunger, eating-induced hunger, and exercise hunger📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
🫶 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here
📖 Download my FREE GUIDE with answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions about extreme hunger!
📝 Read the blog post of this episodeConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS -
Do you feel like you've lost the ability to restrict in eating disorder recovery? Are you developing binge eating disorder after anorexia because you can't stop eating? In this episode, Livia shares her lived experience of no longer being able to restrict in anorexia recovery and how she overcame the frustrations around this.
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching
📚 Buy my books here
💌 Receive Liv Label Free weekly emailsConnect with Livia:
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The connection between eating disorders and anxiety has been well established, but what about seeing eating disorders as a form of anxiety? In today's episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia Sara chats with Chris Sandel, a nutritionist, coach and eating disorder expert. Chris is the founder and owner of Seven Health, a platform through which he helps people with eating disorders fully recover. Chris is trained in several specialties including Intuitive Eating, Health At Every Size, polyvagal theory, and trauma. He’s originally from Sydney and now lives in the UK with his wife Ali and 6-year-old son Ramsay. Topics discussed:
How addressing anxiety can prevent the development or reemergence of eating disordersThe importance of creating a vision beyond recoveryEmbracing challenges through gradual but repeated exposure to fear foodsEmphasizing the role of love in healing and holistic recovery rather than focusing solely on meal plans and nutritionThe Domino Effect in eating disorder recoveryRecognizing negative thoughts associated with eating disorders as separate from yourself📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group CoachingConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKSConnect with Chris:
🌐 WEBSITE
🎙️PODCAST
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🐾 First 5 Steps Recovery Course -
Eating disorder recovery can be a challenge for autistic folks due to difficulty with change, sensory aspects of weight gain, and the unpredictability around what will "replace" the eating disorder. In this episode, Livia talks about a recent hardship in her life, bringing it into parallel with her past eating disorder. She reflects on how many of her autistic traits manifested as disordered food and movement, and highlights how understanding the underlying neurodivergent traits creates compassion and kindness for neurodiversity-affirming eating disorder recovery.
Key Topics Discussed:
How Mundane Life Events Can Trigger OverstimulationAutistic Difficulties Living with OthersMinimalism and Sensory NeedsSensory Regulation Strategies and Managing TriggersAutistic Black and White Thinking and How It ManifestsHypersensitivity to EnvironmentDifficulties with Cognitive Flexibility and Decision FatigueWanting to Crawl Out of Skin During the Weight Gain ProcessMindset Shifts to Challenge All-or-Nothing ThoughtsCoping with Overwhelm and ProcessingStimming Through Body MovementNeurodivergent Challenges with Spending Money🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia
📚 Create your own Autism and Eating Disorders Book Bundle
👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group CoachingConnect with Livia:
🍩 INSTAGRAM
🌐 WEBSITE
📚 BOOKS - Daha fazla göster
