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Understanding Disordered Eating
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Understanding
Disordered Eating Podcast
Each week we explore the deeper meaning of our relationship with food and our body. I interview experts in the field of eating disorders and psychoanalysis to bring you the answers about why you do the things you do and bring you one step closer to a healthier relationship with food and yourself.
PCOS, Eating Disorders, and GLP-1's with Julie Duffy Dillon, MS, RDN, NCC, LDN, CEDS-C
If you’ve ever wondered why PCOS feels so confusing, why the symptoms don’t line up, why the advice is contradictory, why the solutions feel like guesswork, you’re not imagining it. PCOS is one of the most misunderstood conditions out there, and the internet has not helped. Everywhere you turn, there’s another promise to “balance your hormones,” another restrictive plan, another fear-based warning about what will happen if you don’t get it “right.”
What If I Relapse? Did I Fail?
Healing isn’t supposed to be perfect or linear, and when we stumble, it doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It’s a moment, one that can actually offer us valuable information about what still needs care, attention, and compassion.
Will I Ever Feel Normal Around Food Again?
In this week’s episode, we’re unpacking what it actually means to feel “normal” around food, and why that word can be both confusing and powerful. Because when most of us say we want to feel normal, what we really mean is that we want freedom. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from rules. Freedom to trust ourselves again. We’ll talk about how to rebuild that trust, how structure can be the surprising foundation for flexibility, and why connecting with your body, and with other people, is such a vital part of the healing process.
Trauma and Eating Disorders with Giulia Suro, Ph.D., CEDS
The holidays are a time of joy, connection, and celebration. But they can also stir up difficult emotions, memories, and patterns, especially if you’ve experienced trauma or struggled with disordered eating. In this episode, we’re diving into the complex and often misunderstood relationship between eating disorders and trauma.
How to Quiet the Food Noise
You’re in a meeting, at school, or out with friends, and instead of focusing on what’s in front of you, all you can think about is what you’ll eat next, what you shouldn’t have eaten, or what you’ll allow yourself later. That constant mental chatter, what many call food noise, can be exhausting.
What Does Treatment for an Eating Disorder Actually Look Like?
In this episode, I break down what treatment can look like when someone is struggling in the “middle” of the spectrum. Not in a medical crisis, but still needing real support to heal their relationship with food. We’ll explore the three core pillars of treatment (what I call the “three-legged stool”), the role each professional plays, and why collaboration across the team matters so much.
Body Image with Sydney Greene, MS, RDN
In this episode of Understanding Disordered Eating, I’m joined by my good friend and colleague, Sydney Green, MS, RD, to unpack the truth about body image: what it really means, how it shows up in daily life, and why it’s so intertwined with our relationship to food.
Your Eating Disorder Diagnosis Doesn't Matter
But when it comes to actually healing, when it comes to understanding the deep, messy, human experience of struggling with food and body image, a checklist of symptoms isn't going to cut it. Many often question whether they’re “sick enough” or feel like their struggles don’t fit into a neat little box. So let’s talk about it. This week, we’re diving into why eating disorders are way more complex than the labels we slap on them—and why real recovery requires thinking outside the diagnosis.
Tools for Dissociation
In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into practical tools to deal with dissociation —the kind of techniques that are handy to have when you feel like your brain and body feel like they’re speaking two different languages.
What People Got Incredibly Wrong About Eating Disorders
In this episode, I’m talking about how the media’s (and beyond) portrayal is not only wildly inaccurate but also dangerously misleading. That “sick enough” myth? It’s real. And let’s be honest, it’s all kinds of messed up. I’m unraveling the reason why those 19-year-old, emaciated models aren’t the majority, and how most people don’t fit neatly into a category.
Women's Hormones, Body Image, and Facts with Dr. Esther Rollhaus
We’re diving into the whirlwind of women’s health across the lifespan, from puberty (hello, acne and mood swings) to pregnancy (goodbye, all those shoes that are now too small) and beyond. Spoiler alert: expecting your body to stay the same through all this? Delusional. This isn’t just about biology. It’s about expectations. Why are we so hard on our bodies for doing what they’re literally designed to do?
Cracking the Confidence Code: Part 2
Confidence isn’t about magically feeling good 24/7. It’s about learning how to trust yourself, even when you feel like a mess. We’ll be unpacking the "5 C's of Confidence" — Compassion, Curiosity, Courage, Connection, and, of course, Confidence — and showing you how to turn anxiety-fueled meltdowns into moments of growth.
The Secret Sauce for Building Confidence: Part 1
In this episode, I’m diving into what actually builds confidence: relationships. Real ones. Consistent, validating, non-judgy, "I-got-you" type of relationship. The kind that reminds you you’re worthy, even when you’re sporting your least flattering sweatpants.
5 Tips for Summer and Body Image/"Out of Control" Food Struggles
There’s an often misunderstood world of intuitive eating. Sure, it’s all about “all foods fit” and “no food rules,” but let’s get real—sometimes you need a bit of structure, especially when that party-size bag of chips starts whispering your name.
Sex and Eating Disorders with Dr. Judith Brisman
We often get stuck in the food and body image loop when discussing eating disorders. But let's be real, it's so much more than that! Our relationship with food and our bodies spills over into every aspect of our lives, especially anything that connects with our desires, including our sexual desires and intimacy.
Postpartum, Body Image, and Eating Disorders with Pam Skop LMHC, CEDS, RYT
As a mother myself, I've experienced firsthand the pressures of bounce-back culture. It's everywhere - from social media ads to casual conversations. The expectation to quickly return to your pre-pregnancy body after carrying a human for 40 weeks and giving birth is, quite frankly, absurd.
How the ED People Are Pushing the Masses Away
I firmly believe that the key lies in early detection and prevention. Whether you're a psychiatrist pediatrician, therapist, or dietitian, your ability to recognize the early signs of disordered eating and intervene can truly make a world of difference. It's about becoming part of the solution, steering individuals away from the brink of despair, and towards a path of healing and recovery.
The Beauty Ideal with Nechami Tennenbaum, MBA
When we talk about eating disorders, the conversation often revolves around body image – from the harmful effects of body shaming to the empowering message of body positivity. But there's another aspect of this conversation that often goes overlooked: beauty ideals.
Eating Disorders Don’t Have a Look
Here’s the thing, eating disorders don’t have a look. It’s a myth that eating disorders are typically portrayed by a “skinny” individual. But the reality is far from that stereotype. Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of their outward appearance. They don't discriminate based on size, shape, or weight.
Body Positivity is a Farce
What comes to mind when you hear the term “body positivity”? First off, it’s become a mainstream concept. Body neutrality, all foods fit, and body positivity are all terms to describe a phase of coming to terms with your body. However, we have to recognize that this approach may not resonate with everyone seeking help. While we shift towards inclusivity, we also inadvertently exclude individuals who may not be ready or comfortable with these concepts. These individuals hear these terms and think “Nope, I want nothing to do with this” and run from treatment.
Meet Your Host
Rachelle is a licensed mental health counselor, eating disorder and analytic therapist.
Rachelle works with clients in New York City and Brooklyn to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.