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.
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You’ll hear about why so many people with eating disorders also meet criteria for PTSD, how trauma can quietly shape the way we relate to food, and why eating disorder behaviors often serve as a form of coping or self-regulation. We also explore what it truly means to be “trauma-informed,” why being triggered isn’t something to fear, and how dissociation can act as a bridge between traumatic experiences and eating disorder symptoms.
Joining me for this powerful conversation is Dr. Giulia Suro—a psychologist and author in Washington, DC who specializes in the intersection of eating disorders and trauma. In addition to her outpatient practice, she is the Director of Research and Clinical Outcomes for Monte Nido, where she oversees the largest IRB-approved research program on eating disorder treatment outcomes. She directs the day-to-day operations of this nationwide program, capturing data on individuals diagnosed with eating disorders across all levels of care. With her team, she has contributed important findings to the International Journal of Eating Disorders, European Eating Disorder Review and Eating Disorders Journal of Treatment and Prevention. She is the author of a highly-acclaimed workbook titled Learning to Thrive and is in the process of writing her second book, The Weight of Pain, set to be published in Spring of 2027.
In this blog, we’re talking about:
The connection between eating disorders and trauma, and why nearly half of people with eating disorders also meet criteria for PTSD.
How eating disorder behaviors can act as avoidance strategies to manage overwhelming feelings linked to trauma.
The difference between trauma and PTSD, and why not every traumatic event leads to PTSD.
The role of dissociation, especially in prolonged trauma, and how it can pave the way for disordered eating patterns.
The challenges of treatment when both trauma and eating disorders are present, and why addressing trauma directly is so important.
What it really means to be “trauma-informed” and how that term has been overused or misunderstood.
Why being triggered isn’t something to fear, but rather an opportunity to practice resilience and agency.
Practical insights for clinicians working with eating disorders, including the importance of thorough trauma assessments.
Encouragement for individuals with lived experience: don’t settle for partial recovery. Find the right support and keep hope alive.
If you’ve ever wondered how trauma and eating disorders intersect, or if you’re looking for practical, compassionate insights for healing, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Tweetable Quotes
“Being triggered is great. Like there's nothing wrong with being triggered, right? Being triggered means you're having a response and I want you to learn that you can feel that response and get through it because you're resilient, you're strong, you have agency, you have skills.” - Dr. Giulia Suro
“All of us are gonna experience traumas over the course of our lifetime. That's baked into the price of being a human being.” - Dr. Giulia Suro
“I think for many people with eating disorders, the eating disorder behaviors become avoidance behaviors.” - Dr. Giulia Suro
“Doing eating disorder work is doing trauma work. We're learning how to be in our body.” - Dr. Giulia Suro
“My biggest fear for anyone with an eating disorder is to sort of settle for three quarters recovery and live a life that's like good enough.” - Dr. Giulia Suro
“Your feelings can't hurt you. Your thoughts can't hurt you. Memories can't hurt you. Like the hurt has passed, that has passed.” - Dr. Giulia Suro
Resources
Follow Dr. Giulia Suro on Instagram
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This episode is sponsored by Hidden River Healing.
Hidden River Healing provides compassionate, residential eating disorder treatment for girls, adolescents, and young women. Their expert clinical team emphasizes family involvement and individualized care in a beautifully designed facility surrounded by nature — a peaceful environment that supports recovery and lasting healing.
Program Highlights:
Specialized care for ages 8 and up, including a dedicated house for Emerging Adults (21+) and Mid-Life Adults
In-network with most commercial insurances
Ability to treat NG tube patients
Learn more: hiddenriverhealing.com/about-us
Follow on Instagram: @hiddenrivertx
Related Episodes
Episode 171. Healing the Hidden Wounds of Disordered Eating with Dr. Katheryn Zerbe
Episode 126. Lying, Deception, and Eating Disorders with Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, FIPA, CEDS-S
Episode 121. The Comparison Trap and Eating Disorders
Episode 115. How To Recover When Everyone Around You Is Dieting
Episode 105. The Root of Your Emotional Eating
Episode 57. The Connection Between Trauma and Eating Disorders with Heather Ferguson, LCSW
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Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
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