Dr. Marianne-Land: An Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast

Episodios

• What to Expect From ARFID Treatment: A Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned, Trauma-Informed Approach 26.06.2026 14m

  Learn what to expect from ARFID treatment using a neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed approach. Discover how autism, ADHD, sensory processing, trauma, and autonomy shape effective ARFID recovery.
• Anorexia & Bulimia Recovery: 5 Ways to Manage Eating Overwhelm in Long-Term Eating Disorders 24.06.2026 14m

  Learn 5 practical ways to manage eating overwhelm in long-term anorexia and bulimia recovery. Discover compassionate strategies to reduce food anxiety, support your nervous system, and make eating feel more manageable.
• Late-Diagnosed Autism & ADHD: Why So Many Girls Get Missed With Jamie Roberts, LMFT @neurodivergenttherapist 22.06.2026 32m

  Learn why so many girls go undiagnosed with autism and ADHD, how masking hides neurodivergence, and what neurodivergent-affirming care looks like with Jamie Roberts, LMFT.
• Why Eating Feels Impossible: Sensory Overload, Trauma, ARFID, & Food Restriction 19.06.2026 16m

  Have you ever looked at a plate of food, known you needed to eat, and still felt like your brain and body simply couldn't do it? Many people assume this experience reflects a lack of willpower or motivation. In reality, sensory overload, trauma, ARFID, and food restriction can all make eating feel genuinely inaccessible. When your nervous system stays in survival mode, even choosing, preparing, and tolerating food can become overwhelming. In this episode, I explain why eating can feel impossible, how sensory processing and trauma influence appetite and food intake, and why restriction often creates a cycle that makes eating even harder. I also share the fictional story of Jasper to illustrate how nervous system overload, chronic stress, and inadequate nutrition can quietly reinforce one another. If you've ever wondered why food feels so much harder for you than it seems to be for everyone else, this conversation offers a compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming perspective. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN You'll learn why eating requires much more than hunger and willpower, and how sensory processing, executive functioning, and nervous system regulation all influence your ability to nourish yourself. I explain how trauma can shape eating patterns long after stressful experiences have ended and why many people develop food avoidance without consciously trying to restrict. I also discuss the overlap between ARFID, restrictive eating disorders, autism, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, and chronic stress. Finally, I share practical ways to approach eating with curiosity instead of shame so you can better understand what your nervous system may be communicating. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR This episode is for adults and teens with ARFID, anorexia, atypical anorexia, or other restrictive eating disorders. It's also for neurodivergent people with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing differences who find eating exhausting or overwhelming. Parents, caregivers, therapists, dietitians, physicians, and other providers will also gain a deeper understanding of why food avoidance often reflects nervous system overload rather than defiance or a lack of motivation. CONTENT CAUTION This episode includes discussion of ARFID, anorexia, restrictive eating disorders, food restriction, trauma, sensory overload, and food avoidance. TAKEAWAYS Eating difficulties don't always begin with body image concerns or intentional dieting. Sometimes a nervous system carrying chronic stress, trauma, or sensory overload simply doesn't have enough capacity to manage the complex task of eating. Food restriction can also become both a consequence of these struggles and a factor that keeps them going. As nutrition decreases, flexibility often narrows, sensory sensitivity may increase, and eating can become even more difficult. Understanding that cycle allows us to replace self-blame with curiosity and build recovery from a place of compassion rather than criticism. RELATED EPISODES What Is Mechanical Eating? Pros, Cons, & How It Can Work When Eating Feels Hard (ARFID, Binge Eating, Restriction) 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. The Connection Between Unresolved Trauma & Long-Lasting Eating Disorders (Content Caution) on Apple & Spotify. RESOURCES If you or someone you love struggles with ARFID or selective eating, check out my self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating Course. I created it for adults, parents, caregivers, and providers who want a neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed approach to treatment and recovery. To learn more about working with me for eating disorder therapy in San Diego, California or virtually throughout California and Washington, D.C., or coaching worldwide, visit my website at drmariannemiller.com. CONNECT WITH DR. MARIANNE MILLER If
• ADHD & Binge Eating: Why You Feel Like a Bottomless Pit (And Why Traditional CBT Often Fails) 17.06.2026 15m

  Why do some people with ADHD feel like no amount of food is ever enough? Why can you finish a satisfying meal and still find yourself searching the pantry, thinking about dessert, or feeling like something is missing? In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore the often-overlooked connection between ADHD and binge eating disorder (BED). I explain why many ADHDers describe feeling like a "bottomless pit" around food, why satisfaction can remain elusive even when physical hunger has passed, and why traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) doesn't always address the executive functioning and nervous system challenges that drive binge eating. Using the fictional case example of Zoe, we look beyond willpower and self-control to better understand how ADHD can shape reward processing, food thoughts, understimulation, sensory needs, and the search for regulation. If you've ever wondered why your relationship with food feels different from what most recovery advice describes, this episode offers a compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming perspective. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN You'll learn why ADHD and binge eating frequently occur together, how executive functioning differences can influence eating behavior, and why the feeling of "never being satisfied" isn't always about physical hunger. I also discuss why food often becomes a source of stimulation after mentally demanding days, how shame keeps many people stuck, and why ADHD-informed eating disorder treatment may look very different from traditional CBT. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR This episode is for adults with ADHD, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, chronic food thoughts, or food noise. It's also for anyone who has worked on emotional eating, stopped dieting, or completed eating disorder treatment but still feels confused by persistent urges to eat. Therapists, dietitians, and other eating disorder professionals who work with neurodivergent clients will also find this discussion helpful. IN THIS EPISODE We explore why binge eating isn't always driven by restriction, how ADHD changes the way many people experience reward and satisfaction, why executive functioning matters in eating disorder recovery, and what clinicians often miss when they focus only on changing thoughts or behaviors. I also explain how approaching binge eating with curiosity instead of self-criticism can open the door to more effective, sustainable healing. RELATED EPISODES 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. Eating Disorders & ADHD: Neurodivergent-Affirming Recovery With Taylor Ashley, RP @taylorashleytherapy on Apple and Spotify. RESOURCES If you're looking for additional support, check out my Binge Eating Recovery Membership, where you'll find practical tools, education, and guidance through a neurodivergent-affirming, weight-neutral lens. You can also explore my ARFID & Selective Eating course, blog, podcast archive, and additional recovery resources at www.drmariannemiller.com. WORK WITH DR. MARIANNE MILLER I'm Dr. Marianne Miller, PhD, LMFT, an eating disorder therapist specializing in ADHD, binge eating disorder, ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming care. I provide virtual therapy throughout California, TWashington, DC, as well as coaching worldwide. If this episode helped you better understand your relationship with food, please follow Dr. Marianne-Land, leave a rating or review on Apple and Spotify Podcasts, and share this episode with someone who has spent years wondering why food never seems like enough.
• What If You're Not Broken? Neurodivergence, Sanism, Eating Disorders, & Radical Acceptance With Shira Collings @threadandthreshold.therapy 15.06.2026 33m

  What happens when you stop viewing yourself through a pathology lens and start seeing your differences as part of your identity instead of evidence that something is wrong with you? In this thought-provoking conversation, I sit down with Shira Collings, LPC, a neurodiversity-affirming, fat-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, disability justice-aligned therapist, to explore neurodivergence as a social identity and how that perspective can transform the way we think about eating disorders, mental health, and recovery. Together, we discuss the concept of sanism, the oppression faced by people whose minds fall outside societal expectations of "normal," and how shame often develops when people internalize messages that they are broken, defective, or in need of fixing. We also examine the overlap between neurodiversity, anti-fatness, eating disorder recovery, and disability justice. Shira shares their personal journey with neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self-acceptance. We discuss why many people identify as neurodivergent without pursuing formal diagnosis, how neurodivergence can function as a cultural identity, and why community often plays a powerful role in healing. We also unpack radical acceptance, harm reduction, and the limitations of all-or-nothing recovery narratives. Instead of focusing on perfection, we explore how people can reduce suffering, increase self-compassion, and build lives that align with their values. In This Episode, We Discuss Neurodivergence as a social identity rather than a diagnosis The origins of the neurodiversity paradigm What sanism is and how it affects mental health care Self-diagnosis, formal diagnosis, and personal identity The intersection of neurodiversity, eating disorders, and anti-fatness How shame fuels both mental health struggles and eating disorders Radical acceptance and self-compassion Harm reduction approaches in eating disorder recovery Why recovery does not need to be all-or-nothing How disability justice can reshape the way we support neurodivergent people About Shira Collings Shira Collings, LPC (she/they), is a feminist, neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, fat-affirming, and disability justice-aligned psychotherapist. They specialize in reproductive mental health, eating disorders, body image concerns, trauma, grief, and loss. Shira supports clients in healing from internalized and systemic oppression while building lives that align with their values. Follow Shira on Instagram: @threadandthreshold.therapy Website: threadandthreshold.com Who This Episode Is For This episode is for neurodivergent people, eating disorder survivors, therapists, advocates, caregivers, and anyone who has ever wondered whether they have spent too much of their life trying to fix parts of themselves that were never broken. Key Takeaway Healing does not always come from becoming someone different. Sometimes healing begins when you stop treating yourself like a problem to solve and start approaching yourself with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. Related Episodes Why Eating Still Breaks Down for Neurodivergent People With Long-Term Eating Disorders via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking, Embodiment, & Trust: A Neurodivergent Approach to Eating Disorder Recovery With Dr. Emma Offord @divergentlives via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking in Eating Disorder Recovery: What Neurodivergent People Need to Know About Safety & Healing via Apple & Spotify. Autism & Anorexia: When Masking Looks Like Restriction, & Recovery Feels Unsafe via Apple & Spotify. Recovering Again: Navigating Eating Disorders After a Late Neurodivergent Diagnosis (Part 1) With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW @edadhd_therapist via Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. I provide therapy in California and Washington, DC, as well as coaching and educational reso
• Is ARFID Lifelong? What We Know About Recovery, Treatment, & Hope 12.06.2026 13m

  Have you ever wondered whether ARFID is something a person lives with forever? It's one of the most common questions people ask after an ARFID diagnosis, yet the answer is rarely as straightforward as people hope. Adults with ARFID, parents of children with ARFID, and even clinicians often want to know what recovery really looks like, whether meaningful change is possible, and how neurodivergence influences the long-term course of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne Miller explores the question, "Is ARFID lifelong?" through a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed lens. She examines how conversations about ARFID recovery often become oversimplified and why many people focus on the wrong markers when trying to determine whether treatment is working. The discussion moves beyond food variety alone and considers broader questions about quality of life, flexibility, self-understanding, sensory processing, and participation in meaningful life experiences. Is ARFID Lifelong? Many people assume there are only two possible outcomes: either ARFID completely disappears or nothing changes. The reality is often far more nuanced. Dr. Marianne discusses why the future cannot be predicted by a diagnosis alone and how growth, adaptation, treatment, accommodations, and self-understanding can shape a person's relationship with food over time. What Does ARFID Recovery Look Like? Recovery from ARFID does not always fit traditional eating disorder narratives. In this episode, Dr. Marianne explores how recovery may involve reduced distress around food, increased flexibility, improved nutrition, greater participation in social experiences, and less time spent managing food-related anxiety. She also examines why quality of life deserves a central place in conversations about recovery. ARFID, Autism, ADHD, and Neurodivergence ARFID frequently overlaps with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, OCD, anxiety, chronic illness, and other neurodivergent experiences. Understanding these intersections can dramatically change how people view treatment, accommodations, and long-term outcomes. Dr. Marianne discusses why neurodivergent-affirming care matters and why recovery may look different from person to person. Why the Question Matters For many people, the question "Is ARFID lifelong?" is not simply about food. It is often about identity, hope, relationships, travel, family experiences, social connection, and the desire to spend less mental energy managing meals. Dr. Marianne explores the emotional weight behind this question and why understanding the future can feel so important after years of struggle. In This Episode, You'll Learn You'll learn why ARFID recovery is rarely a simple yes-or-no answer, how sensory processing and neurodivergence influence treatment outcomes, why quality of life matters alongside food variety, and how people can experience meaningful growth even when challenges remain. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of why conversations about ARFID often benefit from curiosity, flexibility, and a broader definition of recovery. Related 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. Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify. Learn More About ARFID If you're looking for neurodivergent-affirming support for ARFID and selective eating, check out Dr. Marianne Miller's self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating Course. Designed for adults with ARFID, parents, caregivers, and providers, the course explores sensory processing, nervous system regulation, autism, ADHD, family dynamics, food flexibility, accommodations, and practical strategies
• Family Food Rules & Body Image Issues: How Diet Culture Gets Passed Down Through Generations 10.06.2026 13m

  Family food rules, diet culture, and body image beliefs often pass through generations. Learn how family dynamics can contribute to eating disorders and what supports lasting recovery.
• Body Image, TikTok, & Eating Disorder Prevention With Jenny Tomei @askjenup 08.06.2026 35m

  Children are skipping lunch to avoid judgment. Jenny Tomei discusses body image, TikTok, food shame, GLP-1s, and eating disorder prevention.
• Night Eating Syndrome: How Restriction & Masking Fuel Nighttime Eating 05.06.2026 19m

  Do you spend the entire day feeling in control around food, only to find yourself eating far more than expected at night? If nighttime eating leaves you feeling confused, ashamed, or convinced that you lack willpower, this episode may offer a different perspective. Many people with Night Eating Syndrome focus on what happens after dinner without realizing that the story often begins much earlier. Delayed meals, subtle restriction, chronic stress, ADHD, autism, masking, trauma, sensory overwhelm, and nervous system exhaustion can all shape eating patterns that become more intense in the evening. When we look only at nighttime eating, we often miss the conditions that created it. In this episode of the Dr. Marianne-Land Podcast, Dr. Marianne Miller explores Night Eating Syndrome through a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed lens. She discusses why nighttime eating is often a predictable response to unmet physiological and emotional needs rather than a sign of laziness, lack of discipline, or personal failure. Understanding Night Eating Syndrome Night Eating Syndrome, often called NES, involves consuming a significant portion of daily food intake during the evening hours or after waking during the night. Many people with Night Eating Syndrome notice little appetite earlier in the day and increasing hunger as the day progresses. Although Night Eating Syndrome can overlap with binge eating disorder, the two experiences are not identical. Understanding the distinction can help people find more effective support and avoid treatments that fail to address the underlying drivers of nighttime eating. Why Nighttime Eating Often Starts Earlier in the Day One of the most overlooked aspects of Night Eating Syndrome is the role of daytime deprivation. Restriction does not always look like skipping meals or intentionally dieting. Sometimes it shows up as rushing through meals, ignoring hunger cues, eating foods that never feel satisfying, relying on caffeine to suppress appetite, or becoming so busy that nourishment consistently falls to the bottom of the priority list. Over time, the body responds to those unmet needs. For many people, nighttime becomes the point when hunger, exhaustion, stress, and emotional depletion can no longer be ignored. ADHD, Autism, Masking, and Eating at Night Neurodivergent adults often face unique challenges around food and eating. ADHD can make meal planning, meal timing, and hunger awareness more difficult. Autism can influence sensory experiences, interoception, routines, and food preferences. Many neurodivergent people also spend significant energy masking throughout the day, navigating sensory demands, social expectations, and executive functioning challenges. By evening, the nervous system may be depleted. Food can become a source of grounding, comfort, regulation, predictability, stimulation, or relief. This episode explores how neurodivergence can shape nighttime eating patterns in ways that are frequently misunderstood within traditional eating disorder treatment models. The Connection Between Restriction and Night Eating Syndrome Many people blame nighttime eating for their distress while overlooking the role of restriction. Whether restriction stems from dieting, weight stigma, food rules, sensory challenges, executive functioning barriers, or chronic stress, the body often responds by increasing attention to food and hunger later in the day. Rather than viewing nighttime eating as evidence of a lack of control, Dr. Marianne encourages listeners to consider what their body may be trying to communicate. Weight Stigma, Diet Culture, and Shame Diet culture frequently rewards people for disconnecting from hunger and ignoring physical needs. At the same time, society often condemns the very eating behaviors that emerge when deprivation accumulates. This contradiction leaves many people feeling trapped in cycles of guilt and self-criticism. In this episode, Dr. Marianne examines how anti-fat
• When Your Eating Disorder Becomes Your Identity: Anorexia Recovery & Finding Yourself Again 03.06.2026 18m

  What happens when anorexia no longer feels like something you struggle with and starts feeling like who you are? Many people with long-term anorexia, so-called "atypical" anorexia, and restrictive eating disorders fear recovery for reasons that go far beyond food. They worry about losing structure, purpose, safety, achievement, or even their sense of self. In this episode, I explore the powerful connection between anorexia and identity, why recovery can feel emotionally disorienting, and how people begin rebuilding a life that feels larger than the eating disorder. Whether you've lived with anorexia for years, support someone in recovery, or work in the eating disorder field, this conversation offers a compassionate look at one of the most overlooked barriers to healing. Why Anorexia Can Become Part of Your Identity I explain how long-term restrictive eating disorders often become intertwined with self-worth, achievement, emotional regulation, relationships, and daily routines. I also discuss why recovery can feel like losing a familiar version of yourself, even when you desperately want freedom. The Hidden Fear Behind Anorexia Recovery Many people assume that food is the hardest part of recovery. While nutritional rehabilitation matters, identity loss often creates an equally powerful challenge. I explore why letting go of anorexia can trigger grief, uncertainty, and fear, especially when the eating disorder has shaped your life for years. How Neurodivergence, Trauma, and Oppression Shape Eating Disorders I discuss how autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, trauma, perfectionism, and chronic stress can influence restrictive eating patterns. I also examine how social pressures around thinness, productivity, compliance, and self-sacrifice affect women, queer people, trans people, people of color, disabled people, immigrants, fat people, and other marginalized communities. A Case Example: When Recovery Feels Like Losing Yourself Through the story of Angela, a composite case example, I illustrate how anorexia can become a trusted coping system and why recovery often requires building safety, flexibility, and self-trust rather than simply eliminating symptoms. Rebuilding Identity Beyond the Eating Disorder Recovery involves much more than changing eating behaviors. It often includes discovering values, interests, relationships, boundaries, creativity, and sources of meaning that exist outside the eating disorder. I share practical ways people begin reconnecting with themselves while navigating the uncertainty that recovery can bring. Key Takeaways Anorexia can become deeply intertwined with identity, especially after years of living with the disorder. Fear of recovery often reflects fear of losing safety, predictability, or self-understanding. Grief can be a normal part of healing and does not mean you want to stay sick. People in all body sizes can experience anorexia and restrictive eating disorders. Recovery creates opportunities to build a life that feels larger, richer, and more flexible than the eating disorder. Related Episodes The Quiet Places Where Anorexia Meets Identity & Expression on Apple & Spotify. “Slips” in Eating Disorder Recovery in 2026: Why Setbacks Are Part of Progress, Not Failure (With Mallary Tenore Tarpley, MFA) on Apple & Spotify. Chronic Eating Disorders in 2026: What Hope Can Actually Look Like on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you are looking for support with anorexia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, bulimia, chronic eating disorders, or neurodivergent eating challenges, I would love to help. I provide eating disorder therapy for clients in California and Washington, D.C., along with coaching services worldwide. My practice specializes in neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, weight-neutral care for adults, teens, and families. Learn more at www.drmariannemiller.com or connect with me on Instagram @drmariannemiller.
• After 14 Years of Binge Eating: What Finally Helped Me Heal (With Deb Elbaz) 01.06.2026 34m

  After 14 years of binge eating, one woman shares her recovery story, the role of spirituality, and what finally helped her heal and find freedom.
• When an Eating Disorder Feels Lifelong: Finding Hope Beyond Full Recovery Narratives 29.05.2026 18m

  Chronic eating disorders, ARFID, anorexia, and recovery grief. Dr. Marianne Miller explores hope, neurodivergence, and healing beyond perfection.
• When You Have a Restrictive Eating Disorder Like Anorexia or ARFID: How To Manage Nervous System Overwhelm 27.05.2026 16m

  Restrictive eating recovery, anxiety, ARFID, autism, and nervous system regulation. When should you protect your nervous system vs. push through food fear?
• CONTENT CAUTION: Eating Disorders & Trauma Recovery With Debbie Saroufim: When Healing Brings Buried Pain to the Surface 25.05.2026 30m

  Trauma, eating disorders, PTSD symptoms, EMDR, and body image. Debbie Saroufim joins Dr. Marianne Miller to discuss trauma recovery after survival mode.
• Anorexia in Higher-Weight Bodies: Hidden Restriction, Misdiagnosis, & What Gets Missed 22.05.2026 14m

  Anorexia in higher-weight bodies often gets missed. Dr. Marianne explores atypical anorexia, hidden restriction, weight bias, medical risks, and eating disorder misdiagnosis.
• You’re High-Functioning. You’re Still Struggling With Food: The Eating Disorders No One Sees. 20.05.2026 13m

  High-functioning eating disorders often go unnoticed. Dr. Marianne explores anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, restrictive eating, neurodivergence, masking, and executive functioning challenges.
• Eating Disorders in 2026: ARFID, Diet Culture, Identity, & the Pressure to Be Thin With Lisa Jimenez, LMHC 18.05.2026 31m

  ARFID, diet culture, identity, and the pressure to be thin in 2026. Lisa Jimenez, LMHC, joins Dr. Marianne to discuss eating disorders, social media, neurodivergence, queer identity, body image, and recovery.
• OCD & Eating Disorders: Why Food Rules, Rituals, & “Not Feeling Right” Take Over 15.05.2026 16m

  Explore the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, including food rules, rituals, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, ARFID, and neurodivergent recovery.
• Does Rejection Ruin Your Whole Day? Here's One Reason Why: RSD, ADHD, & Eating Disorders 13.05.2026 14m

  Why does rejection feel unbearable for some people? Dr. Marianne explores RSD, ADHD, eating disorders, emotional eating, restriction, shame spirals, and nervous system overwhelm.