Navigating Autistic Experience, Eating Disorders, and Seeking Safety

Autism and eating disorders have a complex relationship that until more recent years has been overlooked often resulting in traumatic approaches to recovery and a misunderstanding of the experience and mindset of Autistic individuals struggling with disordered eating.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, talk with Livia Sara, a recognized autism advocate in the eating disorder recovery space, author, and podcast host, to dissect the intricate relationships between autism, eating disorders, and the neurodivergent experience. Together, they share personal experiences and professional insights, diving into a conversation that's both deeply personal and universally relevant.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Gain a deeper understanding of how eating disorders manifest differently in the neurodivergent community, including unique challenges and how Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) can be mistaken for eating disorders.
2. Explore the power of autonomy and control in the context of both fueling disordered eating and being the deciding factor in recovery, which offers a better understanding of eating disorders within the neurodivergent framework.
3. Hear personal firsthand accounts of both struggles with and recovery from eating disorders, addiction, and other unhealthy coping mechanisms in an effort to seek control of a body that feels foreign.

We hope this conversation will offer more depth and understanding of the neurodivergent experience and disordered eating in supporting healing and empowerment.

More about Livia Sara:

Livia is an autism advocate and eating disorder survivor who now helps others overcome their own mental barriers through her courses, coaching programs, and books. She is the creator behind the blog livlabelfree.com and the host of The Liv Label Free Podcast. Livia is a lifelong learner who loves listening to audiobooks, going on walks, and reading the latest science on all things neurodiversity and eating disorders!

• Website: livlabelfree.com
• Books Website: livlabelfreebooks.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/livlabelfree
• Podcast: livlabelfree.com/podcasts/liv-label-free-autism-and-eating-disorder-recovery

Article and infographic collaboration between Liv and Dr. Neff:

• Anorexia vs. ARFID Venn Diagram: neurodivergentinsights.com/misdiagnosis-monday/anorexia-and-arfid

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✨ The Autistic Burnout Workbook:

I'm Dr. Megan Anna Neff, owner of Neurodivergent Insights, and I'm excited to announce the release of my book, The Autistic Burnout Workbook. I'm running a special deal for those who support my work. After you order, you will get a coupon code that you can use toward our store for the same amount. For example, the workbook costs $18.99, so after purchase, you'd get a credit of $18.99 to use in our digital shop or in our Etsy shop, which gets you another digital workbook of your choosing for free. This is technically a pre-order promotion that was originally set to end on March 10th, but for listeners of the podcast, I'm going to extend this deal, so if you buy the book in the next month, you can also redeem this special. Thank you for supporting my work. It means so much to me and I hope that you will find this a helpful resource for you as you continue to build a life that is a bit more resilient to autistic burnout.

• Use the following link to grab this offer: neurodivergentinsights.notion.site/17ea17a4bb8b8034ab2bf9b03c560a64
• After this deal ends, you can use this link to purchase this workbook: simonandschuster.com/books/The-Autistic-Burnout-Workbook/Megan-Anna-Neff/9781507223062

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💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground

Divergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Autistic Burnout Workbook

I'm Dr. Megan Anna Neff, owner of Neurodivergent Insights, and I'm excited to announce the release of my book, The Autistic Burnout Workbook. I'm running a special deal for those who support my work. After you order, you will get a coupon code that you can use toward our store for the same amount. For example, the workbook costs $18.99, so after purchase, you'd get a credit of $18.99 to use in our digital shop or in our Etsy shop, which gets you another digital workbook of your choosing for free. This is technically a pre-order promotion that was originally set to end on March 10th, but for listeners of the podcast, I'm going to extend this deal, so if you buy the book in the next month, you can also redeem this special. Thank you for supporting my work. It means so much to me and I hope that you will find this a helpful resource for you as you continue to build a life that is a bit more resilient to autistic burnout. Use the following link to grab this offer: https://neurodivergentinsights.notion.site/17ea17a4bb8b8034ab2bf9b03c560a64 After this deal ends, you can use this link to purchase this workbook: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Autistic-Burnout-Workbook/Megan-Anna-Neff/9781507223062