Margo White, an Accredited Clinical Nutritionist and proud neurodivergent individual, shares her insights on the intersection of eating disorders and neurodivergence. She discusses the importance of tailoring nutrition approaches to meet the unique needs of neurodivergent folks. Margo explores challenges like ARFID, sensory processing differences, and executive functioning issues. She draws from her own experiences and offers strategies for parents and individuals seeking better relationships with food, emphasizing compassion and flexibility in dietary practices.
Margo discusses the importance of understanding neurodivergence in treating eating disorders, emphasizing that tailored approaches are necessary for effective support.
Individuals with neurodivergence face specific challenges with food related to sensory processing and emotional connections, requiring compassion and understanding in nutritional guidance.
Parent advocacy is crucial for neurodivergent children, as educating others and prioritizing the child's unique needs fosters a more supportive environment.
Deep dives
Building a Compassionate Inner Voice
Having a compassionate inner voice and showing up for oneself is essential for personal growth and well-being. Committing to regular practices, even for just five to ten minutes a day, can significantly impact one's ability to regulate emotions and reduce stress. The Calm app provides a variety of tools, such as sleep stories and meditations, to support individuals in fostering this commitment to themselves. Engaging in these practices allows users to create dedicated time for rest and reflection, reinforcing the importance of self-care.
Understanding Neurodivergence
Neurodivergence represents natural variations in human cognition and requires support, accommodations, and compassion. Acknowledging neurodivergence can lead to personal healing, self-compassion, and a better understanding of one’s unique cognitive processes. Explaining neurodivergence as a valuable difference highlights the importance of acceptance and the requirement for tailored support mechanisms. This understanding can positively impact various life domains, including education and relationships.
Emotional Relationship with Food
Cultivating a healthy relationship with food is crucial for individuals, particularly those who are neurodivergent. Experiences of food trauma, shame around eating habits, and societal pressures often complicate this relationship. Psychologists are increasingly recognizing the significance of sensory experiences and emotional connections to food, allowing for more personalized and effective nutritional guidance. Emphasizing validation of individual preferences and needs can help break down the stigma associated with eating differences and promote a sense of safety around food.
Challenges Faced by Neurodivergent Individuals
Neurodivergent individuals often face unique challenges related to sensory processing, executive functioning, and interoceptive awareness. These challenges can manifest in difficulties with meal planning, preparation, and consuming food in social environments. The pressure to conform to traditional eating norms can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and overwhelm for these individuals. Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing compassionate support strategies that accommodate their unique needs.
Advocacy and Support for Families
Parents of neurodivergent children often experience judgment and scrutiny regarding their children's eating behaviors, making advocacy vital. Educating family members and friends on the child's sensory needs can foster a more supportive environment. Scripted responses can help parents address unsolicited comments while maintaining a respectful demeanor. Ultimately, prioritizing the child's well-being over societal expectations empowers both children and parents to embrace their differences confidently.
We are thrilled to interview Margo White this week on working with eating disorders in the neurodivergent population. Margo is an Accredited Clinical Nutritionist, proudly neurodivergent AuDHDer, mother of two, and founder of Whole Body Nutrition. Margo helps Neurodivergent folk of all ages, genders, and backgrounds to cultivate an emotionally healthy relationship with food. A relationship that understands, and accepts that there are different ways of eating, and that validates all sensory feeding differences. Margo draws from a neuro-affirming, trauma informed, and lived experience lens.
In this episode we cover:
Margo’s own path to discovering her neurodivergence and how this was integral to developing her current clinical focus.
Why it is so important for a person’s neurodivergence to be taken into account when treating eating disorders.
Can you ‘cure’ neurodivergence with a specific diet??? (spoiler alert: no).
Some of the key challenges that neurodivergent folk can have with food and eating, what drives these challenges (including sensory processing differences, executive functioning, interoception, burnout and motivation, + more), and what are some strategies to ease these friction points.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – what is this and how does Margo approach treatment of ARFID with her neurodivergent clients.
Anorexia and Binge Eating Disorder in neurodivergent folk.
Margo’s lived experience of an Eating Disorder.
Margo’s advice on how parents of neurodivergent kids with atypical eating can best advocate for their kids’ needs, and how adults can advocate for their own needs.
Margo also mentioned Naureen Hunani’s work on neurodivergence and eating – find her on Instagram @rds_for_neurodiversity
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