Today I’m joined by Julia, my former 1-1 coaching client and now my right-hand person behind the scenes at Liv Label Free! In this episode, Julia shares her story for the first time: from feeling misunderstood and struggling within the healthcare system to finding clarity, self-understanding, and a completely different way of relating to herself. Together, we talk about eating disorder treatment, neurodivergence, and what actually creates lasting change.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Julia’s journey and how she and Livia ended up working together
• Why traditional treatment often doesn’t work for neurodivergent people
• What MFT (Multi Family Therapy) is, and why it felt traumatizing for Julia
• The moment Julia discovered she’s autistic
• Why autonomy is so important for neurodivergent people in eating disorder recovery
• How 1-1 coaching with Livia changed everything for Julia

🫶 Work with Livia: https://www.livlabelfree.com/coaching

📚 Buy Livia’s books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/

💗 Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livlabelfree/ and https://www.instagram.com/juuls_healingjourney/

Most eating disorder professionals overlook autism. Yet even if they do recognize it, there’s a gap in understanding the nuances of just how autistic traits intertwine with eating disorder behaviors. For this reason, many autistic people are invalidated, traumatized, and stamped with countless labels including “hopeless,” “manipulative,” and “too complex” while trying to get help for their eating disorder(s). Just like me, they’re often told they’re never going to get better and that they’ll just have to “manage” an ED for the rest of their life.

If you or someone you care for is currently struggling with food, exercise, and their body, I’m here to tell you from the start that full recovery is 100% possible for ANYONE. But here’s the catch: you have to want it. In this episode, I share my story growing up undiagnosed autistic, how this led to the development of an eating disorder, and what I did to tip the scales (no pun intended) from being terrified of recovery to actually WANTING to do whatever it took to find freedom from my eating disorder.

It goes without saying that there’s only so much I can cover in a podcast episode, so if you want to dive even deeper into the complex connection between autism and eating disorders, be sure to grab a copy of my book Rainbow Girl: https://www.livlabelfree.com/rainbowgirl

Want to discover your unique version of neurodiversity-affirming freedom? Save your seat in the Autistically ED-Free Academy: https://www.livlabelfree.com/group

Blog post of this episode: https://www.livlabelfree.com/blog/autism-and-anorexia-my-ed-recovery-story

In this episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia discusses demand avoidance in autism and how it can influence eating behaviors and eating disorder recovery. She explains what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is, why basic needs like eating can sometimes feel like overwhelming demands, and how this can lead to avoidance around food and eating disorder treatment.

Livia also explores the shift from viewing PDA as “pathological” to understanding it as a Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, highlighting why language and perspective matter. Finally, she shares practical strategies for caregivers and individuals to support recovery in ways that respect autonomy, reduce pressure, and foster collaboration.

🌈 The Autistically ED-Free Academy is open! Save your seat here: www.livlabelfree.com/group
📚 Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia: www.livlabelfree.com/rainbowgirl