Michigan Spotlight: Eating Disorders Beyond Food—Trauma, Control, and Body Wisdom with Katie Saalberg

Keywords

Neuroalchemy, eating disorders, disordered eating, trauma-informed care, diet culture, body image, mental health, mindfulness, healing, self-acceptance

Summary

In this episode of Neuroalchemy, Dr. Sarah Young engages with mental health therapist Katie Salberg to explore the complexities of eating disorders and disordered eating. They discuss the definitions of these terms, the impact of diet culture, and how societal norms moralize food and body control. Katie shares her personal journey into the field, the misunderstandings surrounding eating disorders, and the trauma often associated with them. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed care, the psychological and physiological impacts of eating disorders, and the role of mindfulness in healing. Listeners are encouraged to understand their struggles with food and body image as part of a broader conversation about mental health and self-acceptance.

Takeaways

Eating disorders are clinically defined and have specific diagnoses.

Diet culture perpetuates harmful beliefs about food and body image.

Food and body control are often moralized in society.

Eating disorders can be linked to trauma, including generational trauma.

Katie's journey into eating disorders was unexpected but transformative.

Mainstream narratives often misunderstand the nature of eating disorders.

Eating disorders are complex and multifaceted, involving various factors.

Control in eating disorders can be a subconscious survival strategy.

Building trust with the body is essential for healing.

Sound bites

"Diet culture is eating disorder culture."

"Food and body control become moralized."

"Eating disorders are deeply misunderstood."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Neuroalchemy and Guest Introduction

01:52 Defining Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating

03:12 Understanding Diet Culture and Eating Disorder Culture

03:56 The Nervous System's Role in Eating Disorders

05:04 Moralizing Food, Weight, and Body Control

05:51 Eating Disorders as Trauma and Generational Trauma

07:26 Katie's Journey into Eating Disorder Therapy

08:46 Common Misunderstandings in Mainstream Narratives

10:30 Complexity of Eating Disorders

11:00 Control as a Survival Strategy

12:38 The Body's Protective Mechanisms

14:11 The Impact of Safety on Recovery

14:30 Psychological and Physiological Impacts of Eating Disorders

16:40 Stress Hormones and Cognitive Rigidity

18:07 Language and Social Media's Role in Eating Disorder Culture

20:12 Trauma-Informed Healing Approaches

22:14 Rebuilding Trust with the Body

23:45 Mindfulness Practices for Self-Awareness

25:29 Understanding Shame and Capacity for Healing

26:48 Katie's New Practice and Closing Thoughts

To get in touch with Katie:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-saalberg-msw-884332255

To learn more about Dr. Sarah and NeuroSynergy:

www.neurosynergyhealth.com