Don't Feed the Fear: Allergy Anxiety & Trauma

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In this solo episode, I’m wrapping up an incredibly meaningful awareness month by taking you behind the scenes of the advocacy events, conferences, legislation, research, and community moments that left me feeling hopeful about the future of food allergies and chronic illness care.

From the Food Allergy Fund Summit in New York City, to advocacy days in Washington DC and Albany, this episode explores the intersection of mental health, medical advocacy, innovation, storytelling, and policy change across the food allergy, celiac, asthma, eosinophilic disease, and alpha-gal communities.

I also share personal reflections from traveling with loved ones, bringing my son to advocacy events, and witnessing children and teens become the next generation of leaders in this space, as well as the challenging emotions of acknowledging the tragic losses our advocacy honors.

This episode is both a recap and a reminder:
 progress is happening because people continue to care, speak up, and advocate together.

Please follow and support the families and organizations below mentioned in this episode that are creating the changes we need:
https://www.elijahalavifoundation.org/
https://www.loveforgiovanni.org/
https://www.adinaact.com/
https://aafa.org/
https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/
https://www.addietellsall.com/
https://maycontainfilms.org/
https://allergyadvocatesny.org/
https://foodallergyfund.org/

And off-topic but a highlight of my month:
https://forward-space.com/

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

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This week on the podcast, I’m joined by filmmaker and advocate Mandi Kearns of Just Like You Films to discuss the upcoming food allergy docudrama, May Contain: My Life.

This conversation explores not only the making of the film, but the emotional realities behind it: parenting through food allergies, navigating fear and resilience, sibling experiences, emergency situations, advocacy, and the ways these experiences continue to live in our nervous systems long after reactions are over.

One of the things I appreciated most about this film is that it does not portray individuals with food allergies as fragile or broken. Instead, it honestly captures the complexity of living with food allergies while still centering resilience, identity, connection, humor, and humanity.

This is an incredibly meaningful conversation for food allergy parents, adult patients, providers, advocates, and anyone wanting to better understand the lived experience of this community.

Learn more:

• Just Like You Films: https://justlikeyoufilms.org
• Film information and screenings: https://justlikeyoufilms.org
• JLY Films' Walk Beside You Promise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0UUxOzL84U
• AMC Showtimes: https://www.amctheatres.com/

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

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In this special Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month episode, psychologist and food allergy advocate Dr. Amanda Whitehouse sits down with Kenny Mendez, President and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), for a conversation about advocacy, policy change, and the future of support for the allergy and asthma community.

Together, they discuss the emotional and practical realities families face while navigating food allergies and asthma, the importance of community-driven advocacy, and the work AAFA has done to support meaningful legislative change, including California’s groundbreaking restaurant allergen labeling law, The ADDE Law.

Kenny also shares insight into stock epinephrine laws, how advocacy efforts move through legislation, and why community involvement matters more than people often realize.

This episode offers both hope and practical perspective for parents, patients, clinicians, and advocates looking to better understand how systemic change happens.

Some of AAFA's Resources:
My Life With: https://aafa.org/asthma-allergy-research/our-research/my-life-with-food-allergy-report/
Ask The Allergist: https://community.aafa.org/db/ask-the-allergist
Recipes: https://kidswithfoodallergies.org/recipes-diet/
AAFANoon Chats Podcast: https://aafa.org/asthma-allergy-news/podcasts/

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

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FPIES (Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome) is a type of food allergy that often goes unrecognized, leaving families confused, dismissed, and searching for answers.

In this episode, I’m joined by iFPIES founder Fallon Schultz, MSW, LCSW, to explore both the clinical and lived experience of FPIES. Fallon shares her personal story, the challenges of navigating a diagnosis that doesn’t fit the typical food allergy mold, and how that journey led her to create a vital resource for families.

We discuss what FPIES is, how it differs from IgE-mediated food allergies, the different types and presentations, and why more families may be encountering FPIES in the context of early food introduction guidelines.

We also talk about the social/emotional impact of navigating unpredictable reactions, and the importance of community, validation, and trauma-informed support.

Whether you’re a parent, provider, or advocate, this episode offers both clarity and compassion for a frequently misunderstood condition.

Connect with iFPIES at
fpies.org
@ifpies

FPIES Action Plan: https://fpies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/all-ages-FPIES-ACTION-PLAN.pdf
Loni's Lounge (free FPIES support): https://fpies.org/lonis-lounge/
Customizable FPIES Dining Card: https://fpies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IFPIES-Dining-Out-Card.pdf

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

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Environmental allergies can significantly impact daily life, from chronic congestion and itchy eyes to sleep disruption and reduced quality of life. If daily medications aren't enough, there are longer-term treatment options available.

In this episode, pediatric allergist Dr. Manisha Relan joins us to break down two forms of allergen immunotherapy: SCIT (allergy shots) and SLIT (sublingual tablets or drops). We discuss how they work, who is a good candidate, the time commitment involved, safety considerations, and how patients and families can approach the decision thoughtfully.

Episode Links:
-Dr. Relan on Instagram and Threads: @pedsallergymd
-Find an allergist https://allergist.aaaai.org/find/ or https://acaai.org/find-an-allergist/
-101 Before One: https://www.101beforeone.com/
-Book Baby Leads The Way: https://bookshop.org/p/books/baby-leads-the-way-an-evidence-based-guide-to-introducing-solid-foods-catherine-callahan-ms-ccc-slp-clc/6de5272603742aab?ean=9781610027625&next=t

Follow me on social media @thefoodallergypsychologist and sign up for my newsletter on my website for updates on my book, From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy, coming in June!
https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/connect

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

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My second guest for this special podcast season guiding listeners through the immunotherapy process welcomes back Dr. David Stukus, Director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and  President-Elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

Dr. Stukus shares his clinical approach to preparing patients for food allergy immunotherapy, including the role of diagnostic testing, oral food challenges, and threshold challenges in clarifying treatment decisions. The discussion also addresses the mental preparation required for immunotherapy, common fears and hesitations families experience, and what realistic benefits patients can expect during and "after" treatment.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• What medical tests and food challenges may be recommended and why
• How allergists assess readiness for immunotherapy
• The common “bumps in the road” during treatment
• What happens once maintenance is reached
• And how to think about long-term outcomes when treatment is considered “done”

This episode offers practical, evidence-based guidance for families seeking clarity before beginning food allergy treatment.

-Follow Dr. Stukus on Instagram @pedsallergydoc
-Retail Food Equivalents for OIT article:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213219822010650 
-Dr. Stukus' first appearance on the Don't Feed the Fear podcast (Episode 18):
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/16808272

Follow me on social media @thefoodallergypsychologist and sign up for my newsletter on my website for updates on my book, From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy, coming in June!
https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/connect

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

We are living in an exciting time in food allergy medicine with multiple treatment options to choose some and likely more on the way soon. But more options can also mean more overwhelm. I've invited some of the world's foremost experts in allergy to join me for this exciting season guiding us through these choices and decisions to lead us from overwhelm to confidence.

In this episode, Dr. Shahzad Mustafa joins us to talk about how shared decision making helps families make treatment decisions without panic or pressure. Dr. Mustafa gives us an overview of our options and explains how he guides patients through their decisions using a collaborative, values-based approach that balances medical evidence, risk tolerance, and individual goals. This conversation is about partnership, clarifying goals and needs, and making medical decisions through an informed and individualized lens.

Episode links:
Dr. Mustafa - https://www.rochesterregional.org/providers/syed-s-mustafa#
January 2026 article, "Updates in the Management of Peanut Allergy" - https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-med-050224-121037

Follow me on social media @thefoodallergypsychologist and sign up for my newsletter on my website for updates on my book, From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy, coming in June!
https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/connect

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

This season we are discussing options in food allergies. This week's episode begins a deep dive into one of the most complex and emotional parts of living with food allergies: treatment options.

With more treatment options available than ever before, patients and families are facing decisions that are both hopeful and overwhelming. These choices are not just medical. They are deeply emotional, shaped by past experiences, anxiety, trauma, and the realities of individual characteristics and daily life.

In this solo episode, I share:

• Why more choices can sometimes make decisions harder 
• The psychological side of treatment decisions that often gets overlooked 
• What anxiety and past reactions can bring into the process 
• Our personal journey through multiple allergy treatments, including the challenges, pivots, unexpected outcomes, and my most treasured moments and surprises

I’m also sharing a big announcement about something I've created to take the work from this season even deeper for those making decisions or navigating treatment.

Whether you are considering treatment, currently in it, or choosing not to pursue it, this episode will help you feel less alone and more confident in your path.

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Scott Lyman, CEO and Co-Founder of Belhaven BioPharma, to discuss Nasdepi®, an investigational dry powder epinephrine nasal spray currently in development for the treatment of anaphylaxis.

Nasdepi® is designed as a needle-free alternative to traditional auto-injectors, with early clinical data suggesting rapid absorption and strong temperature stability.

We talk about:

• Why alternative delivery systems matter
• Needle fears and other real-world barriers to carrying epinephrine
• Human factor studies and ease of use in high-stress situations
• What “investigational” means and where the product stands in development

This episode is part of a broader series exploring epinephrine options beginning with episode 67. As always, this podcast does not promote any specific product, just information and education. 

Episode links:
-Nasdepi: https://belhavenbio.com/nasdepi-progress/

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, board-certified allergist and food allergy mom and patient, for a grounded and practical conversation about epinephrine confidence.

We talk about what it’s like to manage food allergies both personally and professionally, why so many families hesitate in emergencies, and how familiarity, not fear, is what truly helps in moments of anaphylaxis. Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo walks us through how patients can build confidence using epinephrine, including the unique features of AUVI-Q.

The goal of the episode is to help families understand their options and feel more supported as new tools become available in the food allergy space. This episode is not sponsored, and I am not promoting any single epinephrine device. 

🎥 The full video version of this episode, including the AUVI-Q demonstration, is available on YouTube: @dontfeedthefear 

Links:

• AUVI-Q information and training resources: https://www.auvi-q.com
• Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo: https://www.sflallergy.com/about-us
• Previous episodes with Dr. Pistiner:
  • New Criteria for Infant and Toddler Anaphylaxis:
    https://dontfeedthefear.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/18014268
  • Safe Epi Use for Infants and Toddlers:
    https://dontfeedthefear.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/18209067

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[email protected]