For so many high-achievers, food becomes the one thing we can control when everything else feels uncertain. In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Gerson, founder of the Columbus Park Treatment Center for Eating Disorders, to talk about the relationship between anxiety, perfectionism, and the way we eat. We dive into why disordered eating serves a purpose, how restriction and overeating can both feel like relief, and what happens in your brain when anxiety and food become entangled. Tune in to rethink your relationship with food, anxiety, and control.

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In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What’s the relationship between anxiety and eating disorders?

02:00 How disordered eating creates a sense of control and safety.

05:30 What starvation does to the brain.

09:15 Why anxious people often turn to rigid food control.

11:30 The unspoken rules about eating at work (especially for women).

17:00 The perfectionist profile behind many eating disorders.

19:45 Signs your relationship with food may need support.

22:00 The gold-standard treatment for eating disorders.

23:15 When exercise becomes another form of control.

25:15 What leaders can do to build a food-safe workplace.

28:00 Why high achievers self-medicate with food, alcohol, and control.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Melissa: on LinkedIn @melissagerson