In this week’s episode of Full of Beans, I’m joined by Dr Jessica Eccles, an award-winning researcher and neurodevelopmental psychiatrist specialising in the links between brain and body, particularly as they relate to hypermobility.

Jessica is an Associate Professor in Brain-Body Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Also, she works in the Sussex NHS Neurodevelopmental Service, where she and colleagues have set up the world’s first Neurodivergent Brain Body Clinic. She has been exploring the intersection between hypermobility, neurodivergence, and mental health since 2009, and is passionate about challenging stereotypes and encouraging curiosity.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What hypermobility actually is, and why it is about more than being “bendy”
• The links between ADHD, autism, hypermobility, anxiety, and eating disorders
• How gut issues, autonomic dysfunction, and interoception may play a role
• Why body sensations can sometimes be misread as anxiety
• The connection between proprioception, body awareness, and emotion regulation
• Why neurodivergent people may be more vulnerable to restrictive eating patterns
• The importance of looking at the full picture, rather than separating the brain and body

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• Connect with Jessica via her LinkTree

⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, anxiety, restrictive eating and medical trauma. Please look after yourself as you listen.

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Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛