In today’s episode, we dive deep into a thought-provoking listener question: Will there always be something waiting in the wings to take the place of old addictive patterns?

Molly C. shares a personal experience about her resolution to avoid blue light before bed—and how she noticed an urge to watch TV after a fun night out. This sparks a rich discussion on self-awareness, nervous system regulation, and the evolving nature of cravings and coping mechanisms in recovery.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

✅ The idea of whether food (or other behaviors) will always be our first instinct in times of stress
✅ How our nervous system and trauma history influence our default responses
✅ The role of neuroplasticity and whether we can truly rewire our brains to respond differently
✅ The 8 Fs of trauma responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, Fornicate, Feed, Flop, and Friend
✅ The importance of curiosity and self-compassion when noticing urges and cravings
✅ Why we are wired to crave—and how that doesn’t mean we’re failing in recovery
✅ The power of observation: how practicing “observe and report” can help us navigate cravings without judgment

📩 Listener Question: Will there ever be a day when food is not our first thought in moments of stress? If not, is the goal simply to acknowledge it, dismiss it, and move on with radical acceptance?

This led us to a deep and honest conversation about the nature of recovery, self-compassion, and how to shift from reacting to responding with awareness.

Key Takeaways:

🧠 Our nervous system is wired for survival, and old patterns don’t disappear overnight—but they can lose their intensity.
💡 Cravings are not a failure. They are a natural part of being human.
💙 Healing is about curiosity, not judgment. The more we understand our behaviors, the less power they hold over us.

💬 Join the Conversation!
We love hearing from you! Send us your questions at AskTheShrinks@FoodShrinks.com and let us know your thoughts on today’s episode.

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! See you next week!

#FoodAddictionRecovery #NervousSystem #TraumaResponses #CuriosityNotJudgment #Neuroplasticity #FoodShrinksPodcast

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this episode, Molly C, Molly P, and Clarissa dive deep into the feeling of being "othered"—that sense of not quite fitting in, even among close friends or trusted spaces.

We explore:
✅ The fear of being too different—what happens when our thoughts, experiences, or intuition don’t align with those around us
✅ The connection between feeling othered and food behaviors—how discomfort leads to numbing or binging
✅ The armor we put up when we feel excluded—why we protect ourselves instead of reaching out
✅ The power of naming our feelings—and how vulnerability in friendships can heal deep-seated fears

✨ Big Takeaways from This Episode:
• Feeling “othered” often comes from historical wounds rather than present reality.
• Our shame thrives in secrecy, but when shared, it loses power.
• Authentic friendships are a space to practice saying, “I feel left out,” instead of shutting down.
• We all have parts of ourselves that we fear are “too much”—but often, those are the parts people love most.
• Belonging doesn’t come from sameness, it comes from being fully seen and accepted.

💡 Listener Reflection:
• Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong, even in a group where you "should" feel connected?
• What “armor” do you put on when you feel that way?
• How do you soothe yourself when those feelings come up?

💬 Final Thought:
We all want to be seen. And today, we saw each other.

❤️ Take Care of Yourself After This Episode:
This one was deep, friends. If it resonated, be gentle with yourself. Maybe take a walk, journal, or check in with a friend who makes you feel truly seen.

📩 Got a Question or Topic for the Shrinks?
Send it to AskTheShrinks@FoodShrinks.com—we’d love to hear from you!

🎧 Subscribe and leave a review!
If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who might need it.

📢 Follow Us:
📱 Instagram: @FoodShrinks
📧 Email: AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com
🌐 Website: foodshrinks.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this episode of Food Shrinks, we’re shaking things up! With one shrink missing, we dive into how we handle scheduling conflicts as a team and the importance of open, honest conversations in problem-solving. Then, we transition into a powerful discussion about a common struggle in food addiction recovery: sneaking, hiding, and lying about food.

We explore how secrecy and shame amplify dopamine release, making the behavior even more rewarding—just like in other substance addictions. By illuminating these patterns, we can dismantle them and find practical ways to break free from the cycle.

Key Topics Discussed in This Episode:

✔️ Handling scheduling conflicts with honesty and flexibility – Why communication is key and how we’re restructuring our approach.

✔️ The psychology behind sneaking and hiding food – How secrecy fuels the reward cycle and makes cravings stronger.

✔️ Shame and isolation in food addiction – Why we feel compelled to hide and how it mirrors other addictions.

✔️ Mindful eating and breaking the secrecy cycle – Strategies like eating in the open, using a plate, and slowing down to challenge the food’s "forbidden" appeal.

✔️ The power of self-awareness in recovery – Recognizing triggers, patterns, and practical self-binding strategies to avoid relapse.

✔️ Navigating food choices in social and professional settings – Addressing guilt and external expectations and setting personal boundaries in recovery.

Practical Takeaways:

✅ Normalize the struggle – Sneaking and hiding food is common in addiction, and talking about it removes shame.

✅ Break the secrecy cycle – Try eating in the open, paying attention to taste, and challenging the "thrill" of the behavior.

✅ Lean into self-awareness – Identify when and where these urges happen and find strategies to disrupt the pattern.

✅ Own your choices – You can decide what works for you in recovery—without guilt or external judgment.

💡 Want to share your experience or ask us a question?

Please email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com

🎧 Subscribe and leave a review! If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who might need it.

📢 Follow Us:

📱 Instagram: @FoodShrinks

📧 Email: AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com

🌐 Website: foodshrinks.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this insightful and heartfelt episode of Food Shrinks, we explore the complex relationship between hormones, perimenopause, and food addiction recovery. Inspired by listener questions, we share our journeys, client experiences, and the science behind hormonal changes—whether you're still cycling, in perimenopause, or navigating menopause.

🌿 In This Episode:

🧘 Hormones and Recovery: How shifts during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and menopause can affect food cravings and emotional eating.
💡 Luteal Phase Insights: The science behind increased hunger, metabolism spikes, and why cravings often hit hardest before your period.
🧠 The Grief of Change: Exploring the emotional impact of hormonal transitions and why acceptance is key.
💪 Recovery Strategies: Planning for hormonal changes and aligning your recovery support around them is essential.
🌿 The Grandmother Hypothesis: Reframing menopause as a rite of passage into wisdom, connection, and leadership.

💡 Key Takeaways:

💪Hormonal Changes Are Not the Enemy: Learn how fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone influence cravings and mood.
💪Self-Compassion First: Accepting body changes, reducing shame, and prioritizing self-care during hormonal shifts.
💪Awareness is Power: Tracking cycles and recognizing patterns can help you support your recovery plan.
💪Don’t Give Away Your Power: Beware of quick-fix solutions and trust your body's innate wisdom.
💪Find Joy and Connection: Nourish your serotonin with creativity, friendships, and meaningful activities.

💬 Share Your Experience!
We’d love to hear from you! What has been your experience with hormones and recovery? How have you navigated perimenopause or menopause on your food addiction journey?

💌 Have a question for us? We want to hear from you! Please email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com

🎥 Watch & Share: If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to our channel. Share this episode with someone who might benefit from learning about healthy communication and conflict resolution!

📢 Follow Us:
📱 Instagram: @FoodShrinks
📧 Email: AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com
🌐 Website: foodshrinks.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly C. shares a significant life shift—she's entirely off social media! Coming back from a retreat, she realized how much screen time was impacting her nervous system, focus, and ability to engage with life. She opens up about the moment she knew she had to step away, the withdrawal symptoms she experienced, and how she transitioned off social media with the help of the Freedom app.

Molly and Clarissa also explore the broader topic of digital addiction, drawing connections to food addiction and other compulsive behaviors. They discuss insights from Dr. Anna Lembke’s work on dopamine and addiction, how social media companies profit from our dysregulation, and what it means to take back your power.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why Molly decided to quit social media and what changed for her

The surprising benefits of stepping away from constant scrolling

How screen addiction mirrors food addiction and other compulsive behaviors

Practical steps to reduce digital dependence

Signs your social media use might be a problem

Why reclaiming your time is an act of self-care

Resources & Mentions:

Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke

Dr. Anna Lembke’s podcast interview

Freedom app for screen time management

Join the Conversation:

Have a question for us? We want to hear from you! Email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com

Watch & Share: If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to our channel. Share this episode with someone who might benefit from learning about healthy communication and conflict resolution!

Follow Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodShrinks

Instagram: @FoodShrinks

Email: AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com

Website: foodshrinks.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this episode of Food Shrinks, we dive into an important question: When do we need to go deeper than recovery coaching, and when is it enough to stay at that level?

🔑Key Topics Discussed:

🔒Two Approaches to Healing – Clearing out the body and mind first vs. addressing deeper emotional work upfront.
🔒When Coaching Isn’t Enough – How to recognize when therapy, trauma work, or other professional support is needed.
🔒The Rush to Go Deeper – Why there’s no need to sprint toward deeper work and how cultural pressure impacts this mindset.
🔒Intuition as a Guide – How to trust yourself in knowing when it’s time to explore deeper healing.
🔒The Limits of Helpers – Coaches, therapists, and sponsors can only take you as far as they’ve gone themselves.
🔒The Importance of Readiness – Why sometimes it’s okay not to do deeper work and simply focus on life and joy.
🔒Recovery as a Bridge Back to Life – Remembering that healing isn’t about fixing yourself but expanding your ability to live fully.

We also explore the balance between doing inner work and simply being in life, finding joy, and knowing when to step back instead of always digging for the next thing to “fix.”

💌 Have a question for us? We want to hear from you! Email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com

🎥 Watch & Share: If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to our channel. Share this episode with someone who might benefit from learning about healthy communication and conflict resolution!

📢 Follow Us:

📱 Instagram: @FoodShrinks

📧 Email: AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com

🌐 Website: foodshrinks.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this episode, Molly, Clarissa, and Molly (aka The Food Shrinks) dive deep into healthy conflict resolution and how it impacts relationships, recovery, and our connection with food. Through personal stories, the hosts share their challenges and breakthroughs when it comes to communication, boundaries, and repair.

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Molly’s 2025 Resolution
🩷Why she’s committing to ending people-pleasing and learning to say “no” without guilt.
🩷How people-pleasing behaviors can show up in recovery and eating habits.

Turning Conflict into Growth
🩷A behind-the-scenes look at a recent scheduling conflict between the Food Shrinks and how it strengthened their collaboration.
🩷Clarissa’s mindful approach to addressing frustration and setting boundaries.
🩷How the team repaired the situation and grew closer as a result.

Practical Conflict Resolution Skills
🩷Clarissa’s go-to tools: Pause, take space, reflect, and respond.
🩷Molly’s approach: Validate, own mistakes, and focus on repair instead of apology.
🩷Tips for staying grounded and handling emotional triggers.

Connection to Recovery
🩷How appeasement, fear of abandonment, and difficulty setting boundaries are tied to disordered eating.
🩷Why addressing these underlying behaviors can help heal your relationship with food.

💡 Listener Takeaways:
🗝️Conflict doesn’t have to be scary—it can actually bring you closer to the people you care about.
🗝️Learn to pause and reflect before reacting emotionally.
🗝️Validate others’ experiences and focus on tangible repairs, not just apologies.
🗝️Boundaries and honest communication can transform your relationships—and your recovery.

🎥 Watch & Share:
If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to our channel. Share this episode with someone who might benefit from learning about healthy communication and conflict resolution!

🗨️ Have a question? Drop it in the comments or email us at AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com. We love hearing from you!

📢 Follow Us:
📱 Instagram: @FoodShrinks
📧 Email: AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com
🌐 Website: foodshrinks.com

Let’s keep the conversation going and help each other thrive in recovery! See you next time!

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this candid and impromptu episode of The Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab dive deep into their personal experiences with psychedelics, focusing on their potential as tools for emotional and psychological healing. From ketamine-assisted therapy to psilocybin journeys, the hosts share raw insights into their transformative—yet challenging—experiences. This conversation emphasizes the importance of preparation, professional guidance, and integration, underscoring that psychedelics are not a quick fix but a profound tool in the toolbox of recovery and self-growth.

Key Topics Discussed:
🔥The unexpected start to this heartfelt conversation on psychedelics.
🔥Molly Carmel’s journey through ketamine-assisted therapy and its impact on her reactivity and emotional balance.
🔥Clarissa Kennedy’s psilocybin experience addresses shame and self-compassion and the science behind how psychedelics work on the serotonin pathway and parietal lobe.
🔥Molly Painschab’s profound insights from her psilocybin journey, including overcoming deeply ingrained emotional narratives.
🔥The importance of therapeutic preparation, intention-setting, and post-experience integration.
🔥The challenges and benefits of these experiences, including shadow work and ego death.
🔥A reminder that psychedelics are a tool—not a silver bullet—and require careful consideration and professional support.

Key Takeaways:
🔥Personal Growth Through Psychedelics: Psychedelics can offer transformative experiences, but they demand a willingness to face difficult emotions and memories.
🔥Preparation and Integration Matter: Effective use involves guided preparation, structured sessions, and post-experience processing to maximize benefits.
🔥Scientific Insights: Psychedelics impact the brain by reducing inflammation, increasing neuroplasticity, and rewiring key areas like the serotonin pathway and parietal lobe.
🔥Varied Experiences: Every journey is unique, and expectations can shape outcomes.
🔥Caution and Support Are Essential: These tools are not suitable for everyone and must be used with care, professional guidance, and in safe environments.
🔥Broader Implications for Recovery: Psychedelics may serve as an intervention for those struggling to move past entrenched patterns or emotional barriers in recovery.

We want to hear from you! Have questions, topics you'd love us to discuss, or experiences to share? Email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com, and join the conversation.

Tune in next week as we continue exploring tools for healing, recovery, and personal transformation. Remember, recovery is a journey, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Email: asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com
Website: www.foodshrinks.com
Instagram: @foodshrinks

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.