Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & Trauma
Welcome to "Don't Feed the Fear," where licensed psychologist Dr. Amanda Whitehouse offers expert guidance on managing the social and emotional challenges of food allergies and related conditions. Tune in for compassionate advice, practical strategies, and inspiring stories to help you navigate anxiety and trauma with confidence and resilience. For more info on resources from Dr. Whitehouse, go to www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com Theme song: The Doghouse by Kyle Dine, www.kyledine.com Used with permission from the artist
Episodes
In this week's chat about choices, psychologist/researcher Dr. Katharine Dahlsgaard and your host Dr. Whitehouse explore what we can do about the emotional side of food allergies, exploring when everyday anxiety crosses the line into specific phobia and how to address it. Dr. Dahlsgaard walks us through her research demonstrating that exposure therapy, including the proximity challenges, like smelling or being cl...
In this episode, host Dr. Whitehouse welcomes dietitian-author Lucy Upton @childrensdietitian to explore developing healthy relationships with food. Topics discussed include:
- Nervous system–informed eating strategies
- Safe and science-backed early allergen introduction
- The gut-brain-axis, vagus nerve, and mental health connection
- Medicalization of food and how to combat it
- Lucy's "3 Fs" for encouraging b...
In this World Allergy Week episode, I'm joined by Ilana Golant, Founder and CEO of the Food Allergy Fund. She exposes the significant gap between the prevalence of food allergies and the amount of research dollars devoted to this. Ilana shares how the FAF is stepping into this gap, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to research on prevention, treatment, and eventual cures. She reports on the most ex...
This challenging and important episode concludes our spring season, "I Don't Want to Talk About It."
We tackle one of the most difficult questions food-allergic families may face: “Could I die from my food allergy?” Though we hesitate to bring it up, kids often overhear scary headlines, which there have been far too many of recently. When they ask, avoiding the topic or lying can erode trust and leave t...
This episode is the third in a series of recent discussions about Food Allergies and Intimacy. I encourage you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 to provide the medical background and social/emotional context for this episode.
In this deeply touching conversation, I sit down with Portia Barton, whose tween daughter Charlotte tragically died in 2022 from a mysterious allergic reaction. While she shared part of the sto...
It was an honor to record this Father's Day and Men's Mental Health month episode with Thomas Silvera, co-founder of the Elijah‑Alavi Foundation. In this discussion, Thomas revisits the tragic passing of his 3-year-old son, Elijah, due to a fatal allergic reaction at daycare, and explore how that loss sparked a nationwide advocacy movement. He shares the Foundation's progress with Elijah's Law, and...
In Part 2 of our series on dating and intimacy with food allergies, author and mental health professional Sloane Miller joins me to explore the emotional and social dimensions of navigating relationships while managing food allergies.
We delve into the complexities of identity, self-trust, communication, and vulnerability that individuals with food allergies may encounter in romantic contexts. Our conversation also foc...
In this insightful episode of Don't Feed the Fear, researcher/physician Dr. Scott Sicherer and author/food allergy coach Sloane Miller join Dr. Amanda Whitehouse for a panel discussion focusing on the complexities of dating and physical intimacy for individuals with food allergies.
The group discusses evidence-based guidelines for kissing and physical intimacy when managing food allergies. Dr. Sicherer shares find...
Season 4: I Don't Want to Talk About Politics
In this important episode, we’re joined once again by legal advocate and friend of the show, Laurel Francoeur, to unpack the Texas v. Becerra lawsuit—a case brought by 17 states challenging how the federal government enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This law is crucial for ensuring students with disabilities, including those with food allergies...
In this special Food Allergy Awareness Week episode, we sit down with Chief Mike and Becca Suhy, the founders of the Allison Rose Foundation. Their vibrant, fun-loving, caring, and slightly mischievous daughter Allison's life was tragically cut short by anaphylaxis during her first semester at college. Through their heartbreak, the Suhys have created the foundation as a way to continue caring for Allison—working ...
Season 4: I Don't Want to Talk About It
In this special Mother's Day episode, I'm joined by one of the world's leading allergy researchers — who also happens to be a food allergy mom. While Dr. Ruchi Gupta's professional credentials are impressive, today’s conversation focuses on something even more powerful: her personal experience raising a child with food allergies.
We talk openly about ...
Season 4's theme is "I Don't Want to Talk About It."
Today, Robyn and Addie Lao and I are talking about it and we hope you'll do more than listen. We hope you'll take action.
Mother-daughter advocates Robyn and Addie are the driving force behind California’s proposed Senate Bill 68 Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE), alongside the bill’s sponsor, Senator Caroline Menjivar.
💔...
Welcome to Season 4 of Don't Feed the Fear — a new chapter I'm calling “I Don’t Want to Talk About It.” This season is all about the things we avoid — the fears we carry in silence, the emotions we push down, and the stories we tell ourselves (and sometimes don’t) about life with food allergies. The episode also touches on last season's discussion of strengthening our trust in our support systems.
This ...
This season’s book club episode kicks off National Poetry Month with memoirist and poet Sandra Beasley. She expertly weaves her wit and wisdom on her own experiences into her writing and discussion about life with food allergies. In this episode, we talk about:
✨ Allergies as a punchline or lazy plot device & the impact of these portrayals on real people
✨ Topics we need to discuss more including alcohol...
Season 3: Strengthening our Support Systems
Renowned allergist Dr. David Stukus joins Dr. Whitehouse to discuss the evolving landscape of allergy treatment and what it means for those living with food allergies. We discuss promising new therapies, advancements on the horizon, and what patients should know about emerging treatment options. Beyond the science, we also examine the importance of a strong doctor-...
In this episode of Don’t Feed the Fear, host Dr. Whitehouse sits down with Lisa Rutter, the founder of NNMG Food Allergic Families (originally No Nuts Moms Group), one of the largest online support communities for food-allergic families.
Together, they explore the power of connection in navigating the challenges of food allergy parenting. Lisa shares the inspiration behind creating the group, the emotional and practica...
Renata Doerr, a board member of the Greater Buffalo Food Allergy Alliance (GBFAA), joins Dr. Whitehouse to discuss the power of local connections in navigating life with food allergies.
Together, they explore how local support networks can make a difference, and the GBFAA's impactful initiatives, including an annual awareness race and fundraising efforts that support community education. Renata also shares her fam...
Dr. Whitehouse speaks with Nishti, a dietitian specializing in food allergies, to explore the critical role of early detection and intervention in managing food allergies. They discuss the latest insights on early food introduction and signs of food allergies, the connection between gut health/inflammation/allergies, and the importance of the microbiome in immune system development.
They also explore the psychological ...
Mark Elvidge, the founder of Vermont Nut Free Chocolates shares his journey in creating delicious, allergy-friendly chocolate. From the inspiration behind the brand to the challenges of ensuring safety in manufacturing, Mark shares insights into what it takes to make sweet treats accessible to those with food allergies.
They also explore the emotional side of food allergies—how access to safe, enjoyable foods can impac...
Dr. Whitehouse explores therapy as a helpful resource for those navigating the emotional and psychological challenges of living with food allergies. She offers practical guidance on how to know if you can benefit from therapy, how to find and choose a therapist who understands food allergies, and how to determine whether a therapist is the right fit for your needs. Whether you're a parent seeking support for a ch...
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