Dr. Nina on Binge Eating, Emotional Triggers, and Mental Health Recovery

Food is never the problem—it’s the solution to the problem. That’s the game-changing perspective Dr. Nina Savelle Rocklin brings to this episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads. A psychoanalyst, bestselling author, and podcast host, Dr. Nina has made it her mission to help people overcome binge eating and emotional eating by addressing what’s really going on underneath.

We’re honored to bring you this conversation fresh off our wins at the 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award (Best Health) and the 2024 Women in Podcasting Award (Best Mental Health Podcast). With over 2 million downloads, our community is growing—and this talk with Dr. Nina is one you won’t want to miss.

We swap stories about food as a form of comfort, donuts as a means of stress relief, and why being harsh to ourselves fuels the cycle. Dr. Nina explains her Food-Mood Formula, demonstrating how cravings indicate underlying needs—whether it’s comfort, anger, or loneliness. She also reminds us that changing our inner dialogue from “you’re not enough” to “I am enough” can transform not just eating habits, but our entire mental health journey.

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“You can’t tear yourself down and lift yourself up at the same time.” – Dr. Nina Savelle Rocklin

Episode Description

In this raw and honest conversation, Dr. Nina Savelle Rocklin shares how binge-eating, emotional eating, and food struggles are never about food—they’re about what’s going on beneath the surface. From her Food-Mood Formula to the power of self-compassion, Dr. Nina helps us rethink comfort food, body image, and mental health with tools you can use right away.

Keywords: Dr. Nina Savelle Rocklin, binge-eating, emotional eating, mental health podcast, Food-Mood Formula, body image, food freedom, eating disorder recovery, self-compassion, therapy tools

Meet Our Guest — Dr. Nina Savelle Rocklin

Dr. Nina Savelle Rocklin is a psychoanalyst, author, and podcast host known worldwide for her groundbreaking work in the psychology of eating. As the founder of The Binge Cure Method, she helps people break free from emotional eating, enabling them to feel good in their bodies and lives. Her message—“It’s not what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating at you”—has reached listeners in 57 countries.

🌐 Website: https://drninainc.com/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnina4help/

Why does she matter? Because Dr. Nina isn’t just another “diet culture” expert. She lived through eating disorders herself, healed, and now dedicates her life to showing us that food freedom comes from compassion, not willpower.

Key Takeaways

• Food is rarely the problem—it’s a response to deeper emotional needs.
• The “Food-Mood Formula” links cravings with emotions such as comfort, anger, or loneliness.
• Self-criticism fuels destructive cycles; self-compassion opens the door to healing.
• Success isn’t about “not eating the donut”—it’s about noticing why you want it.
• Changing inner dialogue from “you” to “I” strengthens self-worth and mental health.

Actionable Items

1. Next time you crave food, pause and ask: What’s eating at me?
2. Switch self-talk to first person—replace “You’re not good enough” with “I’m doing my best.”
3. Comfort yourself the way you’d comfort a loved one—use words, not food.

References Mentioned

• Dr. Nina’s book: The Binge Cure: 7 Steps to Outsmart Emotional Eating – https://drninainc.com/
• The Binge Cure Journal (Companion Workbook)
• Podcast: The Binge Cure with Dr. Nina

Important Chapters (Timestamps + Context)

• [00:03:00] Dr. Nina’s journey from “poster child for eating disorders” to psychoanalyst.
• [00:08:30] Why food is comfort—and why it never solves the real problem.
• [00:13:30] The story of “Jenna” and how ice cream wasn’t the issue—it was family triggers.
• [00:16:30] The Food-Mood Formula explained (comfort, filling, crunchy, sweet).