Episode 182: Claire Sehinson - Neurodivergence and Disordered Eating Behaviours

Food Junkies Podcast

Claire Sehinson, is an educator, researcher with a functional medicine and nutritional therapy clinical practice. She brings to her work her passion and lived experience of being multiply neurodivergent and diagnosed with Autism, dyslexia and ADHD as an adult, whilst navigating her own recovery from ME/CFS and dealing with many mental health issues throughout her lifetime.

Claire has over a decade of specialist clinical experience working with complex illness, trauma, CFS, Fibromyalgia and chronic infections. Claire is the Head of Research at the Optimum Health Clinic (an integrative body-mind clinic) where she researches and trains practitioners on cutting-edge protocols to support complexly ill clients.

She created the IHCAN award winning Therapeutic Nutrition course- a 6 month post-graduate practitioner training program supporting patients with CFS/ME and complex illness. Claire continues to advocate for marginalized groups to raise awareness and share knowledge of intersectionality in healthcare. Her research focus is the overlap of Neurodivergence, hypermobility spectrum disorders and chronic complex illness.

Today we cover: Her personal story with Neurodiversity and WHY it was important to her to pursue this career? Some of the myths about what people think ADHD is and what it actually is The unique challenges faced by those with ADHD The relationship between ADHD and eating disorders, and how the symptoms of each condition may exacerbate the other? We talk about interoception and how this affects individuals with ADHD when it comes to feeding and eating The sensory processing and differences that ADHD people experience? What are some helpful tips for practitioners working with diet & nutrition plans in ADHD? How do ADHD symptoms intersect with substance use disorders? What are some common coping mechanisms or self-medicating behaviors that individuals with ADHD may adopt, leading to potential addiction issues?

How does impulsivity, a hallmark trait of ADHD, contribute to addictive behaviors or disordered eating patterns, and what strategies can be employed to mitigate these impulses?

Just forwarding my contact details: Instagram handle: https://www.instagram.com/nutritionforneurodiversity/

The-Creative-Well is my functional medicine practice https://www.the-creative-well.com/services/#anchor-3

Claire's Blog: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog?author=65bb37c2c08d0b7ec949620c

Claire's training program in CFS/ME (for practitioners!) https://www.therapeuticnutrition.com/

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcareprovider'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.