In this episode of Beneath the Binge, somatic practitioner Alex Bottomley invites listeners to ground in what physically supports their body, then explore loneliness as a felt sense of disconnection that can show up as collapse, fogginess, or an empty “void” often sensed in the belly.

From her personal experience and client work, she describe how early differences, shame, and losses can shape a nervous system “map” of belonging, and how chronic loneliness activates threat circuits similar to physical pain, increasing cortisol and disrupting dopamine, making binge eating more likely especially with low emotional regulation.

Food can become a predictable substitute for co-regulation, and recovery involves grief, being emotionally met, and building safe connection. Alex offers practices to notice connection/disconnection, recall supportive beings/places, and hold a soft object to the affected body area.

If you are looking for more community and support, Alex is hosting a group retreat to Portugal in July for women who are struggling with binge eating and haven’t yet been with others through this journey.

For more information, visit www.thefoodfreedomtherapist.com or @thefoodfreedomtherapist.

In this episode of Beneath the Binge, I reframe binge urges as urgent body-based communications from the survival nervous system rather than a problem to fight.

I explain that urges feel overwhelming because they arise as physical sensations and activation that demand immediate resolution — fighting, distracting, analyzing, using willpower, or immediately giving in can intensify urges or reinforce food as the only path to relief, embedding an automatic loop in the nervous system.

I suggest creating small pauses to relate to urges with compassionate curiosity by noticing where and how they appear in the body (shape, color, movement), which builds capacity to be present with discomfort and supports regulation.

I also note that some feelings may be too big to hold alone and recommend support from a practitioner, my self-study course Foundations of Food Freedom,, and my six-month group program Find Your Freedom — plus I invite your questions and close with a body check-in.

For more information, visit www.thefoodfreedomtherapist.com or @thefoodfreedomtherapist

In this episode of Beneath the Binge, Alex Bottomley explains how binge urges relate to the body and nervous system through somatic psychology by unpacking the all-or-nothing cycle with food, exercise, and life.

She reframes the pattern as a nervous system response rather than a willpower problem, introducing the difference between desire (what you want and expect) and capacity (what your nervous system can realistically hold). When expectations exceed capacity, pressure builds and the body seeks relief through bingeing, collapse, or “screw it” moments, followed by guilt and renewed overcontrol.

Alex maps the cycle’s bodily cues (bracing vs shutdown), describes protective parts (controller/proactive protector and soother/reactive protector) guarding a vulnerable core, and guides a practice to dial expectations up or down to find a “sweet spot” where the body softens and breath deepens, emphasizing that realistic expectations support regulation.

For more information, visit www.thefoodfreedomtherapist.com or @thefoodfreedomtherapist