What if binge eating isn't a lack of willpower, but a way your brain and body are trying to find relief? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Jessica Neukam-Helms, PsyD, to explore the connection between high achievement, perfectionism, chronic stress, emotional eating, and binge eating.

We talk about why people who seem to have everything together on the outside can struggle with food behind the scenes, how dieting can offer the illusion of control, and why rigid rules can sometimes contribute to the very eating patterns we're trying to escape.

Dr. Jessica shares insights into the mental models and behavioral loops that can keep binge eating going. We explore nervous system regulation, neuroscience, and how parts work and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help us approach binge eating with curiosity instead of shame. And, we discuss practical ways to build more joy, calm, and flexibility into everyday life—including Jessica's five-by-five method, rethinking movement, and learning to give ourselves permission to rest.

Things We Yap About:

• How perfectionism and high achievement can contribute to vulnerability around binge eating
• Why chronic stress can make food feel like an easy source of relief
• Emotional eating, nervous system regulation, and coping
• The role of autonomy, restriction, and the “rebellion loop”
• Understanding binge eating through parts work and IFS
• How mental models and neural pathways influence food behaviors
• Jessica's binge pattern assessment and understanding underlying loops
• How diet culture can keep old food rules alive
• Using curiosity and self-compassion when familiar patterns return

Resources & Mentions:

• Jessica’s Practice: Peaceful Presence Psychological Services LLC
• The Finding Food & Body Freedom Formula
• Dr. Jessica’s IG: @finding_food_and_body_freedom
• Dr. Jessica’s Free Emotional Eating & Binge Eating Facebook Group

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