Episode 4: The Trauma Beneath the Binges

For years, I believed my night-time bingeing was a discipline problem.Something I should be able to control if I just tried harder.But the truth was far more confronting and far more compassionate.In this episode, I share the story of the pattern I couldn’t stop.Waking in the night in full panic. Racing to the kitchen. Eating with a level of urgency that felt completely out of my control.What finally changed everything wasn’t another strategy, plan, or mindset shift.It was uncovering the trauma my body had been faithfully remembering and protecting me from for decades.Through lived experience and an Internal Family Systems lens, this episode explores why bingeing is often not about food at all, but about survival.About parts of us working desperately to regulate overwhelming fear, panic, and unmet needs.If you’ve ever felt hijacked by your eating or ashamed of behaviour you couldn’t explain, this episode is for you.The Self Led Woman podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, medical advice, or professional healthcare.If this episode brings up anything difficult for you, please consider reaching out to a trained healthcare professional, therapist, or support service.In Australia you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Butterfly Foundation National Helpline on 1800 33 4673, which provides support for people experiencing eating disorders and body image concerns.If you’re listening to this and recognising yourself in these patterns, you don’t have to keep navigating it on your own.You can book a free 30-minute consultation below where we’ll map out what’s actually going on in your system and what support could look like.⁠https://megandarnell.as.me/?appointmentType=69722155⁠