What If You're Not Broken? Neurodivergence, Sanism, Eating Disorders, & Radical Acceptance With Shira Collings @threadandthreshold.therapy

What happens when you stop viewing yourself through a pathology lens and start seeing your differences as part of your identity instead of evidence that something is wrong with you? In this thought-provoking conversation, I sit down with Shira Collings, LPC, a neurodiversity-affirming, fat-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, disability justice-aligned therapist, to explore neurodivergence as a social identity and how that perspective can transform the way we think about eating disorders, mental health, and recovery. Together, we discuss the concept of sanism, the oppression faced by people whose minds fall outside societal expectations of "normal," and how shame often develops when people internalize messages that they are broken, defective, or in need of fixing. We also examine the overlap between neurodiversity, anti-fatness, eating disorder recovery, and disability justice. Shira shares their personal journey with neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self-acceptance. We discuss why many people identify as neurodivergent without pursuing formal diagnosis, how neurodivergence can function as a cultural identity, and why community often plays a powerful role in healing. We also unpack radical acceptance, harm reduction, and the limitations of all-or-nothing recovery narratives. Instead of focusing on perfection, we explore how people can reduce suffering, increase self-compassion, and build lives that align with their values. In This Episode, We Discuss Neurodivergence as a social identity rather than a diagnosis The origins of the neurodiversity paradigm What sanism is and how it affects mental health care Self-diagnosis, formal diagnosis, and personal identity The intersection of neurodiversity, eating disorders, and anti-fatness How shame fuels both mental health struggles and eating disorders Radical acceptance and self-compassion Harm reduction approaches in eating disorder recovery Why recovery does not need to be all-or-nothing How disability justice can reshape the way we support neurodivergent people About Shira Collings Shira Collings, LPC (she/they), is a feminist, neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, fat-affirming, and disability justice-aligned psychotherapist. They specialize in reproductive mental health, eating disorders, body image concerns, trauma, grief, and loss. Shira supports clients in healing from internalized and systemic oppression while building lives that align with their values. Follow Shira on Instagram: @threadandthreshold.therapy Website: threadandthreshold.com Who This Episode Is For This episode is for neurodivergent people, eating disorder survivors, therapists, advocates, caregivers, and anyone who has ever wondered whether they have spent too much of their life trying to fix parts of themselves that were never broken. Key Takeaway Healing does not always come from becoming someone different. Sometimes healing begins when you stop treating yourself like a problem to solve and start approaching yourself with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. Related Episodes Why Eating Still Breaks Down for Neurodivergent People With Long-Term Eating Disorders via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking, Embodiment, & Trust: A Neurodivergent Approach to Eating Disorder Recovery With Dr. Emma Offord @divergentlives via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking in Eating Disorder Recovery: What Neurodivergent People Need to Know About Safety & Healing via Apple & Spotify. Autism & Anorexia: When Masking Looks Like Restriction, & Recovery Feels Unsafe via Apple & Spotify. Recovering Again: Navigating Eating Disorders After a Late Neurodivergent Diagnosis (Part 1) With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW @edadhd_therapist via Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. I provide therapy in California and Washington, DC, as well as coaching and educational resources worldwide. Learn more at www.drmariannemiller.com On my website, you can also explore my ARFID & Selective Eating Course, Binge Eating Recovery Membership, and additional resources for neurodivergent eating disorder recovery. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this message.