Have you ever felt like you need to get a grip on food in order to feel okay?

Maybe it shows up as counting, cutting back, planning your next meal before this one is finished. Or maybe it looks like constant body-checking, scanning for softness, striving for a version of yourself that feels just out of reach.

On the surface, these patterns can look like discipline or “health.” But beneath them, something quieter is often at play: a nervous system searching for safety.

If you've ever found yourself caught in patterns of restricting food, overeating, or disconnecting from your hunger and fullness cues, you're not alone. These behaviors often aren’t just about food—they are coping mechanisms that developed when we needed to protect ourselves from pain.