211. How Diet Culture Teaches Us to Ignore Our Needs (and What to Do Instead)

Diet Culture Rebel Podcast

In this powerful episode, Bonnie Roney sits down with Alison Faulkner to explore how deeply food and body image struggles can affect every part of our lives, often in ways no one sees. Alison shares her journey from high-achieving, outward success to a full nervous system shutdown that led her to a 21-day mental health treatment center. Together, they unpack how early messaging around food, pressure to “have it all together,” and the inability to ask for help can shape our self-worth and disconnection from our bodies. This conversation is a reminder that healing your relationship with food can be the key to finding peace, reclaiming your voice, and learning to take up space unapologetically.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why appearing “fine” can hide serious struggles
• The connection between food rules and nervous system burnout
• How early childhood messaging around eating can shape adulthood
• The power of self-trust vs. self-love in the healing journey
• Why asking for help is hard and how to unlearn that
• Allison’s experience at a mental health retreat and what it taught her
• What it means to be “already awesome,” even in the messy middle
• How to start seeing your body as something to support, not control
• A call to reject shame and advocate for your own care
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Connect with Alison:

Alison's IG: @thealisonshow

Alison's book: https://amzn.to/44jc1b6

Ready to Heal Your Relationship with Food?

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel