The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Food, Body Image, and Self-Worth
The Mixed Messages We Absorb About Food
From the moment we are born, we absorb messages about food, body image, and self-worth. For people with ADHD and disordered eating, those messages can be confusing, conflicting, and often harmful. They shape how we view hunger, relate to control, and respond to food guilt. But what happens when our brain wiring intensifies those patterns?
But what if those messages were confusing and contradictory?
What if, instead of fostering a healthy relationship with food, they created a tangled web of restriction, guilt, and dopamine-driven cycles?
For many of us, that is exactly what happened.
My Childhood Food Story: Mixed Messages and Confusion
➔ At home with my mum, food was nutritious but controlled. I had to eat everything on my plate, even if I was full.
➔ At my nan’s house, food equalled love. A trip to Marks and Spencer meant indulgence with chocolates, sweets, and treats.
➔ At my dad’s house, food was freedom. Whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Weetos, crisps, chocolate with no rules and just abundance.
Three different places, three different messages, and none of them taught me balance.
So, what did I do?
I started bingeing when food felt exciting and restricting when it felt like a chore.
When I was with my nan, I indulged. When I was with my mum, I felt like food was something to be controlled. When I was with my dad, I associated food with reward.
As I got older, that pattern became more extreme and harder to break.
ADHD, Food and Dopamine – The Science Behind the Cycle
Why ADHD Brains Struggle with Eating Habits
People with ADHD are wired for dopamine-seeking behaviour. Our brains thrive on stimulation, novelty, and quick bursts of reward.
Food, especially sugar and processed carbohydrates, provides exactly that.
Common ADHD Eating Patterns:
➔ Forgetting to eat until feeling lightheaded or irritable
➔ Craving sugar and processed foods for an instant dopamine hit
➔ Eating impulsively and then feeling guilty afterward
➔ Getting stuck in the binge-restrict cycle, chasing control but feeling out of control
Without awareness and structure, eating becomes chaotic. Impulse eating takes over, and we struggle to regulate our hunger cues and emotional triggers.
Breaking the Cycle – How I Changed My Relationship with Food
Recovery was not about more willpower. It was about understanding my brain and learning to work with it, not against it.
What Helped Me Recover?
➔ Understanding My Brain – Recognising that my eating habits were not about discipline but about how my ADHD brain processed reward and stimulation.
➔ Creating Structure – Sticking to regular meals, planning snacks, and focusing on protein and healthy fats to stabilise my energy and mood.
➔ Ditching the Shame – Food is not good or bad. Learning to eat without guilt and letting go of food rules changed everything.
I still have moments where old habits creep in. If I am missing my nan, I catch myself reaching for her favourite sweets at Marks and Spencer.
But now, I pause and ask myself, “What am I actually looking for?”
Because food is comfort, but it is not the solution.
How I Can Help You Recover from Binge Eating and Food Guilt
If any of this resonates with you, you are not alone.
The way we eat is shaped by our past, emotions, and neurodiversity. But the good news is that it does not have to stay this way.
What Working with Me Looks Like:
➔ Mapping Out Your Food History – We explore your childhood food beliefs, family dynamics, and past dieting experiences.
➔ Identifying Your Triggers – What emotions drive binge eating? What keeps you stuck? We find the real reasons behind your struggles.
➔ Building Long-Term Strategies – No quick fixes, no restrictive diets. Just sustainable, healthy habits that help you feel in control.
➔ Stopping Self-Sabotage – Learn how to catch yourself in those moments when food feels like the only comfort.
Because when you understand your why, you can change your how.
You Are Not Alone
If you are reading this and it resonates, I want you to know that this is not about “fixing” yourself.
It is about rewiring your relationship with food and learning to nourish yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Helpful Resources and Support
If you are struggling, these resources can help:
✔ BEAT Eating Disorders – www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
✔ ADHD UK – www.adhduk.co.uk
✔ Mind Mental Health – www.mind.org.uk
➔ If you have been stuck in the binge-restrict cycle
➔ If food feels like a source of shame instead of joy
➔ If you want to stop fighting your body and start working with it
I can help.
