Don't Feed the Fear: Allergy Anxiety & Trauma
Welcome to "Don't Feed the Fear," where licensed psychologist Dr. Amanda Whitehouse offers expert guidance on managing the social and emotional challenges of food allergies, celiac, and related conditions. Tune in for compassionate advice, practical strategies, and inspiring stories to help you navigate anxiety and trauma with confidence and resilience.
For more info on resources from Dr. Whitehouse, go to www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com
Theme song: The Doghouse by Kyle Dine, www.kyledine.com
Used with permission from the artist
Full transcripts are available to support accessibility and inclusive listening: https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/dont-feed-the-fear-blog
Episodes
86 episodes
From Awareness to Action with AAFA's Kenneth Mendez
In this special Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month episode, psychologist and food allergy advocate Manda Rene sits down with Kenny Mendez, President and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), for a conversation about advo...
Understanding FPIES with iFPIES Founder Fallon Schultz
FPIES (Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome) is a type of food allergy that often goes unrecognized, leaving families confused, dismissed, and searching for answers.In this episode, I’m joined by iFPIES founder Fallon Schultz, MSW...
Immunotherapy Options for Environmental Allergies with Dr. Manisha Relan
Environmental allergies can significantly impact daily life, from chronic congestion and itchy eyes to sleep disruption and reduced quality of life. If daily medications aren't enough, there are longer-term treatment options available.In...
Preparing for Immunotherapy: Dr. Dave Stukus on Tests, Challenges, and Expectations
My second guest for this special podcast season guiding listeners through the immunotherapy process welcomes back Dr. David Stukus, Director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and Pres...
Shared Decision Making in Allergy Treatment Choices with Dr. Shahzad Mustafa
We are living in an exciting time in food allergy medicine with multiple treatment options to choose some and likely more on the way soon. But more options can also mean more overwhelm. I've invited some of the world's foremost experts in aller...
When Options Feel Overwhelming: Our Immunotherapy Journey (& A Big Announcement!)
This season we are discussing options in food allergies. This week's episode begins a deep dive into one of the most complex and emotional parts of living with food allergies: treatment options.With more treatment options available than ...
Another Needle-Free Epi Option?: An Update on Nasdepi
In this episode, I'm joined by Scott Lyman, CEO and Co-Founder of Belhaven BioPharma, to discuss Nasdepi®, an investigational dry powder epinephrine nasal spray currently in development for the treatment of anaphylaxis.Nasdepi® is design...
AUVI-Q and Epi Confidence with Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, board-certified allergist and food allergy mom and patient, for a grounded and practical conversation about epinephrine confidence.We talk about what it’s like to manage food ...
BONUS Meditation Episode: Finding Glimmers (Teaching the Nervous System to Find Safety)
Many of our nervous systems become very skilled at scanning for danger. This is not a flaw. It is a protective response that develops when life has required us to stay alert. But when the nervous system spends most of its time looking for what ...
Simplifying Epinephrine with Dr. Farah Khan
This is the first guest episode in a season of the Don't Feed the Fear podcast dedicated to something many of us are feeling deeply right now: the excitement and overwhelm that comes with how quickly the food allergy landscape is chang...
BONUS Meditation: Be Careful, Not Fearful
Living with food allergies or celiac disease often requires careful decision making. Reading labels, asking questions, and evaluating risk are important parts of staying safe. Over time, though, the nervous system can become so used to scanning...
Your Anxiety Isn't Keeping You Safe. It's Feeding The Fear.
Of course you feel anxious sometimes managing food allergies and celiac. Many patients and families believe that a little anxiety keeps us safe, that fear keeps us vigilant, and that without it we might become careless.But is that actual...
Kyah's Legacy: Food Allergy Education and Advocacy
Lisa Cohen created the Kyah Rayne Foundation in honor of her daughter Kyah, who died following to an allergic reaction.As we approach Kyah’s birthday on March 17, Lisa shares Kyah’s story and the mission behind the foundation, with a foc...
Understanding Barriers in Food Allergy Care with Dr. Linda Jones Herbert and Dr. Hemant Sharma
Food allergy care does not exist in a vacuum, and neither do the families managing it.In this episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Linda Jones Herbert and pediatric allergist Dr. Hemant Sharma from Children’s National Hospital join the co...
When Safety Creates Distance: Isolation, Connection, and Boundaries in Food Allergy Life
Living with food allergies often creates distance between us and friends, family, schools, and communities that don’t fully understand what our safety requires. This episode compassionately addresses the growing sense of isolation many food all...
Allergy Strong Kids and Communities with Erin Malawer
What does food allergy safety look like when systems don’t work equally for everyone?In this episode, I’m joined by Erin Malawer, founder of Allergy Strong, to explore how inequities in education, resources, and institutional support sha...
Black Families and Food Allergies with Renia Butler, Black Allergy Mama
In this episode, I’m joined by Renia Butler, founder of Black Allergy Mama, for an honest and powerful conversation about race, food allergy advocacy, and mental health.Renia shares her personal journey navigating food allergies as a Bla...
Comfort Kits, Hypnotherapy, and Healing for Children with Dr. Lisa Lombard
In this episode, psychologist Lisa Lombard, Ph.D. shares insights from her clinical experience and research background in food allergy. She also shares aspects of her work that led to the creatio...
Dr. Zachary Rubin on Allergies in the Age of Social Media
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Zachary Rubin, board-certified allergist-immunologist, educator, and one of the most trusted voices in allergy and immunology on social media.Dr. Rubin has built a massive following by breaking down com...
Bonus Self-Care Meditation for Vigilant Nervous Systems
When you live with food allergies, celiac disease, or another chronic condition, your nervous system is asked to stay alert every single day. This ongoing vigilance is not imagined anxiety. It is a physiological adaptation to real risk....
Beyond Bubble Baths: Self-Care for Food Allergies & Celiac
Self-care is often framed as indulgent, aesthetic, or optional, but for individuals and families managing food allergies or other chronic conditions, it is essential.In this solo episode, I explore misconceptions about self-care means, a...
Bonus Pranayama (4-7-8 Breathing) led by Dr. Gary Soffer
This guided pranayama meditation is led by Dr. Gary Soffer, allergist-immunologist and integrative medicine physician, and was recorded as part of our New Year conversation on health, healing, and self-care (episode 57).In this practice,...
Rethinking Health in the New Year: Dr. Gary Soffer on Integrative Medicine
As we begin a new year and many are reflecting on their health and recommitting to self-car, this episode invites a deeper, more expansive conversation about what health actually means, especially for those living with food allergies, ...
Realize your CAN: New Year Inspiration with Riya Jain
In this inspiring New Year episode, Riya Jain joins us to share how growing up with food allergies fueled The Land of Can book series. She is a young entrepreneur, author, and food allergy advocate who won a major venture prize at Duke her fres...
Sniffing out Safety: Natalie and Harley the Food Allergy Detection Dog
This episode is a heartwarming and eye-opening look at what life is like with a food allergy detection dog. My guest, Natalie Rice, shares how their family decided to train a peanut detection dog to help manage her daughter's food allergy. Nata...
