Claim OwnershipDon't Feed the Fear: Allergy Anxiety & Trauma
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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
81 Episodes
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Send us Fan Mail 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 ever before, patients and families are facing decisions that are both hopeful and overwhelming. These choices are not just medical. They are deeply emotional, shaped by past experiences, anxiety, trauma, and the realities of individual charac...
Send us Fan Mail 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 designed as a needle-free alternative to traditional auto-injectors, with early clinical data suggesting rapid absorption and strong temperature stability. We talk about: Why alternative delivery systems matterNeedle fears and other real-world barr...
Send us Fan Mail 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 allergies both personally and professionally, why so many families hesitate in emergencies, and how familiarity, not fear, is what truly helps in moments of anaphylaxis. Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo walks us through how patients can build confidenc...
Send us Fan Mail 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 changing. With more options, devices, information, and opinions bombarding us, many feel unsure of what to trust, what actually matters, and how to make decisions that feel grounded rather than reactive. My guest today is Dr. Farah Khan, a board-cert...
Send us Fan Mail 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 actually true? In this episode, Dr. Whitehouse explores the difference between stress, overwhelm, anxiety, and trauma, and why those distinctions matter so much for food allergy families. She explains how the nervous system works during threat stat...
Send us Fan Mail 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 focus on food allergy education, epinephrine access, and the importance of knowing how to respond in an emergency. Together, we discuss common misconceptions about epinephrine, why hesitation can be dangerous, and how education empowers individu...
Send us Fan Mail 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 conversation to explore how disparities in food allergy diagnosis, treatment access, and outcomes are shaped by psychosocial and systemic factors. We discuss insights so far from the FORWARD study about how stress, culture, language, and resour...
Send us Fan Mail 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 allergy families experience and why advice like “just go no contact” or “let them” often misses the reality of chronic illness. Isolation can feel protective but ultimately becomes unsustainable and unhealthy. This episode offers a more nu...
Send us Fan Mail 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 shape the lived experience of food allergy families. Erin’s work focuses on improving safety and access at the community level so that protection doesn’t depend on privilege or proximity. Together, we discuss: How gaps in food allergy education ...
Send us Fan Mail 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 Black mother, the systemic gaps she witnessed firsthand, and how those experiences fueled her advocacy work. We explore the emotional labor families carry, the importance of representation and trust in medical care, and how food allergy spaces c...
Send us Fan Mail 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 creation of Comfort Kits, tools designed to support children experiencing trauma. We talk about why safety and imagination matter so much for healing, and how small, intentional interventions can make a meaningful difference for kids and families. We also explore Dr. Lombard’s extensive work...
Send us Fan Mail 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 complex medical topics with calm, evidence-based guidance. In our conversation, we go beyond viral posts to explore what it actually means to navigate allergic disease in the modern information landscape. We discuss how social media shapes patie...
Send us Fan Mail 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, and how it is uniquely difficult in food allergy and celiac life. This episode covers: Why food allergy management creates chronic nervous system activationWhy our nervous systems resist self-careHow self-care functions as nervous system regul...
Send us Fan Mail 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, chronic illness, or caregiver stress. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Gary Soffer, allergist-immunologist and integrative medicine physician, for a thoughtful discussion about the intersection of conventional medicine and integrative care. Dr...
Send us Fan Mail 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 freshman year to develop her business. Riya also talks about participating in an upcoming documentary about food allergies, what it's like being the daughter of a leading allergy researcher, and forging her own path. At a time of year when...
Send us Fan Mail 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. Natalie shares how having this remarkable companion has transformed daily life, and how she is using Harley's skills to help others with allergies, too. We also discuss: How Harley alerts for allergens, and Natalie's handling processWhat li...
Send us Fan Mail Food should bring joy, comfort, nourishment, and safety, but food allergies and chronic illness often turn food into something stressful, restrictive, or scary. Lauren Less, creator of Less with Laur, is here to talk about her experiences with adult-diagnosed food allergies, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Lauren brings her training as a mental health professional and her passion for he...
Send us Fan Mail In this special crossover episode, Dr. Whitehouse shares a recent guest appearance on The Itch Podcast (episode 132), where she joined hosts Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney Kwong Hing for an open and compassionate conversation about navigating difficult family interactions during the holiday season. Together, they unpack how to set and maintain boundaries, communicate effectively, and stay grounded in the face of emotional triggers, expectations, and family histories. This episod...
Send us Fan Mail The Food Allergy Nursing Association (FANA) is celebrating one year of transforming the landscape of food allergy care. In this special anniversary episode, I’m joined by FANA’s president Dr. Olga Kagan, and secretary Sarah Pederson to talk about their mission to elevate nursing education, improve patient care, and establish certified allergy nurse educators. Together, we discuss how FANA is working to integrate food allergy education into nursing training programs and what t...
Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Michael Pistiner, pediatric allergist at Mass General for Children, we focus on anaphylaxis management in young children and epinephrine use. Dr. Pistiner walks us through which epinephrine devices are appropriate for infants and toddlers, and demonstrates the best techniques for administering them safely. He shares practical guidance for holding a squirming baby, minimizing fear, and building confidence in epinephrine. -->We encourage...
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