The AuDHD Eating Disorder Recovery Manual

Eating shouldn't be this hard. But when you're autistic with ADHD (AuDHD), every meal becomes a challenge no one seems to understand. Do you forget to eat for hours, only to feel nauseous when you finally remember? Do certain food textures make you gag, limiting your diet to a few "safe" foods? Does meal planning feel impossible, and do you struggle with hunger signals that never seem clear? Traditional eating disorder treatment wasn't designed for neurodivergent brains-and that's why it keeps failing you. This guide reveals why standard approaches don't work for AuDHD women and provides practical, neurodiversity-affirming strategies that actually help. Inside, you'll discover: Why interoception deficits make "listening to your body" impossible and what to do instead How sensory processing differences create genuine food aversions (not psychological fears) Why ADHD executive dysfunction turns meal planning into an overwhelming black hole How anxiety and nervous system dysregulation shut down hunger signals The difference between autistic food neophobia and eating disorder fear foods Mechanical eating approaches for days when body signals disappear How to build external eating structure that compensates for time blindness and poor interoception Strategies for expanding your food repertoire while respecting sensory limits Why hyperfocus leads to 12-hour accidental fasting and how to interrupt the pattern How to work with (not against) your need for sameness and routine Social eating anxiety solutions that actually account for autistic challenges What recovery looks like when you'll always need accommodations This isn't another book telling you to "honor your hunger" or "eat intuitively" when your body's signals are unreliable. This is a comprehensive framework built specifically for autistic ADHD brains dealing with interoception deficits, sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction, alexithymia, and the unique eating challenges that come with being neurodivergent. You'll learn to create sustainable eating systems using alarms, schedules, predetermined portions, and mechanical eating-permanent accommodations that respect your neurology rather than fight against it. Chapters include: Understanding the AuDHD-eating disorder connection and why traditional treatment fails The hidden eighth sense (interoception) and why you can't trust your body's signals When food textures trigger fight-or-flight responses ADHD medication effects on appetite and the meal-planning black hole Autistic rigidity, safe foods, and when sameness becomes problematic The polyvagal theory explanation for anxiety-driven appetite suppression Building your sensory-informed eating framework with practical daily strategies Challenging food rules and fear foods without triggering rigidity Finding neurodivergent-affirming providers and advocating for appropriate treatment Perfect for: Autistic women with ADHD struggling with eating, food anxiety, or restrictive patterns Those diagnosed with ARFID, anorexia, or binge eating disorder who haven't responded to standard treatment Neurodivergent individuals with severe food selectivity or sensory-based eating challenges People who've been told they're "picky eaters" but know it's more complex Anyone seeking eating strategies that work with neurodivergent brains, not against them Recovery for AuDHD women looks different than neurotypical recovery-and that's not just okay, it's expected. This guide shows you how to nourish yourself adequately while honoring your neurodivergent needs.