Don't Feed the Fear: Allergy Anxiety & Trauma

Amanda Whitehouse, Ph.D.
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Mental Health

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.comUsed with permission from the artistFull transcripts are available to support accessibility and inclusive listening: https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/dont-feed-the-fear-blog

  1. 6d ago

    #95 Traditional Chinese Medicine: Dr. Xiu-Min Li's Groundbreaking Research

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Dr. Xiu-Min Li, a physician and researcher uniquely trained in both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Dr. Li has spent decades conducting rigorous scientific research exploring how traditional herbal therapies may help treat allergic diseases such as food allergies and eczema. Her work focuses on developing standardized herbal formulas and studying their effects on the immune system through laboratory and clinical research. This includes the development of Food Allergy Herbal Formula (FAHF) and other therapies being studied for conditions such as severe eczema and topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). In this conversation, Dr. Li explains the scientific approach behind her work, how TCM concepts translate into modern immunology research, and what the future may hold for integrative treatments for allergic disease. Contact Dr. Li: 914-257-3754 xiumin_li@nymc.edu https://www.nymc.edu/gsbms/faculty/li-xiu-min.php Research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Li+Xiu-Min+Valhalla Books: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tradition-chn-med-west-sci-fight-against-allergic-disease-henry-ehrlich/0b01ff3914cea929?ean=9789814733694&next=t https://bookshop.org/p/books/treating-eczema-with-traditional-chinese-medicine-henry-ehrlich/cb1efb84d7fdac75?ean=9789811247538&next=t Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #95 Traditional Chinese Medicine: Dr. Xiu-Min Li's Groundbreaking Research

  2. Sep 22

    #94 A Parent & Psychologist’s Perspective on the Emotional Side of Food Allergy Treatment with Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins

    Send us Fan Mail Food allergy treatment looks very different today than it did 17 years ago. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins joins me for a deeply personal conversation about navigating food allergy treatment as a parent long before many of today's options were readily available. Elizabeth is a psychologist, celiac patient, and a celiac and food allergy parent. Her younger daughter has a complex history of multiple severe food allergies alongside asthma, eczema, and environmental allergies, and their family has navigated multiple forms of treatment. We talk about how her experiences shaped what she sees as a psychologist working with food allergy families. We also explore what parents facing immunotherapy decisions today can learn from those who have been navigating these choices for years. This conversation is about more than choosing a treatment. It's about living with uncertainty, knowing your child, making decisions within the reality of your family's circumstances, and finding a way to move forward without letting fear make every decision for you. Follow Dr. Hawkins on IG @foodallergypsychologist and dr-elizabeth.com Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #94 A Parent & Psychologist’s Perspective on the Emotional Side of Food Allergy Treatment with Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins

  3. Sep 15

    #93 Helping Kids Through OIT: Fear, Coping & Building Confidence with Kelsey Mora

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to support a child through oral immunotherapy? The medical protocol is only part of the experience. For children, OIT can involve fear, uncertainty, frustration, procedures, new sensations, and a lot of big feelings—sometimes without the words or skills to communicate what's happening. In this episode, I talk with Kelsey Mora, a dual-certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, about the emotional and developmental side of supporting kids through food allergy treatment. Kelsey brings nearly a decade of hospital-based child life experience together with her training as a therapist, giving her a unique perspective on helping children and families navigate medical experiences. She's also the creator of The Method Workbooks, including The Y Method, an interactive workbook designed to help children understand food allergies and immunotherapy while building communication and coping skills. We talk about preparing children for OIT, helping kids understand what's happening in their bodies, coping with anxiety during treatment, giving children appropriate choices and control, and supporting the whole family through the process. Follow Kelsey: @childlifetherapist childlifetherapist.com The Y Method: https://a.co/d/0cYsEAPW Find my book, From Fear to Freedom: On Amazon - https://a.co/d/0iiOwy04 On bookshop.org -  https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #93 Helping Kids Through OIT: Fear, Coping & Building Confidence with Kelsey Mora

  4. Sep 8

    #92 Doing What It Takes: Advocating Through Immunotherapy and Kawasaki

    Send us Fan Mail What does it look like when a family is navigating multiple complicated medical journeys? In this episode of Don't Feed the Fear, I sit down with Natalie Grijalva to talk about her experience with her son's food allergy immunotherapy and her son's additional medical challenges related to Kawasaki disease. Natalie started her Instagram account @createlikeamom as a space to explore and express her artistic pursuits, but motherhood led her in a different direction and she now uses the account to raise awareness about food allergies and Kawasaki.  We discuss what it takes to make treatment possible for a child when life is already complicated. We discuss the emotional and practical realities of navigating multiple medical concerns. We also talk about Kawasaki disease awareness and the importance of learning from other chronic illness communities—even when our diagnoses and experiences look different. Many families within the food allergy community find themselves navigating their own unique combination of medical concerns. This conversation is ultimately about hope, persistence, and finding meaningful connection even though none of our stories are exactly the same.  Follow Natalie @createlikeamom and her artwork @dragonflycanvasco Order From Food to Freedom on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0bT0HjQi or on bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #92 Doing What It Takes: Advocating Through Immunotherapy and Kawasaki

  5. Sep 1

    #91 The Reality of Immunotherapy: Progress, Setbacks, and Persistence with Sarah Danna

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Danna, the creator behind @sarahandspices, to talk about her life with food allergies, her more recent diagnosis with MCAS, and her experience with immunotherapy through the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) at the Food Allergy Institute. Sarah shares the emotional and practical realities of navigating treatment while also building an online community around allergy-friendly living. We talk about the progress she has experienced through the program, some of the challenges and setbacks along the way, and how her care team is adapting treatment in the context of mast cell activation syndrome. We also discuss what it’s like to share your health journey publicly as a content creator and how community support has shaped Sarah’s advocacy. Thank you Sarah for sharing your honest patient perspective on navigating complex allergic disease and treatment. Find Sarah @sarahandspices and www.sarahandspices.com From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy: https://a.co/d/03L4ZM8g Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #91 The Reality of Immunotherapy: Progress, Setbacks, and Persistence with Sarah Danna

  6. Aug 25

    #90 Understanding the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) with Dr. Inderpal Randhawa

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Inderpal Randhawa, founder of the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) for allergies, joins the podcast to discuss his program and its approach to food allergy treatment. As part of this season exploring emerging and evolving allergy management options, this conversation aims to provide information directly from the source. TIP has generated both interest and debate within the food allergy community. In this episode, we discuss: • The foundational principles of TIP  • How the program is structured  • Patient selection and goals  • How TIP fits into the broader treatment landscape  • Areas of ongoing discussion within the field This episode does not serve as an endorsement of any specific treatment. The intention is to offer balanced access to information so families and clinicians can make informed decisions in partnership with their own medical teams. As always, we also consider the mental health dimensions of navigating complex medical choices. Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #90 Understanding the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) with Dr. Inderpal Randhawa

  7. Aug 18

    #89 Is SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) Underrated? With Dr. Nikhila Schroeder

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, allergist Dr. Nikhila Schroeder, founder of Allergenity Health, joins the podcast to discuss sublingual immunotherapy as a standalone treatment for food allergies. As the second installment in our SLIT series, this conversation moves beyond introductory discussions and into a broader vision of what SLIT can offer. Dr. Schroeder shares how sublingual immunotherapy may provide meaningful protection, improved quality of life, and a lower intensity pathway for families who may not be pursuing higher-dose oral immunotherapy. We explore: • How SLIT works and how it differs from OIT • Expanding SLIT beyond its traditional framing • Which patients may benefit most from this approach • The importance of aligning treatment with family goals This episode is part of a larger season exploring immunotherapy options in allergy care, highlighting both the promise and the complexity of an expanding treatment landscape. Follow Dr. Schroeder: https://allergenuityhealth.com/ @allergeunityhealth Dr. Whitehouse's book: From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy https://a.co/d/003saZ8p Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #89 Is SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) Underrated? With Dr. Nikhila Schroeder

  8. Aug 11

    #88 Reflecting on OIT for Three with Sarah Hornung

    Send us Fan Mail Every family's experience with food allergy treatment is different and hearing those lived experiences can be just as valuable as knowing the research and hearing from the experts. This week's episode welcomes back food allergy Mom and advocate Sarah Hornung, who was first featured in Episode 11. Sarah is back for this season on immunotherapy to share what it was like to guide all three of her children through oral immunotherapy for multiple foods. Our conversation explores the realities of treatment from a parent's perspective: the challenges, the unexpected moments, the lessons learned, and how each child's journey unfolded in its own unique way. If you're considering immunotherapy or supporting families who are, we hope this conversation offers both practical insight and reassurance that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment experience. Follow Sarah on Instagram @theeagerteacher Listen to her previous episode (#11) on DFF here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/16272334 Find Dr. Whitehouse's book on: Amazon  https://a.co/d/03vDOBMy bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-fear-to-freedom-a-workbook-for-navigating-allergy-immunotherapy-amanda-r-desio-whitehouse/62f4d096796ed48c?ean=9798995147404&bkshp-astro=t Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme! www.kyledine.com Find Dr. Whitehouse: -thefoodallergypsychologist.com -Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist -Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist -welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

    #88 Reflecting on OIT for Three with Sarah Hornung
See All (108)

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

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.comUsed with permission from the artistFull transcripts are available to support accessibility and inclusive listening: https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/dont-feed-the-fear-blog

Information

You Might Also Like