Dr. Olivardia is a clinical psychologist, lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Clinical Associate at McLean Hospital. He maintains a private practice in Lexington, MA, where he specializes in the treatment of ADHD, executive functioning issues, and issues that face students with learning differences. He is a recognized expert in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is on the Professional Advisory Boards for Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) and The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), as well as sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for ADDitude and the Expert Network for Understood. He is co-author of The Adonis Complex, a book which details the various manifestations of body image problems in males. He has appeared in publications such as Time, GQ, and Rolling Stone, and has been featured on Good Morning America, Extra, CBS This Morning, CNN, and VH1. He has spoken on numerous radio and webinar shows and presents at many talks and conferences around the country. He also has lived experience as someone with ADHD and learning differences and a parent of two teenagers with ADHD and Dyslexia.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

What if overcoming food addiction isn't about changing yourself but about identifying and releasing foreign influences within your mind? In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Robert Falconer to dive into the concept of "unattached burdens" and explore how these external influences may drive our cravings. Falconer, an expert in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, is the author of "The Others Within Us: Internal Family Systems, Porous Mind, and Spirit Possession," which examines how unattached burdens might be impacting our behaviors and addictions.

Robert Falconer holds an undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology with a focus on the history of religions and a master's degree in psychology. With over 50 years of experience in psychotherapy, Falconer specializes in IFS Therapy and has authored multiple books, including a co-authored work with IFS founder Richard Schwartz. His latest book introduces the concept of unattached burdens, blending psychological insights with a spiritual dimension that challenges traditional Western views of the mind.

Episode Highlights:

Personal Journey: Falconer shares his career evolution over five decades, moving from Gestalt therapy to IFS and beyond.
Insights into navigating criticism and maintaining an open, resilient approach.

Understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS): Falconer introduces IFS, explaining its basic concepts and how it frames addiction as a struggle between internal "selves."
A look at how Falconer’s ideas diverge from the traditional IFS approach, particularly with the theory of unattached burdens.

Exploring "The Others Within Us": What are unattached burdens, and are they literal or metaphorical?
Discussion on the "citadel theory of mind" and how unattached burdens challenge conventional views of selfhood.
How unattached burdens differ from conditions like dissociative identity disorder.

The Concept of a Porous Mind: The "porous mind" as a way to understand openness to external influences.
How this concept redefines addiction and compulsive behaviors, offering an alternative approach to understanding cravings.

Unattached Burdens and Spirit Possession: Drawing parallels between spirit possession across cultures and psychological theories in the West.
Exploring whether these burdens are akin to Jungian archetypes.
Can unattached burdens be viewed as a metaphor, or must they be taken literally for therapeutic success?

Evidence and Ethical Considerations: Falconer discusses the evidence for external influences on thought and behavior.
Ethical questions surrounding spirit guides in therapy and the use of hallucinogens for accessing these influences.

Applying These Ideas to Food Addiction: How unattached burdens might provide new insights into food cravings and compulsive eating.
Potential applications of spirit guides or ancestral influences in addressing food addiction.
Considering parallels between "unattached burdens" and the "red dog" in Food Addiction (FA) frameworks.

Connect with Robert Falconer: Website: https://robertfalconer.us

🎧 Clinicians Corner on Nervous System Regulation in Food Addiction Recovery 🎧

💡 Top Insights
A Broader Mission: Clinicians Corner is here to spread practical interventions from food addiction recovery and empower both clinicians and non-clinicians, like recovery coaches, with actionable tools.

🧠 Nervous System Basics
Fight, Flight, Freeze: Key states that influence our actions. Understanding and moving between sympathetic (stress) and parasympathetic (calm) states can change how we respond to cravings.
Body-Brain Connection: 80% of body-to-brain communication underscores how physical sensations impact recovery. Think of the body as the “horse,” guiding the brain’s “rider.”

🛠️ Practical Tools for Regulation
Sigh It Out: Deep breaths and the “physiological sigh” (two quick inhales, one long exhale) reset the body in moments of overwhelm.
Simple Movements: Light stretching, progressive muscle relaxation, and finger movements help release pent-up energy.
Grounding Senses: Engage your environment with the 5-4-3-2-1 technique (seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, tasting). Scents like lavender or your favorite aromas can bring a sense of peace.

📅 Daily Pre-Meal Practices
Mini-Rituals: Brief walks, calming music, or being near nature before meals can ease digestion and reduce cravings.
Self-Compassionate Touch: Hugging yourself or placing a hand on your chest for a few seconds promotes calm, especially if you’re working through complex emotions or past trauma.

🌿 Why Nervous System Care Matters
Healing from Trauma: Trauma often results in hypervigilance or emotional collapse. Recognizing these responses in yourself and practicing grounding tools helps create safety from within.
Community & Co-Regulation: Group settings, supportive peers, and even animals can offer regulatory “energy” and mirror a sense of calm for those struggling with addiction recovery.

🎯 Remember
Consistency, not perfection, is key! Practicing these tools regularly makes it easier to access them during high-stress moments. We invite you to share your topic suggestions with us! Please email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Connect with Molly and Clarissa
Website: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca Email: Info@sweetsobriety.ca