Why You Eat the Way You Do with Jessica Setnick (Part 1)

The High-Functioning Disaster

Dietitian and eating-psychology educator Jessica Setnick joins Sacha to unravel the unconscious stories shaping our eating, coping, and self-soothing behaviors — stories rooted in childhood, emotion, and survival.

Jessica introduces the idea of the “inner eater” — the younger self who learned how to navigate fear, comfort, chaos, and connection through food. Together, she and Sacha explore how emotional environments, family dynamics, and attachment wounds silently influence adult behaviors we often shame ourselves for.

If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I do this?” — this episode starts answering that question with compassion rather than judgment.

🧭 In This Episode

• How early emotional wiring shapes adult coping patterns
• Why food becomes a mood-altering chemical
• The link between attachment wounds and eating behavior
• How families pass down beliefs without realizing it
• The influence-map exercise and what it reveals

🪞 Key Takeaways

• Eating behaviors are often trauma responses, not choices.
• Shame and fear get tied to food through lived experience.
• The nervous system — not willpower — drives many eating patterns.
• Coping strategies develop to keep us safe.
• Curiosity dismantles shame faster than discipline ever could.

⚠️ Content Note

Themes include childhood emotional patterns, trauma responses, unconscious conditioning, food-related coping, shame, fear, and attachment wounds. Trauma-informed discussion handled gently. No diet talk.

Connect:

Where to find Jessica:

• 🌐Website: [https://www.jessicasetnick.com/]
• 📚 Workbook: [https://www.foodfairytales.com/]
• 📱Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/eatingdisordersbootcamp/]
• 📱Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/understandingnutrition/]
• 📱X: [https://x.com/JessicaSetnick]
• 🧠LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicasetnick/]

✨ Connect with The High-Functioning Disaster:

• 🎙 Guest inquiries: bookings [at] holderhausmedia [dot] com
• 📬 Get in touch: heythere [at] holderhausmedia [dot] com
• 🎙 More episodes & info: [https://the-high-functioning-disaster.captivate.fm/]
• 🎙 Discover more podcasts by Holder Haus Media: [https://holder-haus-media.captivate.fm/]
• 📱 Follow on IG: @thehighfunctioningdisaster [https://instagram.com/thehighfunctioningdisaster]
• 📺 Watch on YouTube: Uploads coming soon! [https://www.youtube.com/@HolderHausMedia]
• 💜 When I’m not podcasting, I’m also a Scentsy Consultant of 10+ years. If you’re into fragrance and cozy vibes, you can find my shop here: [https://sachasmells.com]

Keywords

inner eater, emotional coping, trauma and food, attachment wounds, childhood conditioning, survival responses, shame patterns, high-functioning behaviors, emotional eating, nervous system

🎧 In Part 2, Jessica breaks down the “rules” we absorbed growing up — the policing of food, the body comments, the shame triggers, and the emotional landmines that still shape our patterns today. She also explains how trauma (even totally unrelated to food) becomes woven into eating behavior and why breaking these patterns requires compassion, not control.

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