In this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with therapist, educator, and author Tamie Gangloff to explore the profound intersection of chronic illness, eating disorders, and substance use. After being diagnosed with scoliosis as a child and struggling with the shame of being told she had a "deformity," Tamie developed a deeply distorted relationship with her body and food, eventually turning to alcohol as a way to cope with severe self-consciousness. Through an open and honest conversation about her non-linear journey—which involved medical trauma, multiple spinal surgeries, and navigating inadequate insurance coverage—Tamie shares how identifying her underlying medical PTSD was the key to unlocking true recovery. This episode serves as an insightful resource for anyone seeking to understand how physical ailments shape identity and why professional, trauma-informed support is essential on the path to healing.

Tamie Gangloff, M.A., MFT is a therapist, educator, and author whose work lives at the intersection of chronic illness, recovery, and resilience. She is a retired athlete, a chronic illness patient, and a scoliosis and spine fusion patient, whose personal journey deeply informs her professional work and is featured in her book, Chronic Illness and Eating Disorders: Assessment, Clinical Skills and Lived Experiences. Tamie has worked across all levels of care for eating disorders and substance use, teaches Eating Disorder Psychology at West Chester University, and has presented nationally and internationally, including at SOSORT, on the psychological and emotional impact of scoliosis, medical trauma, and body image. She brings both clinical insight and lived experience to honest conversations about body trust, identity, grief, and resilience—especially when healing isn’t linear and there’s no clear finish line.

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • How clinical terminology (like the word "deformity") can be deeply internalized by young patients, sparking long-term body image issues.
  • The psychological impact of wearing a medical back brace, including isolation and the desire to "disappear" or make oneself smaller.
  • Why alcohol is frequently used as a coping mechanism to quiet social anxiety and disconnect from physical discomfort.
  • The frustrating reality of navigating disjointed treatment landscapes due to insurance limitations, and how it impacts the recovery process.
  • The essential connection between medical trauma, PTSD, and active eating disorders, and why resolving trauma is necessary for complete healing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The Power of Medical Language: Language matters immensely in clinical settings
  • Being labeled with a "deformity" at a young age led Tamie to associate her body with being "ugly and gross," demonstrating how medical terminology can unintentionally traumatize a child
  • Dual Coping Mechanisms: Tamie utilized disordered eating and alcohol as tools to navigate discomfort. While restriction represented a desire to physically disappear, alcohol functioned as a quick-fix confidence booster that temporarily muted her severe body self-consciousness
  • The Inadequacy of Disjointed Treatment: Historic insurance limitations meant Tamie was only granted short, interrupted periods of care
  • These brief stints allowed her to outline her struggles but did not afford her the time required to do the deep, underlying emotional work
  • Medical Trauma and PTSD: Physical conditions, medical interventions, and surgeries can create profound trauma
  • For Tamie, mapping her experiences to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD allowed her to identify the root driver of her behaviors and finally achieve sustainable recovery

IMPORTANT TIMECODES FROM THIS EPISODE:

  • [00:00] Intro by Dr. Cristina Castagnini on the non-linear nature of therapy and recovery.
  • [03:45] Tamie Gangloff’s scoliosis diagnosis and internalizing the word "deformity" as a child.
  • [05:00] The discomfort of being fitted for a back brace and clothing struggles.
  • [07:15] Navigating adolescent isolation and school-home dynamics in a brace.
  • [11:00] The slow progression of disordered eating patterns before the brace.
  • [13:30] Turning to alcohol to soothe social anxiety and body self-consciousness.
  • [17:30] Realizing the severity of the dual struggles during freshman year of college.
  • [20:15] Coping with inadequate insurance coverage and disjointed outpatient treatment.
  • [23:30] Deciding to enter residential treatment for co-occurring disorders at age 22.
  • [25:45] A physician’s warning, bone health concerns, and taking the first step to full recovery.
  • [27:15] Identifying PTSD from medical trauma and how it unlocked her ability to heal.
  • [30:45] Moving from a career in the mortgage industry to academic and therapeutic clinical work.
  • [33:00] Tamie’s current advocacy work, including her book and professional clinician support groups.

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Part of the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network, produced by the Tweaky Tales.

**Disclaimer:**

The content of this podcast episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or affiliated organizations. If you have any medical or mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Listener discretion is advised, especially for those sensitive to topics related to body image, weight stigma, and eating disorders.