Creating Space for Neurodiversity in Eating Disorder Recovery with Nefrit El-Or - Episode 30

Inclusion and Advocacy from a Parent's Perspective: The Inclusive Dad

In this episode of The Inclusive Dad Podcast, host AAron interviews Nefrit El-Or, an advocate for eating disorder recovery and late-diagnosed autism awareness. Nefrit shares her journey from feeling broken to embracing self-acceptance after receiving an autism diagnosis during treatment for anorexia nervosa. She highlights the significant overlap between autism and eating disorders, emphasizing the need for greater inclusivity and accommodations in treatment settings. Nefrit discusses her creative process as a songwriter, which helped her cope and express her struggles. Her story inspires listeners to practice compassion, break stereotypes, and embrace diverse experiences, fostering a more inclusive society.

Key Takeaways:

Self-Acceptance Journey: Self-love and grace can take years to develop but are crucial for recovery.

Collaborative Care: Clinicians who are neuroaffirming and compassionate are essential to effective treatment.

Words Matter: Avoid commenting on appearance to support individuals with eating disorders compassionately.

Cultural Misconceptions: Stereotypes about autism and eating disorders create barriers to understanding and effective care.

Boundaries Build Trust: Compassionate boundaries in care create safety and support for recovery.

Nefrit’’s definition of inclusion:

For a great sum of my life, I felt that I was not seen. That my difficulties were transparent. Inclusiveness, in my book, is seeing and making space for everyone, for what they are.

Nefrit’s Bio:

Writer, blogger, musician/singer songwriter. 2e AuDHD, a free spirit, a coffee lover, and a lover of Love and of knowledge, of anything whimsical and of all things Nature, a mother of two, and a homeschool educator, Nefrit El-Or is an advocate for eating disorders recovery and autism awareness.

As a previously undiagnosed autistic, Nefrit spent her life feeling broken, as though something was inherently flawed within her. In 2022, after three years of unremitting starvation under the sway of Anorexia Nervosa, she found herself standing on the brink of death, burned out on a life she couldn’t do.

Nefrit had to leave her two young children and husband behind and spend ten months away from her home in the highest levels of care in treatment for eating disorders, battling for her life.

At the end of those ten grueling months, she returned home, filled with triumph, love, and gratitude for a world that helped her live.

Receiving her autism diagnosis was what helped turn the tides. It enabled her to finally begin unraveling her life and embark on a transformative journey of self-acceptance.

Today, Nefrit wishes to use her powerful and difficult experiences to help others navigate their own journeys, through her music and writing. She is an advocate for eating disorder recovery and late-identified autism, aiming to raise awareness for the prevalence and comorbidity between the two.

Her music, depicting her struggles, can be found on YouTube and other music platforms such as iTunes and Spotify. She is also a blogger and is currently finishing a book that chronicles her journey.

Connect with Nefrit:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nefrit.elorsever

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nefrit_elor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NefritElOrMusic

Medium: https://medium.com/@nefritelor

Website: https://www.nefritel-or.com/

Nefrit’s Music Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/from-greater-heights/510754860

SPAM© Count:

Host:

Yes

Current Guest:

No - Hasn’t tried it

Cumulative Guest Stats:

Yes - 15

No - 13

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