Sylvia, a high-functioning woman whose name has been changed for privacy, describes her eating habits as automatic and disconnected from her awareness. Her days are often packed with responsibilities, and meals are consumed in the context of these busy routines. Breakfast is typically a quick coffee and protein bar while driving her children to school. Lunch is eaten at her desk during a remote meeting with the camera off, and dinner is prepared for her family while she finishes homework and emails. After everyone is in bed, she often finds herself eating again—snacking on items like chocolate-covered pretzels, white cheddar rice cakes, and vanilla honey Greek yogurt. She describes these late-night episodes as happening without conscious awareness, saying, "I honestly don't think I make a decision to do it. It's more like it just happens to me." This kind of eating, known as mindless eating, is often confused with overeating and is a common topic in self-help and weight management literature. Strategies such as closing the kitchen after dinner or meal prepping at the beginning of the week are frequently recommended. As a practicing psychologist and vice president of research and clinical innovation at a major eating disorder treatment network, the author notes that many patients—particularly high-functioning women—report entire eating episodes they have no real memory of. Dissociation, a clinical term describing a disconnection from the present moment, can be a response to trauma and may contribute to disordered eating patterns. Bethany Brand, a clinical psychologist and professor emerita at Towson University, explains that dissociation is "a kind of disconnection from yourself or your experience." While it can occur in everyday situations like driving or cooking, it is a well-established response to traumatic experiences. Brand notes that "dissociation can be protective when something is happening that a person cannot escape." For many individuals with a history of trauma, dissociated eating can serve as a way to self-medicate, numb emotions, and avoid difficult feelings. Sylvia's early childhood was marked by volatility and inconsistency, which may have contributed to her tendency to suppress emotional responses. As an adult, her focus on career and family life became a way to stay emotionally detached, a strategy that was consistently reinforced by positive outcomes. Virginia Sole-Smith, author of Fat Talk, highlights that in today's culture, "you have to make a really conscious choice to protect your right to have hunger." She notes that for many, hunger can be seen as an inconvenience, and feeling full may be interpreted as a sign of going too far. Female socialization can reinforce this dynamic, teaching that prioritizing basic human needs may be seen as a sign of not doing a good job. Evelyn Tribole, co-creator of Intuitive Eating, emphasizes that rebuilding trust with the body is always possible and can occur gradually. She suggests looking for patterns rather than focusing on individual episodes, asking questions like, "Am I hungry?" and "What sounds good?" Over time, this awareness can extend beyond eating, helping individuals recognize when they are tired, sad, overwhelmed, or craving pleasure. Tribole calls this ability a "superpower," noting that being present during meals is not about food itself but about being open to listening to the body's messages and trusting what it communicates.