When Survival Shapes Behavior: Childhood Divorce, Overeating, and Emotional Safety

Описание: In this powerful return conversation, Dr. Micol Neely welcomes back Kristina Helmstadter Cervone for a deeper, more vulnerable discussion on how childhood experiences—particularly divorce—can shape emotional health, self-confidence, and lifelong behaviors.
Kristina shares what it’s like growing up in an environment marked by uncertainty and emotional instability, and how those early experiences can create deep-rooted confidence issues. She opens up about how insecurity around safety and stability can even influence eating behaviors, including overeating driven by fear, scarcity, and not knowing when the next meal might come.
The conversation also explores Kristina’s journey through intense life experiences in the 1990s, including military service, PTSD, and the high-pressure demands of serving in uniform. Coming from a family with a strong history of military service, Kristina made the decision to serve herself—working to pay for college and carry on a legacy of responsibility and resilience.
Now practicing family law, Kristina uses her lived experience to guide families through some of their most difficult moments. Her work is rooted in one core belief: doing what is truly best for the child. She brings compassion, insight, and firsthand understanding to families navigating divorce, helping them minimize harm and create healthier outcomes for children.
This episode is an honest look at how early life experiences impact adulthood—and how healing, awareness, and purpose can transform pain into powerful advocacy for others.

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