#119 - Complicated Behaviors: Food Obsession & Hyperphagia

Hyperphagia is an extreme, unsatisfied, drive to consume food to the point of being life threatening. Those with hyperphagia are best supported with schedules and environments offering food secutiry. Our guest has a son in his late teens with prader will and thus hyperphagia and she is sharing practical tips and tricks that have been the most helpful for her son. Things like what to put in the IEP, navigating social gatherings, food schedules, where to store food, and ways to help the individual have a feeling of food security.

About the Guest

Jessica Patay is a mother, wife, and advocate/cheerleader for Special Needs Mothers. She has been married to her husband, Chris, for 23 years and they reside in the Palos Verdes area in Southern California. They have two sons and a daughter, all teenagers. Their second son, almost age 17, was born with a rare, medically complex genetic disorder, called Prader-Willi syndrome.

Because Jessica is passionate about serving, mentoring, and inspiring other Special Needs Moms, she launched and leads a non-profit organization called We Are Brave Together. WABT provides resources, respite, support groups, mentoring and inspiration for moms caring for children or adult children, any age, with any diagnosis, disability or challenge. She believes in the power of gathering to empower, strengthen and uplift moms in their unique, diverse and difficult journeys. WABT offers support groups, workshops, retreats and inspirational events. (During this quarantine, WABT is offering weekly Zoom Support Group meetings On Monday nights at 8 pm.) You can find out more at wearebravetogether.com and see their resourceful and inspirational posts on Instagram @wearebravetogether

Jessica Patay has always been a lover of words, ever since 2ndgrade when she declared she wanted to be a famous “arthur.” She has been blogging (infrequently) since 2012 for moms and Special Needs Moms. Her superpower is her honesty in truth-telling from the trenches of Motherhood. She is a three-time alumnus with Expressing Motherhood, a stage show of storytellers and performers all sharing about motherhood.