When the System Wasn't Built for You: Trans Identity, Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders with Eva Echo

Have you ever walked into a healthcare setting and felt like one part of your identity was being used to explain away everything else? This one is for you. Eva Echo (she/they) is a distinguished activist, writer, and TEDx speaker, focusing on transgender+ rights, intersectionality, and eating disorders. After hearing Eva speak at the Dump the Scales march, I basically ran after her to get her on the podcast, and I am so glad I did. Eva has spent years fighting for trans+ people in healthcare, including taking NHS England to the High Court over unlawful waiting times, and many other incredible projects. She also has her own lived experience of an eating disorder, autism, and ADHD, and this conversation weaves all of that together in a way I haven't heard anywhere else. In this episode, we explore: - Eva's experience of restrictive eating and how it developed alongside her identity as a trans woman - How autism and ADHD intersect with her eating disorder - The moment a GP told Eva she couldn't have an eating disorder and it's lasting impact - Eva's experience of Trans broken arm syndrome - What medical gatekeeping looks like across eating disorders, gender identity, and neurodivergence, - Eva's legal challenge against NHS England and the landmark ruling that came from it - Why the NHS can feel like a conveyor belt instead of individualised care - Eva's path analogy in relation to eating disorder recovery - Eva's message to anyone who has never felt truly seen or heard Eva's message is simple, and I think it is everything: be your own kind of beautiful. **Connect with Us:** - Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast - Follow Full of Beans on Instagram - Check out our website - Listen on YouTube - Connect with Eva via Instagram (@evaech0) ⚠️ **Content Note:** This episode contains discussions of eating disorders, medical gatekeeping, gender identity, neurodivergence, and experiences of suicidal ideation. Please take care of yourself while listening. Photo credit: Lunar Sea.