The Cure for Chronic Pain with Nicole Sachs, LCSW IBS, Eating Disorders, and the Athlete’s Nervous System: The MindBody Connection with Kamila
Mar 6, 2026
Kamila Tan, pro beach volleyball player and recovery advocate who healed from functional neurological symptoms and disordered eating. She discusses how athletic culture and perfectionism tie into IBS and eating struggles. They explore grief, nervous system dysregulation, vaccine reactions, and using JournalSpeak to process emotions and begin healing.
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Early IBS And Emotional Eating In An Athlete
- Kamila developed IBS-like bloating and used food as emotional regulation while competing as a multi-sport athlete in high school.
- She described vomiting sensations as an infant to intense post-practice overeating and fixation on digestion that set the stage for later disordered eating.
Peak Performance While Struggling With Anorexia
- At UCLA Kamila began restricting then counting calories, which progressed into full anorexia even while she achieved peak athletic performance.
- She noted the paradox that her most underweight year coincided with All-American honors, reinforcing the disorder via external validation.
TMS Symptoms Are Nervous System Distractions
- Nicole explains TMS symptoms function as distractions that protect against feeling stored trauma and repressed emotions.
- She links diverse symptoms (pain, IBS, anxiety, OCD) to the same constriction/withholding mechanism that keeps people from feeling underlying issues.