ARFID is a serious eating disorder. To note, ARFID is short for avoidant, restrictive food intake disorder. ARFID symptoms impacts children, teenagers and adults each differently. Did you know that ARFID can impact anyone of any age? On that note, ARFID can occur in children in elementary years, teens, and adults in their elderly years. At Wisdom Within Counseling, we specialize in ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut.
Symptoms of ARFID
It is more than just picky eating. ARFID can also go along with disorders like sensory processing disorder or autism. Also, ARFID is an eating disorder that can impact social connections. A person with ARFID may fear eating with others. So, this can be a stressor for family meal times or eating at school or work. In the school cafeteria, a child might feel so anxious that they will just skip lunch. In their workplace, an adult may skip their lunch break because they are afraid to be eating in public.
Avoidant, restrictive, food intake disorder is a severe eating disorder, but treatable with therapy.
How do I know if I have ARFID, or if my child has ARFID?
Children and adults with ARFID will have a very limited diet. Additionally, they will only have a few safety foods that they like. We know variety is important for optimal nutrition. For some with ARFID, it is hard to trust that other foods will not make them sick. People with ARFID stick to their safety foods for one main reason. They know that these foods won’t cause them to have an upset stomach. To note, trying a new food or eating in public may cause fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. When trying a new food, anxiety, OCD, and panic disorders may increase.
With ARFID in children, you may notice weight loss due to lack of interest in food.
Also, with ARFID, a child may not have an interest in eating and then lose weight. It is more common for ARFID to be identified in children due to weight loss. Regular check ups to a pediatrician can help monitor growth and weight. A child’s pediatrician may recommend play therapy or child counseling to support confidence around eating.
Texture sensitivities to food and sensory processing disorders
An adult may not like the texture of crunchy food in their mouth. Therefore, they may only restrict themselves to soft foods. As well, an adult with ARFID may fear choking and only eat soft foods. Irrational fears feel very real to a person with ARFID. Often, fears a rooted in past traumas of some kind that therapy can help release. While soft foods can supply nutrition, ARFID and restrictions may get worse over time. Sensory-based aversions are very common with ARFID and therapy can help.
To begin, click the pink button below to book your free phone consultation for ARFID counseling and to work with an eating disorder specialist in Connecticut.
It is important to know that Wisdom Within counseling is a group of ARFID eating disorder specialists.
Additionally, children and adults with ARFID fear adverse consequences of eating unsafe foods. Some children may only eat foods that are more processed have sugar or food dye. With ARFID, slowly working to gain flexibility and curiosity around different foods is important. Wisdom Within Counseling supports children, teens, and adults with eating disorders like ARFID.
Fears about consequences of eating and drinking
As well, adults with ARFID may avoid drinking water out of fear about going to the bathroom or using a public bathroom. For instance, an adult who fears not being able to find or use a public restroom may not eat or drink water all day. So, they may have a fear of trying trying to find a public restroom or not having access to restrooms.
What isn’t a symptom of ARFID?
As well, ARFID does not mean that someone restricts food or focuses on weight loss. Unlike bulimia or anorexia, ARFID is an eating disorder that is not about body image or body shape. Instead, each individual displays and experiences their ARFID symptoms differently. Their symptoms are connected to their specific trauma and root cause of ARFID. When a child or an adult has a ARFID, they don’t typically fear being fat like in anorexia. Sensory processing disorder may be a part of ARFID.
ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut helps children, teens and adults because symptoms are different for each person
Sometimes, children and adults will have a lack of interest in food altogether. Other times, children and adults with ARFID will be afraid of the consequences of eating certain foods such as getting a stomach ache or a headache. It is important to know that working with a therapist who understands and specializes with avoidant, restrictive, food intake disorder is essential. For instance, a therapist who doesn’t have eating disorder speciality training may tell a person to “snap out of it.” Or, they may say, “Stop, being so picky.”
However, when a child or an adult has ARFID, they can not just snap out fo it or stop being picky.
Working with a specialist creates emotional validation. Children and adults who struggle with avoidant, restrictive, food intake disorders need help from a treatment team. There might need to be a meal replacement supplements, work with a nutritionist, dietitian, and a therapist together. At Wisdom Within Counseling, your eating disorder therapist can look at trauma history, current stress, home life, and family environment.
What does ARFID therapy look like?
Often times, therapy for ARFID involves lifestyle skills in a calm setting such as having snacks or eating together. At Wisdom Within Counseling, we also offer art therapies, yoga therapies, drama therapies, music therapies, and walking therapies by the beach.
To begin, click the button below to book your phone consult for ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut.
Also, ARFID is treatable and there is hope if you have this diagnosis. Working with the team at Wisdom Within Counseling can help you develop awareness bout food triggers.
What causes ARFID?
Sometimes, ARFID is diagnosed because there has been significant weight loss or children are not achieving the developmental growths. Other times, ARFID can be a result of strep virus, lyme disease, PANS, and PANDAS. Additionally, ARFID is an eating disorder that can occur due to a traumatic event. Having a choking incident can be a trauma trigger for ARFID symptoms. There may be a history of childhood trauma, and children and adults may need help talking about expressing emotions related to food. Also, feeling embarrassed from throwing up in public can lead to fears around food.
ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut at Wisdom Within can help with releasing these painful traumatic events around food. As well, if a child or adult experiences bullying or shame around eating, they may develop ARFID. Furthermore, growing up in childhood trauma, experiencing sexual abuse, or a physical abuse all can lead to ARFID. At times, ARFID develops after severe stomach pain, food poisoning, or food allergies. Having a chronic illness can also trigger ARFID.
What are negative aspects of having ARFID?
Some people with ARFID may focus just on eating junk food. Then, they not get the nutrition they need. Other times, an adult or a child with ARFID may have certain textures that they don’t like. For instance, the seeds on the outside of a strawberry can create a sensation of anxiety or nausea. Additionally, people with ARFID are struggling with fears of consequences of what might happen if they ate a certain food. Additionally, people who have ARFID may be underweight, overweight, or even a healthy weight.
ARFID is not always visible physically.
Essentially, on a psychological level, ARFID create mental anguish, conflict, and anxiety. Someone who has ARFID doesn’t necessarily look sick, ill, or obese. However, it is important to understand that people with ARFID are struggling with a serious eating disorder. Children and teenagers with ARFID need immediate therapy. ARFID is a serious eating disorder and it is not just pick eating.
Wisdom Within Counseling offers ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut.
To begin, click the button below to book you phone consult for ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut.
Children, teenagers, and adults may show different symptoms of avoidant, restrictive, food intake disorder. So, nutritional supplements may also be part of treatment, nutrition sessions, and therapy.
At Wisdom Within Counseling, our team helps children, teenagers, and adults struggling with ARFID. ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut is a speciality Wisdom Within offers.
What are other issues that can come with an ARFID diagnosis?
There might be depression, anxiety, sensory processing issues, and difficulty sleeping alongside ARFID. Additionally, ARFID eating disorder counseling in Connecticut supports building confidence and a healthy relationship with food. Unfortunately, many adults with ARFID may not receive a diagnosis soon enough. To note, many medical professionals are not used to treating ARFID.
At Wisdom Within Counseling, our team specializes in trauma related food disorders and eating disorder therapy.
As well, like with other eating disorders, a person may struggle with low self-esteem, sensory challenges, anxiety, and social anxiety. At times, children and adults with a ARFID also struggle with perfectionism, obsessive compulsive disorders, and obsessive thoughts.
What not to do when your family member has ARFID?
As a family, it is important not to pressure a child or an adult who has a ARFID to eat. Often, children are not allowed to leave the table until they finish their food. In time, this creates a power struggle, family conflict, and more food anxiety. Eating food should never be about obedience. And, eating disorder therapy teaches that no foods are good, bad or scary. All foods are okay. As well, parents, with the best intentions, may pressure their child to, “just eat one bite,” which creates more anxiety around meal times. A child with ARFID may face internal guilt, shame, fear, and need help processing these emotions in counseling.
How to be supportive when your family member or child has ARFID?
When it comes to ARFID, it is important to never shame a child or an adult because of their disorder. For instance, don’t poke fun or be sarcastic about food. Essentially, it is so important to be kind, understanding, and empathetic. Parents and family members may have a challenging time understanding ARFID at first.
Family counseling therapy can help family members learn ways to be supportive and understanding of ARFID habits.
With an avoidant, restrictive food intake disorder, a therapist can help others understand it better. Your eating disorder counselor can also work with teachers, family members, and friends to offer ARFID education. To note, children and adults with ARFID may take longer to eat during meal times and need time to do so.
To begin, click the pink button below to book your free phone consultation for ARFID counseling and to work with an eating disorder specialist in Connecticut.
Remember, working with a therapist who specializes with eating disorders such as ARFID can help you and your child develop a loving relationship with food.
What accommodations at school can help children with ARFID?
Your child’s therapist might work with the school system to ensure your child gets extra snack breaks. Therefore, they can have energy throughout the day without the pressure of a one and only snack time. Children with ARFID and eating disorders deal with anxiety, depression, or even social withdrawal around snack times at school. That way, having more snack times can be very helpful.
Avoidant, restrictive, food intake disorder means children and adults fear abdominal pain, or something bad from eating food. As well, children and adults with ARFID can use therapy to express fears of choking and vomiting. Often, children and adults with eating disorders also have fears of eating in social settings or around others.
If you or your loved ones struggle with avoidant, restrictive, food intake disorder, our team at Wisdom Within Counseling with love to help.
Avoidant, restrictive food intake disorder impacts an individual and their families.
Counseling can be a safe place to slow down and gain clarity. We offer a speciality care for other eating disorders as well as ARFID. Struggling with ARFID alone can lead to even more self-esteem issues and depression. We offer holistic, creative expressive arts in therapy to build self-esteem and confidence. As well, music, art, drama, yoga, and walking therapies offer a language beyond words to support trauma healing.
