Symptoms of ARFID
Do you, or someone you care about, suffer from Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, otherwise known as ARFID?
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- Avoiding and/or restricting certain foods or types of food
- May be sensitive to the taste, texture, smell or appearance of certain foods, or only be able to eat foods at a certain temperature
- Difficulties recognising when hungry
- Feeling full after a few mouthfuls and difficulty eating more
- Taking a long time over mealtimes, chewing food very carefully
- Always having the same meals
- Only eating foods of a similar colour
- Avoiding social events where food may be present
- Anxiety at mealtimes
- Health problems related to nutritional deficiencies
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The Dangers of ARFID and the Need for Professional Help
Just to make life more complicated, people can move from one eating disorder to another (ARFID commonly and dangerously morphs into anorexia) and the wrong kind of treatment can lead to other significant health problems. This is why working with a professional is so very important: each disorder carries their unique challenges and require different approaches.
If you, or someone you care about, is suffering from an eating disorder it is very distressing. It can severely impact your/their self-esteem, social life, relationships and, last but not least, health.
Eating disorders can persist for years untreated, during which time they take a stronger hold. The longer they are left untreated, the more stubborn they are to treat and the longer it takes to recover. So, early intervention will serve you better.
Recovery from ARFID
What is most important is to work to ensure recovery, not just in the short-term but for life. This will entail changing the relationship with food, neutralise the phobic response, restore weight if appropriate, nutritional rehabilitation, psychological support. Maintenance and lapse-prevention are also significant factors. In addition, helping to develop a life outside of the disorder will be an important part of recovery.
In treatment you can expect to be guided and supported through the eating disorder, feeling heard and understood, so you come out the other side stronger, wiser, more confident and healthier, both mentally and physically.
Professional Help for ARFID
As a Master Practitioner of Eating Disorders and a nutritionist, I have been working with individuals, from teenagers to adults, for many years. I use an integrative approach, empowering sufferers to have a healthy relationship with food, develop insight into the condition, what is keeping them stuck and help them move beyond it, step by step, feeling safe and supported.
Recovery requires professional help. If you want help for eating disorders, do pick up the phone for a free, no-obligation chat to find out how I can help you. I can be reached on 0345 130 0854. Or you can get in touch here.
A full list available from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm