ARFID: What To Know
ARFID: What To Know
Written by Lindy Burke
When speaking about eating disorders we usually hear about Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia, but what is ARFID?
ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. ARFID most commonly develops in early childhood, however, an individual can experience onset at any point over the course of their life. ARFID can share a few characteristics with other eating disorders such as nutritional deficiencies and low weight, however, it has some differences as well. How is ARFID different from other eating disorders?
The main difference between ARFID and other eating disorders is that there is not an emphasis on a desire to lose weight or a disturbance with your body image. ARFID focuses more so on the physical experience of eating. ARFID tends to have one or two of these three defining sets of characteristics.
Anxiety, distress, or fear regarding certain textures, colors, tastes, or temperatures. Think discomfort related to different sensations that different foods can have such as being too soft or too hard. Maybe foods of a specific color cause you discomfort.
Having fear or anxiety about choking or vomiting because of eating food. This can be an anticipated fear, where choking and vomiting do not commonly happen or you may commonly experience choking or vomiting.
The third is that you might just lack an interest in eating food. Instead of looking forward to certain foods or meals you may view eating as a task such as making your bed.
Now that we’ve explored what makes ARFID unique, let's discuss some ways to support a loved one with ARFID.
Create a safe space. Mental health often carries stigmas and preconceived judgment. Any diagnosis or set of symptoms can be isolating, even mental health diagnoses that are commonly discussed in the media such as anxiety. This is often because we are not encouraged to share with others when we are struggling. Instead we are encouraged to say things like “my day was good” or “I’m doing fine,” even though connection is proven to improve mental health. One way you can support a loved one with ARFID is to create a safe space for them to explore, discuss, and share about what they are experiencing. Each individual experiences life differently, even when we are going through the same experiences. By allowing your loved one to share about their experience of ARFID you are able to decrease their feeling of isolation and provide support even just by listening!
Read up. Another way to support a loved one with ARFID is to learn more. By doing your own research you can become better informed about what they are going through. This will allow you to find answers to some of the logistical questions and leave more time to discuss their individual experience.
Validate their experience. The word “validate” can be thrown around alot in the media, but what does it mean? Validation can come in many forms. Validation simply means listening to another and allowing their experience to exist. Rather than questioning them or “trying to find the bright side,” you can just sit with your loved one as they share. You can also ask questions! Just be sure they do not come with judgment or criticism.
Self-care. Make sure you are taking care of yourself! As a loved one is going through a period where they need more support, you may too. Caring for the ones we love can be rewarding, tiring, and emotional. We must fill our cup before we are able to fill others. One way of doing this may be engaging in self-care. Self-care looks different for everybody. It may be reading a book, taking a walk, journaling, or simply being outside! Explore what makes you happy and be sure to support yourself while supporting others.
If ARFID sounds like something you or your loved one may be struggling with you may want to consult with a mental health professional. At Thrope Therapy we lead with values of inclusivity, empathy, authenticity and collaboration. We specialize in eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. We offer both in-person and virtual sessions. Feel free to reach out and schedule your free 15 minute consultation call today. Please email us with any questions or inquiries at hello@thropetherapy.com.
