I Have Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder | ARFID
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ค. 2017
- I have Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and it impacts nearly every area of my life. Today I'd like to share some of my experiences of living with this invisible illness.
ARFID Overview & Statistics: www.nationaleatingdisorders.o...
Risk Factors: www.nationaleatingdisorders.o...
ARFID tag on tumblr: www.tumblr.com/search/arfid
Support group on Facebook: groups/36089...
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5-YEAR UPDATE:
I've been taking a (very) extended hiatus from TH-cam for personal reasons, but I hope to make videos again someday. Reading all of your comments has been a beautiful experience. Thank you for sharing with me.
Since making this video, I have been diagnosed with autism and learned a lot about how sensory dysregulation affects my eating. I've learned to be gentler with myself. I found an occupational therapist (OT) who worked with me to find more foods that I can tolerate, and while I will never be "normal" (there is no such thing), I'm getting the nutrients I need in my own way. I'm still not where I want to be, but life is getting better.
While I haven't made any new videos about ARFID since 2018, there are a few others in this series you can check out if you want to hear more about my experience:
► My Eating Disorder Isn't Taken Seriously - th-cam.com/video/bSa9LBDuC4k/w-d-xo.html
► Trying Fruits for the First Time - th-cam.com/video/02mxH-AA81o/w-d-xo.html
► Living with a Rare Eating Disorder - th-cam.com/video/WCOCZHpg0Q4/w-d-xo.html
I've also compiled a playlist of videos about ARFID, which I haven't updated in years but should still give you more content to check out: th-cam.com/play/PLv1Jf-BSEjsRR2g20nvUgVPbZRKFKnQcD.html
-Morgan
Hope you're doing well, Morgan! Your stories were so relatable. I was asked some questions about this by a friend today and shared your video with her. Thanks for being brave and talking openly about it. It's so difficult for those without it to understand. I've been struggling with relapses lately and your video was like a warm fuzzy blanket, even though you didn't mean for it to be positive. I see your strength and it feels good.
As an Autistic person with ARFID watching this, I was sitting here hoping you'd gotten your Autism diagnosis and access to neuroaffirming care. So glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing.
It’s so crazy that so many people have this disorder and yet we all thought we were the only person in the world that had it :(. Imagine how different life would be if you met just one other person with this
Omg
Yessss that is so true
My 22 yr old daughter 'suffers' from this and I mean that literally - it is a serious social issue. Nobody understands it and she gets constant pressure from 'well meaning' folk to try this, try that etc. She cried when she found your videos and came to me and said 'Mom, I'm not alone!' Thank you so much for sharing and bringing this disorder out into the open. I am certainly learning a great deal and she is feeling so much more better knowing she is no longer alone.
jilly mcg I’m 70. My tears were from relief. No longer the weird one when dining with friends.
Hi Samantha. Judging by the comments in this group and my own experience with Meg, I think most of these people will be 70 with this same issue. I feel for you, I really do. x
jilly mcg Thank you! I can’t tell you the weight of guilt & stress that’s left me! Amazing!!! Bless you and yours!💗
Hi, I'm a 22yr old just realizing this is a disorder and that I may have it, what are you and your daughter doing about it?
Also, thank you for being a great parent, I'm sure your daughter is really happy to have someone that cares that much
@@ur_lina Hi Lina. Thank you for the compliment. Meg and I are a team and I would do absolutely anything for her. I don't pressure her into eating anything that makes her uncomfortable or fearful. She has volunteered from time to time to 'try' something new to add to her menu and so far we have had a few successes.... all in her own time. She has found some favourite meals to eat when we go out which is great as less pressure for her from others. I wouldn't wish this on anyone and wish you the very best at conquering it sooner rather than later.
Same. I have ARFID too, and it's SO hard. My whole life people have been telling me that I'm just a picky eater and that shit hurts.
I've been struggling with this eating disorder for SO SO long. My parents don't believe me when I'm saying that I have ARFID. They just start laughing. They still think I'm just a picky eater. When my aunt asks me 'Can you give me the cheese please?. I'm just scared and I just can't touch it. And she's like: 'Stop asking for attention and STOP stop acting silly. I litterally cried, because nobody understands me. It felt so good to listen your story because just everything you say is EVERYTHING I experience. Thank you so much!
It's really hard to bring yourself to talk about it, even to those closest to you. And when you do they don't take it seriously or sometimes are not even interested in hearing about it. They pass it off as something minor when for you it's probably the most important topic to be had, since it p much governs your whole life. After all these years I feel like my eating has gotten a little better, but the social problems have never faded.
I’m really sorry they’re like this. Please don’t worry, ARFID is not you asking for attention and if they’re not willing to listen or help, they’re shallow minded and can’t accept the fact people have disorders.
The worst thing of ARFID when someone gives you a food that could make you feel uncomfortable
*this comment is made by the ARFID gang*
I know this is old but I just want to say, this makes me feel less alone. You’re comment on thanksgiving is just so true... my mom once forced me to eat, I think a green bean, and I ended up throwing up. She thought I was being dramatic and then I found out this was a thing several years later. It hurt a lot to be constantly accused of picky eating when there’s just no control over what you can and can’t eat. It’s also just quite embarrassing and I hate eating with friends because of it.
im 46 and have had arfid since i was 3. i still havent beaten it. in fact its only been recently that i learned the name of this disorder. i wish it got better but ive fought the exact thing youve spoke of for a long time. to this day i havent eaten fruits or vegetables and its amazing to people when i say i have nt tried apple pie or watermelon.. theyre like you have too.. and im like nope. the doctors have told me for years im gonna die younger because of the diet im on.. im still here and healthy so im not to sure. i hope your journey goes well. stay strong and know there are others who do understand what youre talking about. thanks for sharing
Thank you SO much for mentioning that there are more types of ARFID than just texture/taste/appearance sensitivity. There are plenty of official sources who don't even talk about that, but as someone whose ARFID mainly takes the form of a severe aversion to eating, it can be so.. isolating.
So I very much appreciate the mention of different versions. Because even if you don't have the same type I do, it makes me feel seen.
Hey everyone! I'm so glad that this video has been able to help so many people! If you'd like to hear more about my experience with this disorder, I just posted a new video about what it's like to be dismissed by doctors and peers; it might be relatable for many of you. th-cam.com/video/bSa9LBDuC4k/w-d-xo.html
jammvlogs Thank you for this video. I’ve suffered from this my entire life. I’m 39 and my entire existence unfortunately evolves around this disorder. I have used the fake allergy excuse my entire life and avoided any social experiences that involve food. It’s hard but at this point I’m tired of trying to explain and change for the world. If I can live with this, I think my friends and loved ones should too. I can carry my own food and not have to catch hell for it! Hang in there sista!
jammvlogs i have the same disorder , I eat only 7 FOODS meaning by only like nuggets and stuff people stare at me whenever i bring my own food on trips
I can’t believe it. I’m so happy that I know now. It’s not just I’m picky anymore. Thank you
Today I sat and watched this video and it's not the first time I've came across this kind of video about this disorder, I'm 27 and I can't believe the more I understand about this the more I can relate to it. For myself it began when I was 3 or so I've been told as I can't remember much of eating anything put in front of me. This disorder I would say is a disability in that it can cause issues for anyone dealing with it as my experience is low energy, low immune system, low weight and many other problems making life more difficult. On top of mental health problems it's difficult daily life and it hurts when others don't understand as well as myself what was wrong but this video has helped, thank you very much and hopefully I can truly find out if I have ARFID but dealing with it will be the real challenge. Tho I don't know if I want to chance what I eat or add anything new
I am a teen and I have been suffering from this my entire life. I wouldn’t eat baby food as a baby, and now I only eat 2 solid foods, and the rest liquid. I pretty much survive on protein shakes which luckily gives me proper nutrients. I tried therapy but all it did was stress me out. I keep trying new foods but can’t manage to get it down my throat. Unlike you mine is only with food and like crumbs I get super OCD. I can relate to you in the fact that I always say that it’s allergies because one time I told someone and it got out to some people who gave me a hard time. If anyone has any suggestions to deal with it I’d really appreciate it because this disorder makes me so anxious.
Until recently, people always just thought I was a picky eater. They always told me that I should just eat the food and that I'd grow out of it. But I'm almost 18 and my diet everyday rarely strays from plain pasta and cheese. I've tried so hard to just eat a wider variety of food, but I can't get myself to. And on top of that, I'm never hungry, so I only ever eat when someone reminds me to. I don't know why I'm this way. I like you, when I've gone to a Summer Camp and brought my own cooler. Everyone always thought I was super weird. So, the years after, when I went, I refused to take the cooler and just starved myself for the week. Your video made me cry so hard. I haven't related to anything so well before.
I hope one day you'll be able to overcome this order!
I am a parent of a little girl who has ARFID which is secondary to ASD and ADHD. Hearing another person describe their experiences managing their ARFID is interesting because my daughter is the only person I know of with this specific disorder. It has been challenging and she has been hospitalized to help her regain weight several times. The comorbidities of ASD and ADHD have complicated her treatment so much as well. My wife and I are working extremely hard to educate ourselves and find new and important ways of supporting our daughter through all of this. Thanks for putting out such a great video summarizing your personal experience with this disorder. I can see so many similarities between you and my daughter and she is only just beginning her battle with ARFID.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Both of my kids have ARFID. My son is 11, and he is ASD/ADHD, and most heavily affected by this disorder in terms of growth and nourishment (1st percentile, and falling into malnourishment). His sister, 9, is close to surpassing him in height and weight, and she is also pretty small for her age (30th percentile). I love how candid you are, you are able to describe what might be going through my son’s head so I can understand him better and get him better treatment. It has been suggested/threatened by his ARFID clinic that he will need to do inpatient care like what you did, and if he didn’t gain weight, they would put him on a feeding tube. I suspected that treatment in a facility would only make things worse, exactly how you described your experience. I’m not really sure what to do for him. I don’t try to force him to eat unless he hasn’t eaten a meal in several days and I notice his weight dropping. I HAVE to be forceful when he is so close to being hospitalized and he is getting sick from the lack of nutrients and calories. We have also been struggling with eating school lunch because the menu will change to “healthier” options for the general public, or they won’t allow sweets or allergens in the school. He used to only eat milky way bars, and they barred us from bringing those in because it wasn’t “real food.” It has been really hard. I have to make 3 separate meals for every single meal because my kids have no similar foods they are willing to eat, and height one will eat what my husband and I eat, and we can’t eat what they eat. Honestly, even hearing that with all the help and support you have had that you still struggle is helpful for me, because I can come to terms with this just being reality for many kids. They aren’t going to change or be forced to change, they just have to find ways to survive. It is not my fault and there isn’t really much any of us can do. I can relax a little…I was always thinking I wasn’t doing enough, or I was doing everything wrong. Maybe I just have to admit to myself that they need to be informed, but in control.
Anyway, thank you for sharing. My kids don’t see anyone else on TH-cam similar in age or diagnosis with ARFID, and they feel really alone. I’m tired of hearing adults and clinicians talk about it, I want to hear from real kids and young people so I can learn better. I just want to understand them and support them the best way I can. I don’t want them to get sick.
I hope you are well, and I hope you keep us updated over time.
Thank you for sharing this, you sound like a great parent. 💛 I haven't made videos in a long time, but I'm planning to make an update video eventually. We'll see. 😊
this helped me so much - thank you for this video. its good to know that you're not alone
this hit so hard it made me cry. arfid isnt talked about enough, thank you so much for this❤️
When I was younger, to deal with the anxiety and embarrassment that comes with this disorder, I liked to think of myself as some kind of government experiment. Like the gov gave me super powers but as a result they took away my gluttony. And that there’s other kids out that that have powers but they lost one of the 7 deadly sins, and that one day we would all meet each other and form some sort of super squad idk
Morgan thank you so much for this. My 17 year old was just diagnosed with ARFID and their experience is similar to yours, but with a much later onset. So helpful to have a diagnosis and people like you willing to speak out publicly. Sending love and good thoughts your way.
Thanks so much for this video. I watched it with my 7 year old son who has ARFID. It was great to be able to hear your experiences, we both really enjoyed it, and a big relief to not just hear from Doctors! Thanks for your bravery.
And also, I don’t think you are enabling yourself in that party situation, I think you’re doing great and looking out for yourself.
My son Baxter would love to hear back from you. Much love 💓
I can hardly express on how happy I am that you're talking about it and I can so relate to what you're saying especially with the "I'm not hungry" and the fact when I'm alone and in charge eating is a lot "easier ".
I have been struggling my whole life and I NEVER knew I had this!!! I don't have any support but this video really gave me a hug and told me I'm not alone.
You are describing basically my whole life, but without cheese in my safe-food list😂. I started eating more stuff after a musical camp in which I started to literally drink a shit ton of water as I was cheewing the food, in order to not feel the staste as much, just for survival reasons ( I still do it, but with gradually less water ). It has allow me to eat more things that I cant literally tolerate due to taste or texture. As an ARFID, I would recommend you to do this at least when you are trying something new, it helps me reduce the stress from thinking what would happen if what Im eating turns out to be gross ( its easier to just swalloe out and nt leave the taste in your mouth. For non-arfids readkng this, this is the level of the panic that comes to me when the taste of something turns out to be very bad). I absolutely understand what you are going for, and I send you a lot of support.
It feels so good to see somebody talking about and relating to something I've been made fun of for having for years. Thank you for making this.
I feel so much with this video, I was diagnosed a few months ago and have been struggling with it since I was two it's just every doctor I've been too has completely neglected me. So glad I have a diagnosis as now I can start treatment and it's amazing to find someone who I can relate so much too. Stay strong.
Wow thank you so much. My 4 year old little boy has this disorder and you've just enabled his mom to understand him better and how best I can support him. You are more of a success than you realise
In tears watching this. My son has suffered all his life with this. The bullying and family pressure is causing him to feel worse - we need more brave people like you to help people who feel this too.
This makes me so happy that someone else is talking about this. I’ve had it my whole life and up until about a couple years ago I only had about 5-7 foods that I regularly ate for lunch and dinner. About a year ago I got a good therapist who’s helped me branch out and try lots of new foods, like sandwiches, apples, carrots, chicken strips, and lots of things that I hadn’t ate before. There still aren’t many places I can order food at but I’m certainly improving. My goal is to eat normally by college (I’m 14 so I have lots of time) wish me luck!
My husband has developed this disorder among other mental and physical conditions. I think that my daughter has also started to develop this disorder and it makes me feel very fearful and helpless not knowing how to help them. It is a 24/7 condition.
Hearing your story and the different treatment you went through, and what helps you and what didn’t helps me feel like we can get through this.
It takes little steps and each step is a victory! You are an amazing young lady and you will overcome even if it takes a lifetime! Don’t loose hope or be discouraged! Thank you for making this video!!
Thank you for sharing this and putting this video out there. I got introduced to the term “ARFID” through tiktok compilations. Not terrible, but very confusing! I’ve been trying to figure out my own symptoms (getting good professional help is difficult where I live), but it’s videos like this that give me a much clearer idea of specific disorders and how closely I relate to them or don’t.
Thank you for sharing your story! It was very informative and I learned a lot that can help help people I love with this disorder!
I just reached out for help. I'm 23 and I avoid a lot of food, mainly vegetables and complicated recipes. I will have my first meeting with a psychologist in 3 weeks. This is my first time hearing someone else talking about something similar as I'm experiencing. Thank you for sharing. It makes me feel less weird.
Thanks so much for this, Morgan. I am a teacher of students with disabilities, and your maturity, experience and honesty has given me some really helpful insights as I work with families. Bless you!
Stumbled across your video. Thank you! My 11-year old son has ARFID and hearing your experiences and thoughts helps me as a parent.
Thank you so much for having the courage to talk about this. I believe my son may have ARFID. I think I had it...I know my dad had it...Take care of yourself. Your confidence in talking about it makes me feel like there's hope.,🌼♥️♥️♥️🌼🌼🌼
I enjoyed your video:) ..And like the person you mentioned in the beginning of it - you’ve helped me understand myself some more.. every little bit helps:)
Take care and good luck with everything in your future:)
Thank you, Morgan. My little boy has just been diagnosed, after being a "problem feeder/extreme picky eater" for years. He's 10 and I'm educating myself as much as I can. Thank you.
Jesus this is really illuminating. I looked into arfid a while ago and dismissed it cause I read it was an eating disorder and that it was linked to fear, I had it in my head that it's not related to body image for me (cause I assumed all eating disorders had to be at the time (to be fair I was like, 12) ) and that I wasn't afraid of the foods I can't eat, just incredibly disgusted, and I guess I just felt like because my diet wasn't as limited as a lot of other people were saying theirs were, I just kind of ignored it. But hearing you and everyone in the comments talk about how it manifests for them is definitely making me reconsider a lot
i've never been diagnosed and i know that I've grown to like many foods but there are still some that i can't accept and that combination of liking a lot of things but being physically disgusted with certain other foods just makes it so much easier for people to say it's not a problem. i've grown up like you, hiding food, being stuck at the table for hours because i wasn't allowed to leave unless i ate. i'm so sick of feeling guilt whenever i'm around food because i'm being "ungrateful", i'm sick of hearing people joke about how i only ate five things as a kid and "was a real handful" when eating anything else hurt so much. i really appreciate this video and i hope you've been on the road to success since this was uploaded, i'm trying to be.
This brought me to tears. My experiences with food are nearly identical. Thank you for sharing your story
My friend has arfid and this video helped me understand their struggle a bit better. It's frustrating to see them suffer and not understand what they feel, so this really helps a lot. I wish you all, that you will find a way to live healthily and happily and that more effective treatments will be found.
i literally avoid dating bc i dont want to explain why i eat like a 5 year old. the only way i'd date is if i dated someone who also had arfid
Gabi Rodgers There are many people who do understand and won’t make fun of you, even though it can take some time to find them. 💛 Don’t let anyone pressure you into dating, but if you do decide to date, it’s definitely not hopeless even if they don’t have arfid.
i have arfid and autism and i have the most amazing partner who’s understanding. i try things with him for exposure therapy all the time. i hope you can find someone like that :)
As a mom to a baby diagnosed with food aversion, it really is hard, not just to him but to us parents and caretakers...to see your child starve him/herself, as a parent, is heartbreaking to say the least. It started when he was 10months old here so very early. No one knows for sure why and it doesn't seem to be related to sensory issues (he doesn't mind putting things in his mouth or touching different textures for instance) but more like trauma related (severe reflux from birth related to a cow milk protein allergy + choking after he threw up while sleeping). Thank you for talking about this issue and bringing it to light.
I have ARFID too, and your experiences largely mirror mine. I was like you throughout early childhood, malnourished and really underweight, and my parents tried the tough-love approach and tried to wear me down by not feeding me for three days, and they broke first. But a major difference with me is that I developed a binge eating disorder in addition. My diet remains extremely limited, but I chow down on excessive amounts of safe foods. I became overweight instead of deathly underweight. At some point, this developed into bulimia. I've never had therapy for my eating disorders, in part because I grew up in a different time in a place where awareness of such things was nonexistent. I spent most of my life not knowing what it was that I had. It's nice to know that a new generation is growing up with more of the help and recognition they deserve.
Thank you for sharing ❤ I've just found out my friend has ARFID, and you've really helped me emotionally and psychologically connect and understand
Yea totally agrees I think it's really important for people to try to be understanding and patient with people with ARFID. I lost my best friend partially because I have ARFID. We kinda shared a friend group but they were more closer to her because we didn't share any classes. They stopped inviting me out the eat with them because they knew i was picky and didn't eat the same foods as them. This broke my heart because we were best friends throughout middle school and high school but then starting junior year we just slowly drifted apart :((
Your video was so helpful! My teacher gave us the link to your video for our class on Eating Disorders in Psychology, just so you know how appreciated and valued your content is, even by professionals! Hope you are well. All the best!
Ahhh, that makes me so happy!! Thank you for telling me! 💖
@@MorganGale :-) Gladly! Thank you for sharing! Openess and a healthy attitude towards all aspects of mental health are really to be encouraged. Hope to see this aspect improve over the years worldwide. All the best!
I have this and I struggle everyday! I just don't have an appetite, and I get nauseous even thinking of eating. And so much more. Thank you so much for talking about this! You helped me not to feel so alone.
Thank you for this video. I was diagnosed about 4 months ago, but I've had ARFID for over two years now. The road to a diagnosis was an absolute nightmare, with many doctors assuming I had body image issues and not listening to me. Thankfully my psychiatrist did listen and was able to identify it, and also link it to my OCD - apparently ARFID and OCD often come as a package deal. Yey.
I've had bad and better phases. Currently going through a really rough patch so the way you talked about it helped me calm down. The idea of liquids also helps me, because even though I do struggle with liquids I can manage better than solid food. I agree with you on this being a disability, and the struggles that come with it are a nightmare. I want to move countries, but I can't until I can figure out a way to eat enough to keep myself alive.
I don't entirely understand why I got this at my age (26 yo at the time), because I was never a "picky" eater. On the contrary, I was always an absolute foodie. It was just like you said as well, one day I woke up and I just couldn't eat.
This vid is old so I'll be checking more recent ones, but I hope you're doing well and thank you for sharing this with people and explaining it. I wish I had found you sooner so I could have had my diagnosis. We really need more awareness and education on Eating Disorders.
my child was just diagnosed with this. thank you so much for sharing your story!
Good luck on your journey … I’m 42 and just discovered what I have which is pretty much exactly the same as you.. I will follow your journey.. and hopefully you can get something g that helps… good luck !
I live with this eating disorder since I was 4 or 5, I don’t remember. I can’t eat some foods because I don’t like the texture, when people tried to force me to eat I feel I’ll gonna puke. It’s many embarrassing go to restaurants or dinners who we get invited because I can’t eat rice and beans too. In Brazil, rice and beans are a national popular food. Everybody eats it, everybody likes it. People are like “why you can’t eat this? everybody eat is like… so easy!”
This is frustrating. Great video, greetings from Brazil! :)
I just found out I had ARFID last night :((( I have been having this problem ever since I was around 9 months old and now I'm 18. It is definitely emotional hard for me because all I want to do is fit in with everyone else and be able to talk about food with them. I don't like to tell people unless it's necessary because it's embarrassing and all they end up doing is "integrating" me. Learning that this is a disorder was a wake-up call for me realizing I need to at least make some effort to change. But I also feel the comfort that I know now that I'm not alone and I found this wonderful community of ARFID people.
This is so relatable that it made me cry ! thank you so much for speaking up You encouraged me to speak about it Too
Your an inspiration for me who thought I was all alone I’m this so thank you for posting this
i know i’m 3 years late to this video but everything you said in this video i felt in my heart, i have always had the same problem but my parents and friends always just thought i was being picky and over dramatic and i never really knew how to explain to these people why i would eat the way that i would. so i just wanted to say thanks for speaking about this because more people need to know it’s a real problem and i hope this comment gets back to you ❤️
💛💛
I’ve struggled with arfid my whole life, I’m now 13. I know I have it but I’ve never been able to tell anyone, and it’s ruining my life. I don’t have the same type as you, I have the type where I can’t eat around people or somewhere I don’t feel comfortable. Because I’m terrified of people throwing up. I don’t go to birthday parties, events, school trips, sleepovers etc. and i haven’t been in a restaurant in years. I also have social anxiety which makes everything worse. I rarely eat at school and have always been very skinny and underweight. My parents know I don’t like to eat out or just being social at all but they don’t know how bad it is or what it is. My mom just tries to push me to eat at restaurants to make it better but it only makes it worse. Watching you helps me a lot, even tho we don’t experience arfid the same. Maybe someday I will be able to tell someone.❤️
Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you for sharing your story😊
Thank you for sharing your experience! Would love an update when you come back from break!
I have ARFID too, and it was always pretty mild growing up, until I started having health problems & food allergies.
My experience with the allergies made me scared of food, my experience with the resulting digestive issues made me scared of eating in general...
So I'm currently refeeding after realizing I had starvation syndrome.
I don't really have many issues with taste or texture, I force myself to eat anything I don't think will hurt me- I just hate how eating feels, I hate how it can cause so much pain & discomfort to eat. I'm scared of developing food intolerances, sensitivities & allergic reactions, since for awhile I had some intense issues with that.
But apparently, starving is actually the cause of at least some intolerances! Realizing this explained so much & I'm glad to be well enough to finally fix this.
I wish doctors had done more to help me with this, I kept begging for help eating :/
Thank you for explaining this so well all I’ve eaten is grilled cheese sandwiches and garlic fingers and frys and that’s it and I’ve only ever eaten that in my entire life. It truly sucks to this day I’m 19 now and there’s still no signs of improvement but this video explains it so well for people who don’t understand we really appreciate u 🎉
Hey, thanks you a lot ♡. I didn't know that this thing was actually a eating disorder. I just though it was me being picky and having fear of fruits and vegetables. But it feels really good to know that there are people out there with the same problem as me. 💞
36 years old male and I just cried a little lol. I've been dealing with this my whole life its horrible
I didnt know about arfid until like 2 days ago and it makes so much sense for me right now. unfortunately mine is not easily trackable (I'll be okay with a food one day and then not okay the next) but it helps to know I'm not just being high maintenance or picky. thanks for talking about your experiences!
I feel you, I'm also randomly afraid of a food from one day to another (I'm afraid of allergic reactions, although I don't have any known allergies) what I've learned in behavior therapy is that you have to use positive reinforcements with every bite you make and hold on to the positive experiences you had with the food in the past, like "I ate the same pastry yesterday, I won't have any issue today, I never had any issues. Nothing will happen because nothing ever happend" I hope this helps you 💕
@@elli3352 thank you, I will absolutely start doing that!
thank you for making this video i used to believe I was alone about this.
in Norway Nobadi is talking about this everyone thinks I am crazy. but this video inspires me like never before
There is so much overlaps in our stories it's incredible. I only found out recently that this thing I was struggeling with my whole life actually has a name and it's really liberating to know that I'm not some freak of nature but it's an actual disorder. I never had any therapy for it, and honestly even though I want to go therapy so badly, cause I'm so fed up with this situation, I am almost terrified of it :/ .
I have just realized I have ARFID because I have always hated fruits and vegetables my whole life and never knew why till now but I finally can figure out how to help myself so thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you for doing this video. My son is Autistic and he has sooooo many food restrictions. He will like a food for months and months then all of a sudden he'll hate that food. I just about cried with relief when he said he wanted a peanut butter sandwich out of the blue one day after not eating bread for 6 months !!
Thank you! This was incredibly helpful. My son isn't diagnosed but he barely eats anything...I don't know how he's not hungry all the time and I worry about him alot but try not to nag. BUt I worry about him alot. Like when I buy; groceries and after a week ALL the FOOD is still here in the pantry and fridge! I am also pretty bummed out every fall because I looked forward to sharing hot soups with him, but he rarely likes to try anything. Sometimes he will though. Sometimes I get excited when he starts to like something new, but then, very often he goes back to not liking it. It's difficult not to get frustrated. He will eat pizza at least I guess. And sometimes smooothies. Anyway, THank you for makign this video. It really has been the most helpful information I have found on the subject. THanks for keeping it real. Good luck to you. I hope you can take vitamins at least.
everything relates so much I feel like I’m the same person as you. like, when I was five, my parents GENUINELY offered me 1000 pounds to eat a slice of pizza, and I declined, and I was five- that’s like, billions of pounds for a kid that age. and the whole “don’t register it as edible,” is so relatable too, I describe my ED to friends as “imagine people were tryna get you to eat rocks,” like, just no. and then there’s the “there’s no smell,” issue, which is so triggering because ARFID symptoms include heightened smell/taste so like, stfu with respect
"McDonalds isn't real food" - "yeah i know that's why i eat it" really hit home for me 😭
If you dont mind me asking, do you have ASD? I'm due to be assessed for it soon and ive learned that ARFID is a common problem among people on the autistic spectrum due to the sensory problems. I'm incredibly averse to a lot of food textures and tastes, and i did the same thing with cutting labels out of clothes as a child. It's definitely worsened by stress as you mentioned - i was always fussy with food as a kid but since the pandemic got bad and life became harder to deal with it's ramped up to full on disorder level and i cant enjoy eating anything at all anymore but force myself to stomach things so i don't die from starvation. Thanks for making this vid and increasing awareness, it;s really something that's overlooked and shouldnt be chalked down to being a "picky eater" when it's an incredibly frustrating thing to live with.
thank you for this video, I have 4 ASD kids in my house, but my granddaughter has SPD and ADHD and this is so her. She ate baby food i made myself for her bland like babyfood should be, but when we started her on "real" food she was way more then picky she is 6 now very small and 40lbs and this video is just so her its so nice to hear( if you want to put it that way) that she is not alone and this has a name.
I cried so hard!! Thankyou i love you i see you!!
I’m a mother to an 11 year old and just now came across this disorder. Pretty sure my son has this. I get when you said your mom cried 😭 I too have cried because I have a feeling is more than just picky eating. Made an appointment to talk about it with his doctor. Hopefully we finally get answers. Very informative video!!
I cried at how relatable this video was 😭
Oh hey my ARFID is pretty similar--all texture and taste. Gimme that boring-ass food. Guess my English genes and autism are cooperating to invent my diet preferences lol.
Thanks so much for talking about ARFID. It's so unknown that I keep having to watch anorexia videos on TH-cam for any kind of ED advice. I'm so glad your videos are here to provide something more relevant to what's actually going on for me and others like us.
And Sensory Integration Disorder? What is this wonderful thing I am experiencing where I encounter any other person on the earth like me? Sounds like your ARFID was way worse way earlier than mine, but damn is it refreshing to hear familiar stories.
So I’m only at 1:44 and already you sound like me! However I made it to three years old before pretty much everything was off my list.
Sadly though, the middle school I attended could only reach one conclusion; they labeled me as mentally handicapped. So this nurse (I’m sure was some type of psychiatrist) would meet with me to ask me what was wrong with me!
Well, mom, who couldn’t drive, was so angry when I told about the ink spots on paper, and the spare blocks.
I’m now 60. My in take consists of steak, hamburger, pizza, pasta, etc.
The one thing I’ll eat that most others won’t is French’s mustard, and that’s because I have a muscle relaxer.
I’ll be following, so we can compare notes. Thank you for your honesty
Thank you for your video. My son is 14 and he stopped eating just like you suddenly at 2 years old. He mainly lives off of smoothies. We ended up going to a nutritional therapist and she taught us how to make some really healthy smoothies. Jayden actually enjoys them, he would not eat the foods outside of the smoothie though. The recipe is 2 fried eggs, an apple, a pear, peanut butter, Orgain vanilla bean protein powder, Orgain vanilla super foods protein powder, spinach, carrots, kale , oatmeal, a little honey and ice. You really only taste the protein powder and it has kept him healthy. He has his safe foods that he takes to school, Tostitos, saltine crackers, Quaker peanut butter granola bars. there is probably 5 or 6 other foods he will eat. Lately he is willing to sit at dinner with me and try salmon, white rice and a few other things but a very slow process...I pray that eventually he will have a least some healthy whole foods that he will like. Like I told him you don't have to have a huge variety of foods but at least try to find some staple foods that are whole healthy foods. A lot of people without ARFID eat quite a bit of the same foods everyday. He is also going to therapy once a week and it seems to help to have someone outside of the family to talk to about it. Best of luck! one food at a time...
I was second guessing commenting but it turns out you still read these (props to you for that) so here I go.
I think I may have this. There are a lot of factors to why I don’t like food. Some stem from negative experiences with it present (my family tends to break out into arguments at dinner time), others come from my possible anosmia, and having to rely heavily on texture in order to enjoy food. Whatever the reason is, I’m 100% sure it’s not weight nor body image related. Which is why a lot of EDs are off of the table.
I really felt this video. I’ve been really put off by a lot of foods when I was a kid, but it only started to get really bad when I was about six or so when I stopped eating food that people had the impression that I liked (yogurt, fruit, etc).
A part of my aversion to food goes like this:
Imagine everyone around you ate corpses. Human corpses. Week old human corpses. Not prepared or anything, as if they were straight out of a dumpster. Filled with maggots, rotting flesh, and who knows what else. You don’t want to eat the corpses. It’s against a moral code that came out of nowhere, and that no one else seems to understand, and there’s also the fact that the corpses look genuinely disgusting.
Some corpses are bearable. Some corpses have labels and nice packaging that lets you know what’s in the corpse, and you can see that there aren’t any maggots or other bugs or diseases, and the corpse was prepared in a way that fits your random moral. Turns out, the only corpses that you can bare are filled with things that can hurt you, and you shouldn’t eat too many of them.
The analogy isn’t perfect l, but this really is the best way I can describe what I’m feeling.
I know that you’re not a therapist, but I need to know for future reference, in case I manage to get a therapist, is this similar to what you experience? Does this fit the general criteria for ARFID?
That seems similar to what I experience, yes! It feels like people who eat "normally" are on a completely different wavelength from me, and I can't understand why most foods are delicious because they taste/feel/smell gross to me. There are several facebook groups and tumblr blogs about ARFID too (and other videos on TH-cam), so it might help to keep reading/listening to compare your experiences with others, since not everyone experiences ARFID the same way.
And thank you ahaha, I usually get phone notifications when someone comments on these videos. 😅 I feel like I've somehow created a space where people can be vulnerable, so I make sure to check in and also delete any mean comments. Thank you for sharing as well!
@@MorganGale yes thank you so much! I’ll definitely check out as many ARFID communities as I can :D
I can relate so much. I used to throw food away without saying anything and I too would be caught. So I'd throw it away outside. And any events where there was food be it a party or something I would avoid the food. I would happily starve rather than try to make myself eat food around so many people that just made me feel so uncomfortable. I remember school trips literally worrying most about what if there's nothing I like there? I'd take my own food if I could. I used to take food to my friends houses for sleepovers since that I could control, so if I got food for dinner I didn't like I could eat that later. I was never thought of as being anorexic because one food group I felt most comfortable to eat was sweets and chocolate. Which no doubt made me look like just a picky eater. But I can't explain it....those foods just felt safe to me. It's interesting you say about liking McDonald's and bread a lot, I always had very beige plates and I didn't really think of that. That it could be because those foods had the safest textured and the most mellow flavours...but that makes so much sense. Interestingly I studied abroad in Japan for a year and before going I liked only 1 Japanese meal. But I did manage to find meals I could have, a few more Japanese ones and some western ones. On top of that I could still cook some stuff in Japan. It was definitely tough food wise but I did it and I'm really glad I went and did it! I appreciate your videos so much! Hey you're not lesser than because of this. It's a struggle and we have to be able to live and be comfortable as well as make small moves towards a more rounded more comfortable future.
I never knew about this disorded but its an eye opener for me I think i might have this
Thank you so much. I've been talking with a friend about it after they brought it up and about how they might have it, and something just kind of clicked in my head. I hate eating new foods, and my diet is mostly restricted to dairy and grains. I'll eat a handful of fruits, but not many. My parents have always chalked it up to me being picky, but I physically cannot bring myself to eat things like meat and veggies. My throat closes up and I can't choke it down. I'm bringing this up with my parents and my doctor, and hopefully it'll help. If I do have ARFID, this will explain a lot of things. :}
Thank you so much for this I don't even have words mines started in 6th grade and it makes me feel horrible because of it and every other disorder I have aswell
I don't know if i have arfid but i relate SO much, i literally cried when i saw the video. My parents tried hard (yelling at me every time we had lunch) to make me eat things such as vegetables or letils and i always ended throwing up in te bathroom. I'm glad i finded someone that i relate with. (Srry if i had any mistakes writing, english isn't my first language)
I just discovered that I have ARFID. This is highly relatable content
thank you so much for sharing your experience ❤ I have a son (12 y) with arfid (he had problems with eating from the beginning). Now he is obviously malnourished, has muscle problems too, multiple pains in muscles and feet and fingers, low bmi, but the doctor doesnt examine his blood, instead of testing the blood we got „drinks“ for tube feeding which she wants him to drink (the taste is horrible and he cannot drink it, he drinks only water and hot chokolate based on milk from cows). In school he has problems because of beeing ill at home so often and because he cannot carry his school baggage which weights the half from his own body. He is to weak to carry it and I am really desperate because of this.
I am happy to say that my daughter who has just turned 25 has been trying 'new' tastes of her own volition. We've had some hits and lots of misses but it's a work in progress. Most of our social circle are aware of her issue and don't pressurize her any longer so family functions are more enjoyable. What she does eat, she eats in abundance so life in general is slowly improving all round. Take care those of you who are still feeling desperate. ARFID is as real as diabetes so don't keep it in the dark. Talk about it.
I never realized this was an eating disorder... This explains so much. People think I'm just picky, hell I thought I was just picky this whole time.
Thanks for sharing I have grown up being malnurished having nothing but gut problems when I eventually ate now I have been really struggling with food
Where's my arfid gang, dudes?
Here xD
sezija stpd me
Me too
Here i think
Here😕
I cried during your video...I felt every word you said. I avoid doing social activities that include food...And it's so hard to live with this...I want to make it stop :(
n_drk same
I agree
i just. relate so much hw
Same. Her talking about being punished by parents for sneakily throwing food away really strikes deep.
I always had to come up with fake allergies or bogus excuses why I couldt/ didnt want to eat.
Now at least, i can start being honest with my friends about it. It used to be impossible to explain but we at least have the knowledge and know that its and eating disorder. And people might actually take us seriously now.
At least we can explain now. You'll be alright, I know it :)
Glad to see representation of us, we need more publicity, so many people can't understand.
Not understanding this disorder can lead to abuse, tough parents not taking gagging for an answer means a bad time for everyone.
I am a mother of a child that has this diagnosis. Thank you for talking about this. It gives me insight to things he might be experiencing.
Whatever you do never force anything on him. My parents made me sit by my meals alone for hours until I eat them (never did) while they were enjoying themselves in the living room. Those were lonely times...
Same here, also a mom of a child that has this diagnosis. It’s been a struggle for everyone. But thank you for giving insights on this, it gave us a better understanding on what’s going on with my child.
Thank you for this. My son is like this. When he was young we tried therapist, nutritionist, doctors, we gave up pretty early as it was actually making things worse. He also stopped at 2 and is 11 now. We just give him the things he will eat and I swear chocolate milk saved his live for about 3 years. Do what you gotta do!
Thank you for this video, I have ARFID too and I really got what you said at the end about needing to treat it like a disorder. I only just found out a year or two ago that there was a name for what I've had my whole life, which has really helped my anxiety over food because I can say "oh hey, it's just that dumbass eating disorder i've got" instead of "god why am i such a picky eater i'm terrible."
Just thank you for sharing your experience. : )
I really relate to this too. All my life I was the odd one what packing her own meals for sleep overs or summer camps when everyone else ate the pizza and burgers. Now i have a name, I'm not crazy. I've had relatves in the past judge me on my eating habits. It's not like I had ever enjoyed being picky. If only they knew the truth now. Having a diagnosis is empowering!
Sameee I just found out today
This hit me really hard, i've never met anyone with this disorder and it is a little comforting to know other people out there, I always avoid anything that involves food and this REALLY hurts friendships
"mcdonalds isn't real food, yeah i know thats why i eat it"
if that ain't a fat mood
Hello from Ukraine, Morgan.
My name is Vladimir, I have ARFID as long as I remember myself (though when I was young it was simply called "your child is weird").
I'm 41 now, and I still not quite ready to talk about it.
So thank you for spreading the word about this condition, and, well, I don't know what else to say. :-/
Hearing the words I've said my entire life come out of someone else truly is strange. I'm so glad to know I'm not alone. I just found out this is an actual disorder and I'm almost 25 and have had it since I was a toddler. Thanks for showing me and so many others we aren't alone.
oh my god okay thank you so much for this video. i've been struggling with this ever since i can remember and i have the same texture/taste part of it !!! i started crying a few minutes in bc everything you said has been my biggest struggle with food and i've thought my entire life (i'm almost 17 now) that it's just bc i'm a picky eater when deep down i knew it had to be more than that bc it affected me so badly??? i randomly decided to google it today and i came across arfid and went on youtube to find some videos and i came across your channel and this video, i relate to everything. it happening suddenly at a young age, the gagging, throwing away food, liking mcdonalds food, avoiding events with food, everything!!! i don't have a diagnosis and i probably won't for another two years until i can move out bc my parents just sum it up to "i'm picky and i'll grow out of it eventually i just need to realize it's all in my mind!!1!11!!" but everything about this disorder feels like i wrote it myself. i also watched ur coming out video and im ace panro (i go by bi a lot too like u said in that video lol!!) this comment got really long im rambling omg but anyways thank you so much for talking about this and making this video and just ur channel in general, i relate to u a lot and ur videos are really really good, keep making them!!!!! :)
My parents were the same way, pretty much content to just let my eating habits be because tyring to force me to do other wise felt futile, but then I had my first panic attack about food over the summer. ARFID was already someting I had been researching and after this knew I really needed professional help. I now see a therapist and am gettting help. Don't be afriad to reach out to your school guidance counselors!
Thankyou so much for sharing this. I also have arfid and I struggle to find anyone else who has it let alone understands it. I'm 22 now and it started when I was 2 and last year it nearly killed me. Lack of food caused lack of b12 and because I had no b12 what so ever in my body , I was told without the jab I would be dead a week later. I couldn't walk , I was constantly throwing up. I was yellow. I'm still trying to get help from eating disorder places. They don't want to deal with me as I'm. It anorexic. It's very upsetting to want help and want to get better but can't. I was literally living on bread and butter , but it must be a certain brand. Up until recently when they stopped the brand of butter I've been living on so I haven't been eating anything. I would literally rather starve than eat food that I don't like even though I would give anything to recover from this 😔
Have you checked out the Facebook group I linked to in the description? Everyone there has arfid (or is a parent of someone with arfid), and there's also a psychiatrist in the group who specializes in arfid, so it's a good place to ask for help. The tumblr blogs have good advice, as well!
Personally, I'd recommend starting with switching up the brands you use (at your own pace, of course) to help you get used to trying different things, and then maybe expand to other dairy products besides butter, like cheese. I'm obviously not a professional, but according to google it seems that dairy products are a good source of B12, and they're easier to eat than other food groups in my experience (esp because cheese/butter/etc. all taste similar). Also!! I've been experiencing fatigue as well, and drinking fruit juices & smoothies has significantly boosted my energy level. You can sneak a lot of nutrients (like protein powder) in those without tasting them. So yeah, start with smooth, mild-tasting things that look less threatening, and maybe drink fruits.
I know it's really hard, so don't beat yourself up over it! Maybe just try a new brand for one meal or snack per day, or every other day, or even just once a week. It's better to improve slowly than to not improve at all. You got this. :^)
Sophie Louise don't worry I have it too.
dont worrk kid i have arfid too i had to go to a clinic and miss school for 2 months i was hospitalized and i totally get what your going through
PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP
I had ARFID from when I was around 2 years old to 14 years old and I absolutely experienced everything that you mentioned in this video. Having very hyper sensitivity to texture, avoiding social activities involving food, and just having much heightened emotions in general. It was a difficult transition even after I overcame my eating habits because then I found myself to be behind developmentally in the social aspect of things. I've had ARFID people ask me what helped me overcome it and I've always found that to be a very tricky question to answer because I am consciously aware of some of the things that helped me, but there are some things were a bit more ambiguous. I would definitely say it was a series of small little steps and having the support of people around me who were nonjudgmental, patient with my disorder, and still actively tried to gently guide me out of my comfort zone. The experience you described about going through "treatment" definitely breaks my heart. I absolutely do not believe that the way to overcome this through forced coercion like what you experienced. Anytime that people would force me to do or eat anything was never helpful. I hope you are able to find a group of patient, supporting people who will be able to help guide you through your process. I strongly believe that is the key to help overcoming this. Best wishes ahead for you :)
Out of all my years of being alive, today the first day that i found out the name for the disorder i have been dealing with all my life.
And your video was my 1st "interaction" with someone like me and it feels so good to know that someone understands you.
I will never forget what you've done for me today. Thank you!
I just found out last night so I know how that feels like a light bulb just connected the dots
@@natalielausten7246 I'm here for you friend.
omg same LMAO
@@tooniesz8140
Wow, 2 years really just flew by.
Just know that it dies get easier once you have a name for it friend!
I got diagnosed with ARFID today. I've had this since I was a kid, but it was only the past couple of years that I've admitted that I actually have a problem, and today, I got diagnosed, and was told that outpatient therapy is necessary and I might be a good candidate for inpatient care. I've always been really nervous with "getting help" because my issues have nothing to do with weight problems, and like you said, it's very different of a thing. That said, functionally, I'm anorexic! Just. Without the image issues..
I asked the specialist if ARFID is an uncommon thing they see, and they told me, "Not since we got a name for it!" Which made me feel better. I asked if I'd get in trouble if I couldn't finish my food at the clinic, and they told me no, there would be no negative consequences. No scolding, no punishment, no Making Me Do It Anyway... which thank god. I was in a different clinic for depression and they actually threatened me severely if I couldn't finish my food....
I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to get checked for it I hope everything goes well