Living with arfid: my experience

I remember growing up, even before I realized something might be ‘wrong’ with me, feeling like I was different. I had difficulty making friends and had little interest in eating the foods most other children liked. As I got older, these feelings of being alone, disconnected from others and terrified of food only grew stronger.

When it first came to light that I might have a condition called ARFID – Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder - I was relieved to finally have some answers and validation for the issues I had been struggling with my whole life. Knowing what it was did not change how hard every day could be – meal times were always incredibly challenging.

I never understood why people would try to push me out of my comfort zone when it came to food because trying new things scared me more than anything else. It wasn’t until later in life I started actively trying to find ways to reduce fear around meals and trying new foods that weren’t part of my existing routine before.

At first, it was baby steps; I’d look at recipes online and make small changes to dishes that were already part of my diet over time. Now, while sticking mainly within the security blanket of familiar foods is still important for me, if someone offers me something new or suggests a meal out then now I can usually accept without shaking with nerves in anticipation of fear-inducing foods being thrown at me!

Living with ARFID has been difficult but learning that having difficulty with food isn’t uncommon gives me hope that one day soon maybe those terrifying meals won’t seem so intimidating anymore!

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Hey, it’s great that you were able to put a name to what you’ve been struggling with all these years. It’s a relief to finally have some answers, right? I totally get what you mean about feeling different and having a hard time with food. It takes a lot of courage to start making changes and trying new things, even if they’re small. I’m glad to hear that you’ve been able to make progress in facing your fears around meals and trying new foods. It’s a big step forward! Just remember, it’s okay to take it at your own pace and stick to what feels safe for you. And it’s awesome that you’re starting to feel a bit more hopeful about the future. Keep going, you’re doing great!

Hey, I totally get where you’re coming from. I’m around the same age and have been dealing with ARFID too. It’s tough feeling different and struggling with something that seems so simple for everyone else. But it’s great that you’ve been making progress with trying new foods, even if it’s just small changes. It shows a lot of strength and determination. And you’re right, knowing that others are going through the same thing can be really comforting. Keep at it, and hopefully one day those intimidating meals won’t seem so scary anymore. You’ve got this!

Hey, I can totally relate to what you’re going through. It’s tough feeling like you’re different and having those fears around food. But I’m really glad to hear that you’ve been working on finding ways to reduce that fear and try new things. It’s definitely not easy, but every small step counts, right? And it’s totally okay to stick to familiar foods - they’re our comfort zone for a reason. I think it’s amazing that you’ve been able to accept new foods and meals out without those overwhelming nerves. Keep going, and know that there are others out there who understand and support you. We’re all in this together, and I truly believe that things will get easier for us. Hang in there!

Hey, I can totally relate to what you’re going through. I’ve struggled with ARFID for most of my life too, and it’s been a real challenge. But hearing your story gives me hope that things can get better. It’s so tough feeling different and disconnected, but finding out about ARFID was a huge relief for me too. It’s great to hear that you’ve been able to make progress with trying new foods, even if it’s just baby steps. I’m still working on that myself, but it’s encouraging to know that it’s possible. Keep pushing yourself, and remember that it’s okay to take things at your own pace. We’re all in this together, and I’m rooting for you. Hang in there!

Thank you for sharing your experience with ARFID. I can relate to feeling different and struggling with food my whole life. It’s a relief to finally have a name for what we’ve been going through. It’s great to hear that you’ve been able to make progress in trying new foods, even if it’s been baby steps. It shows that there is hope for all of us dealing with ARFID. I’ve found that taking small, gradual steps has been really helpful for me too. It’s all about finding what works for us individually and not comparing our progress to anyone else’s. Keep pushing through, and remember that it’s okay to still have your security foods while also trying new things. You’re not alone in this, and we’re all in it together to support each other. Hang in there!

Hey! I can totally relate to what you’re going through. Discovering that I had ARFID was a big relief for me too. It’s tough feeling different and struggling with food, but it’s awesome that you’re finding ways to cope and make progress. Making small changes to your meals is a great idea, and it’s so inspiring to see that you’re able to accept new foods and meal suggestions now. It’s a process, but you’re definitely making strides. Keep at it, and remember that you’re not alone in this. We got this!

Hey, I can totally relate to your experience with ARFID. It’s so tough to feel like you’re different and have such a hard time with something that seems so simple for everyone else. I admire your courage in taking small steps to make changes in your relationship with food. It’s not easy, but it’s so worth it. I’ve found that finding ways to slowly introduce new foods into my routine has made a big difference for me too. It’s great to hear that you’re feeling more comfortable trying new things now. Keep it up, and remember that you’re definitely not alone in this. We’re all on this journey together, and I’m rooting for you!

Hey, I can totally relate to what you’re going through. I also struggled with ARFID for most of my life, and it was a huge relief to finally have a name for what I was dealing with. It’s awesome that you’ve been able to make progress with trying new foods, even if it’s just small changes to familiar dishes. That takes a lot of courage and determination. I totally get how terrifying meal times can be, so I’m really proud of your progress. It’s great to know that we’re not alone in this and that there’s hope for things to get easier in the future. Keep taking those small steps and being kind to yourself along the way. You’ve got this!

Thank you for sharing your experience with ARFID. It takes courage to open up about our struggles, especially when it comes to something like food, which is so central to our daily lives. I can relate to feeling different and disconnected from others because of my own challenges with food. It’s a relief to finally have a name for what we’re going through, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult to face meal times every day. I’m so glad to hear that you’ve found ways to slowly reduce your fear around trying new foods. It’s all about those baby steps, right? Small changes and familiar foods are still important to me too, but it’s reassuring to know that there’s hope for the future. Thank you for sharing your story – it’s inspiring to see someone else making progress with ARFID, and I hope one day we can both look back and see just how far we’ve come.

Hey, I just want to say that I really feel for you. It takes a lot of courage to share your story and be open about something as personal as your relationship with food. I’m really glad to hear that you’ve been making progress in finding ways to reduce your fear around meals and trying new foods. It’s amazing to see how far you’ve come from feeling terrified and alone to being able to accept new food offers and suggestions. It’s definitely a journey, but you’re making strides and that’s something to be proud of. Just remember, you’re not alone in this. There are so many others out there going through similar experiences, and your story is a reminder that things can get better with time and effort. Keep pushing forward, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever need support!

Hey, man, 28 here. I totally get where you’re coming from. It’s tough feeling different and disconnected, especially when it comes to something as basic as food. I’m glad you found some answers and validation with ARFID - having a name for what you’re going through can make a world of difference. And it’s awesome that you’ve been taking those baby steps to try and reduce the fear around meals and new foods. It’s not easy, but every small victory counts. Keep going, man. You’re not alone in this, and there are people who understand what you’re going through. Maybe one day those intimidating meals won’t seem so scary after all. Hang in there!