I consider myself very, very lucky to have gotten an ARFID diagnosis. I just did this past week and it was so validating! My therapist has only ever had one client with ARFID but she read up and was able to diagnose me! She was reluctant at first, but once I told her more about my experience, she went ahead and gave me a diagnosis! I know so many people have a hard time getting a diagnosis, and i did get told by other clinicians that I had anorexia, but it took me only 9ish months to get diagnosed versus the years it took you and many other people!
I just listened to the podcast with you and Wendy Busse and your story is to a T my story. Had a bad reaction to medication and developed a fear to food because I was so incredibly worried about anaphylaxis. Wow I’m so thankful to know I am not alone and while I may have created this thought process there is treatment. Omg thank you so much for sharing your story with Wendy!! I’m forever grateful. I’m hoping I can share the podcast with my family so they can finally understand what is going on. And when people and doctors say “just eat” makes me absolutely crazy. If it was that easy I would!
I've kind of given up on getting and official diagnosis and getting therapy for this... Like you, I've developed ARFID as an adult about 8 years ago (kind of a long story, first symptoms appeared due to a chronic pain issue but then everything fell apart when my grandma died and can't eat most foods since). In general, I have a REALLY hard time finding my therapist in my area who takes my insurance. Most say they are booked and don't even offer a waiting list and some send me away that a) they won't work with EDs or b) I am too complex of a case to work with (I am always clear in my intro that I have ARFID, anxiety, and I have a lot of trauma due to growing up in a physically + emotionally abusive home + having suffered sexual abuse), some send me away specifically pointing out the abuse history. Over the past 8 years, I've found 4 therapists who were even willing to see me. #1 She was really nice, but a) she completely ignored any comments I had about food b) she was basically chatting we me like we were friends, telling me about her day etc, it wasn't therapy, I left her when she said that once in a while someone comes in that she wishes it wasn't in therapy setting cuz they would be a great friend (sad thing, I think we could've been great friends but I needed a therapist + they are legally not allowed to do so even if therapy is terminated, so I left), during this time I didn't know about ARFID yet, #2 therapist told me that ARFID doesn't exist, even though it is in t he DSM-V and she was willing to read the diagnosis, she thinks it's BS and not a thing, and I am anorexic and lying and I need to admit I just wanna be skinny...I left her after 3 session, #3 therapist told me after the second session that she cannot treat me because I am lying about being anorexic and binging (because many of my safe foods are chocolate, bread, junk, she said I must be binging because I starve myself...which is NOT the case!), #4 therapist said well she is not sure if ARFID is a thing, she has no experience in it, let's work on my anxiety...but it went nowhere, I gave it 5 months, but it went nowhere, she always cancelled on me, and it felt like she was an absolutely mess and needed a therapist herself (which would be FINE if she needed one if she could put her own issues aside during therapy). Since then I've tried to find therapists, but I always get rejected, especially with COVID everyone seems to be full and no one works with EDs and especially ARFID. I've found 3 ED therapists, they are cash only and I can't afford $175-200/session + they all told em they don't know about ARFID. There is one ED clinic that only does in-patient, not ARFID, and not even covered. I am incredibly discouraged by not finding anyone and especially being told I'm lying. Whenever I've mentioned it to regular doctors (GP), they shrug it off, 'it shouldn't cause health issues/nutrient deficiencies', 'everyone eats chocolate', 'so you're a bit picky', etc... But I feel stuck alone. My husband doesn't understand it, kind of got used to it, but think "I should just eat" and is frustrated. My friends don't hear me... And I don't know how to even recover. I find very little info and most is tailored towards kids, those who developed it during childhood, or have autism. Can you do a video talking about the steps you've made towards recovery, I see you trying foods, but how did you get there, what helps you with this? I don't have tiktok, in case you've covered it there.
I'm 27 and have had intense fear surrounding food since age 18/19, following medical trauma. I am astounded at how similar our journey's have been Laura! If it weren't for you, i wouldn't have known about ARFID either. I'm honestly almost finding it hard to accept that i even have an ED, considering that doctors have never implied that i have one after all these years. It seems like it's going to be hard for me to access someone to officially diagnose me with ARFID but I'm going to try! Thank you ❤❤❤
omg same i always feel like my throat is going to close and i can’t tell if it’s my brain or if my throat is actually swelling so i just eat the same 5 foods everyday 🙃
