8-Year-Old Shares Her Daily Battle with ARFID: A Journey of Courage and Hope

An 8-year-old girl named Hannah is shedding light on her daily battle with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a condition recognized as an eating disorder in the DSM-5. Hannah, who identifies with all three types of ARFID—aversive, avoidant, and restrictive—describes her experience as a profound fear of food. "The easiest way to explain it is a fear of food," Hannah states in a recent video, where she is seen at a table with a bowl of macaroni and cheese, overlooking the ocean. She clarifies that ARFID is not merely picky eating but a complex disorder that affects her ability to consume a variety of foods. Hannah shares that her condition leads to significant challenges, including frequent migraine headaches that often result in vomiting. She also suffers from cyclic vomiting syndrome, where once she starts throwing up, episodes can last for hours. Her sensitivities extend to the taste, texture, smell, and appearance of food, often causing her to gag. Due to her ARFID, Hannah struggles with a lack of appetite and relies heavily on "safe foods," which are typically processed and packaged items. She explains that these foods provide predictability, reducing her anxiety. However, this reliance means she often misses out on essential nutrition, impacting her health and growth. Currently, Hannah is undergoing therapy to address her exposures and develop coping skills to manage her anxiety around food. She has set a personal goal to take three bites of every new food she tries, aiming to give each a fair chance and expand her diet. Her journey offers a poignant look into the realities of living with ARFID and the determination required to overcome its challenges.

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TikTok Is Shining a Spotlight on ARFID, An Eating Disorder You’re Probably Unaw…

ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, and it’s a clinical eating disorder that can affect both kids and adults. Learn more here.