While many children show typical signs of picky eating around the age of two, ARFID is different. ARFID, or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, is a diagnosis for picky eaters with food phobia that can be carried on into teenage years and adulthood. Generally, the phobia is present for one of a few reasons:
- A negative memory or experience with food (trauma from choking is an example)
- A situation where a person felt out of control (sudden move as a child or difficulty changing schools) and food was something that the child or person WAS able to control
- The person may have some sensory aversion already to food, and it has grown over time due to a variety of factors (pressure, forced feedings, feeling shame or guilt) and now the anxiety has grown and now things feel out of control
However, it’s important to know there is treatment for ARFID.
Techniques such as hypnosis can help guide the individual to achieve their goal, typically in a much quicker time frame – it can help calm or quiet the voice in their head that creates and makes them believe in these irrational food rules. This can help support the battle in their mind about eating certain foods so they can peacefully taste and try new foods without panic or anxiety.
Hypnosis allows the therapist to work with the person’s unconscious to bring about change. We work with the part of the brain that has shut down to provide protection. Hypnosis is gentler than exposure therapy, it gets to the root of the problem, and is safe. Many find it very enjoyable and relaxing. Nothing will make someone find all foods wonderful, but the goal is to open patients up to feel safe experimenting and tasting food, and to bring a sense of peace and happiness back to eating.
This is a no pressure environment. The idea is to reduce anxiety, not create more. Low pressure and low stress during healing. Children typically gain the most benefit when they are over the age of 10. Generally, it takes 5 total sessions to see results, and there is often a maintenance time period after the initial session to ensure that gains are not lost.
Contact Kelly for your free consultation today. She can answer your questions and help you determine if this is the right choice for you in your recovery process.