Understanding ARFID: A Guide for Families and Loved Ones
4 Essential Stops to Navigate the Challenges and Support Your Loved One with Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
A roadmap for supporting someone you love
Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, better known as ARFID, is a relatively new diagnosis. Because of this, it’s not well understood and can be difficult to navigate for families.
You may be feeling like those around you don’t understand the challenges you or your loved one with the diagnosis may be going through. If you want to learn more about ARFID, figure out what the next step is in recovery or have a resource to educate others around you, you’ve come to the right place!
Here are 4 essential stops to make in your journey to making sense of this diagnosis:
Stop 1: What is ARFID?
Knowing what ARFID is at a deeper level than just “picky eating” is important because it helps you to avoid making incorrect assumptions while gaining a better understanding of what lies beneath the surface.
ARFID can show up at any age. It often show up in those who also have some other challenges or diagnoses such as anxiety, OCD, PTSD, autism, ADHD. It can be triggered by psychologically challenging events like an experience of choking, vomiting or just a negative experience with food, but it’s important to know that sometimes you may not know what triggered it and that’s okay!
ARFID can present as avoiding certain textures, aversions rooted in fears and/or restrictive practices around food where they forget meals and have little interest in eating.
What’s important to know about ARFID is that the selection of foods tends to be so limited that nutritional deficiencies and unintentional weight loss can occur which is what makes seeking help very important. Some other symptoms include a fear of vomiting, choking or having an allergic reaction, avoidance of textures in food and feeling cold.
Stop 2: What isn’t ARFID?
There are many misconceptions related to ARFID and the following are some to keep in mind when addressing your loved one with respect to their challenges.
● ARFID is not just a normal part of development that they will grow out of and your family member is not doing this for attention or trying to make your life difficult.
● ARFID is not an eating disorder related to body image or weight loss the way other eating disorders are even though unintentional weight loss is often a sign of ARFID.
● ARFID is not just having some food preferences while still eating enough to continue functioning. Those with ARFID may need supplementation because they are not eating enough to survive or grow.
Stop 3: What can you do to help?
Now that we have a better understanding of what ARFID is (and isn’t), learning strategies that you can use to support your loved one is essential. We know this can be a stressful and intimidating process and you may be looking for a helpful place to start. Congratulations, you have already done the first step – being here and being open to learning! Here are a few more tips that you may find helpful:
● Introduce new foods: ARFID can cause severe nutritional deficits and it is helpful to introduce new food options in small increments. Introducing new foods can be challenging for a child experiencing ARFID. It is important to never force or push new foods to your child, and instead begin exposing them to new foods over time and in small portions.
● Include your loved one in food-based decisions: A child experiencing ARFID may have heightened anxiety with food choices and incorporating new foods in their diet. One way to help ease discomfort and to help your loved one feel a sense of control and safety is by including them in the planning of meals and food exposure. ARFID can be stressful for everyone, and they will likely feel curious and more engaged when they play a role.
● Remember to prioritize your own wellness: It’s common to feel distressed when a loved one is experiencing challenges and you want to take care of them! Remember, the best way to help those around you is by making sure to help yourself first. This may include practicing coping skills such as mindfulness or seeking support from other loved ones or professionals. There is no shame in taking care of yourself too!
● Involve professional support: We know you want to support your loved one, but no one can do everything on their own! Professional support can help introduce various treatment approaches to find the one that works best for your loved one and you!
● Stay patient: ARFID is a challenging disorder and it’s hard to watch your loved one struggle. We know you want to do everything you can to help them, and we want you to know that everything you are doing to learn is helpful. Continue to be patient during this journey and be compassionate to yourself – you are doing everything that you can at this moment.
Stop 4: Get support from others
Need more support? Sign up for the next “ARFID Parent Support Group” today! Read more about the group here.
Here are some other resources to explore:
Podcast Episode telling the story of 3 different individuals who have or love someone with ARFID
A special thanks to the group of OT students from University of Western Ontario who helped create this blog post.
Shannon Rolph is a pediatric Occupational Therapist and a mom to 3 (beautiful, wild, energetic) kids. She wholeheartedly believes 2 things are true: kids are amazing, and parenting can be hard. Shannon shares helpful information and practical strategies with parents and families to support them in finding more ease and joy in their parenting journeys.
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