There can be many possible adverse effects to foods in ARFID sufferers. These effects can be physical or psychological. Since we have already covered much on the psychology of ARFID and the anxiety held by so many affected people, this post will primarily focus on the anatomical consequences of the eating disorder.
Just to be clear, virtually all people who demonstrate selective eating disorder will suffer significant social stresses. The majority will also suffer significant psychoemotional consequences. Serious physical expressions of the condition are less common, but still affect a substantial amount of people who have ARFID.
This post will discuss some of the expressions of ARFID suffered by people with extreme picky eating habits. We will explore symptoms that occur in various circumstances related to food phobia and how the extent of symptoms often drives some people to seek professional or self-help treatment.
ARFID Adverse Effects to Foods
When it comes to physical expressions associated with ARFID, many systems of the body may be affected. Below, I detail some of the most frequently observed and cited symptoms of acute food phobia:
Loss of appetite is almost universally experienced in ARFID patients when physical symptoms are present.
Digestive distress is certainly the most common of all expressions. GI issues might include such expressions as gagging, general stomach upset, gas, globus sensation, GERD, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating and even ulcer formation over time. Many people with ARFID also have related diagnoses, such as IBS.
Blood pressure might rise acutely or chronically. Paroxysmal hypertension is one of the more common types of high blood pressure in food phobics.
Profuse sweating is frequently observed in acute times of food anxiety. General nervousness often accompanies this symptom.
Many people with ARFID suffer from chronic illness or pain conditions, often of an idiopathic nature. In my work, I have found definite connections between ARFID and the same underlying psychoemotional triggers for this pain or sickness.
There are many more possible physical expressions, but these are the classic physical manifestations of acute food phobia in selective eating disorder sufferers.
Triggers for Adverse Food Reactions
When discussing ARFID symptoms, the importance of presentation is crucial in better understanding the condition as a whole, as well as the particulars of each individual case profile. Therefore, let’s explore the circumstances that cause these symptoms to appear and rate them in order from less severe to more severe:
People who only react with physical symptoms upon actually eating undesirable foods are the least severe manifestation. These people tend to prevent physical reaction by NOT eating anything that is not comfortable to them.
People who are directly presented with an undesirable food item for consumption and express symptoms without eating it are in a more severe category, but still are better off than those to follow…
People who present symptoms upon seeing others eat undesirable food items typically arduously avoid social eating settings and suffer all the social consequences of this forced decision.
People who express physical symptoms at the mere thought of eating undesirable foods usually suffer psychologically and rarely consider trying any new types of foods.
People who express physical symptoms at the mere thought of other people eating undesirable foods usually suffer psychologically and tend to avoid all representations of other people eating, including media portrayals.
Some people are simply symptomatic all the time and might suffer these symptoms simply from the existence of undesirable foods in the world… Yikes!
My Experience with Adverse Effects to Foods
I suffered from a very severe case of ARFID, but fortunately, my physical symptoms were not a major concern for me. I did regularly suffer stomach upset when placed in uncomfortable eating environments (restaurants and all social settings), but my symptoms were manageable. I simply did not eat socially very often, unless I was lucky enough to actually find SOMETHING that appealed to me (bread and butter, usually).
I have met many ARFID sufferers who suffer violent symptoms due to all the possible reasons noted above. Those at the lower end of the rating spectrum (the most severe cases) tend to really suffer horribly and usually require some variety of mental health assistance.
People who fall into the first 2 categories are the most likely to never seek help for ARFID, despite often wanting to eat better and hating the restrictions they have placed upon themselves in life. I was definitely one of these people… I would rate myself somewhere between category 1 and 2 in this regard. I would only get sick if I actually ate something unappealing or occasionally when presented with the opportunity to eat something unappealing directly. I could manage to see others eating and the thought of myself or others eating something did not create symptoms. How would you rate yourself (or your child) in this regard?
