ARFID – Christmas edition
-ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
-Christmas can be a very challenging time for someone with ARFID as so much of the celebration revolves around food.
-People with ARFID are unable to eat certain foods, and may be extremely limited in what they can eat, or in how much they can eat.
-'If they are hungry enough they will eat' is not the case for someone with ARFID. They CAN’T eat a food which is not one of their ‘safe’ foods (and may still struggle with safe foods).
Supporting someone with ARFID at Christmas
-Sitting at a table with family surrounded by food they can't eat can be massively upsetting for someone with ARFID.
-Don’t make them eat with the whole family if they don’t want to.
-Try to let go of the 'shoulds', and make some new family traditions.
-Find other things to do together that don't involve food.
- Consider having more informal eating arrangements which include 'safe' foods.
Supporting someone with ARFID at Christmas:
-Remember that having visitors or being away from home can add to eating stress
-Try to be aware of other things which may trigger stress at Christmas. Try to let them have as much control over their day as possible.
-If possible, speak to the person with ARFID and see what they would like to do, as long as this isn’t triggering for them.
-Don’t be upset if agreed plans change on the day. Try to relax and go with the flow.
Christmas can be a really challenging time for someone with ARFID.
If you, or someone you know, has ARFID, do you have any advice to help get through the festive season?
#ARFID #NotJustPickyEating #NeurodivergentCommunity
