Treatment for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Michigan
What Is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that affects how food is consumed. People with ARFID can experience fear and anxiety around eating due to the feeling of being unable to control what they consume or even having extremely picky eating habits. ARFID often presents as low interest in food, sensory sensitivity, fear of consequences (choking, throwing up).
The good news is that treatment for ARFID is available and can be managed with the help of trained professionals. Our Sanford Behavioral Health team supports patients with ARFID to understand their condition better, learn management techniques, and develop a healthier relationship with food.
It's important to remember that recovery from ARFID is possible with the proper support and guidance. Don't hesitate to reach out to our team at 616.202.3326 for more information about ARFID and how our treatment for eating disorders. We're here to make sure you get the support and care that you need.
ARFID vs Anorexia
While both ARFID and anorexia can result to dangerously low body weight weight and malnutrition, they have distinct root causes and require different treatment. AFRID has no connection to body image, or weight or body dysmorphia. Anorexia, on the other hand, is primarily driven by weight and shape concerns. Both conditions involve limitations in the amount or types of food consumed.
What Causes ARFID?
It's usually not just one thing.
Most of the time ARFID comes from a few things stacked together: how someone's body is wired, how their senses process the world, and trauma that's actually happened to them around food. It could be all three. It could be mostly one.
Here's what we tend to see:
Sensory. Texture, smell, sometimes it's just how a food looks. For folks with sensory sensitivities these aren't small reactions — a slimy texture or an off smell can land in the body the same way most people would react to a bug crawling on them. It's not pickiness. The nervous system is fully activated.
Trauma. A lot of people with ARFID can point to a moment. They choked on something once. Got food poisoning at a restaurant and threw up in front of their friends. Or maybe they had a stomach bug that hit hard and now certain foods feel risky. The brain learns fast from extremely negative situations, and it doesn't always unlearn on its own.
Low appetite. This one gets missed a lot. Some people don't really feel hunger cues. Food isn't interesting. Eating becomes something they have to remember to do, like taking out the trash, except more often and with bigger stakes.
Comorbidities. ARFID rarely travels alone. It shows up alongside anxiety. OCD or OCD-ish patterns. Autism and ADHD. None of these cause ARFID exactly, but they create conditions where it's more likely to take root.
One thing worth being clear about: ARFID isn't about wanting to be thin. That's what makes it different from anorexia or bulimia. Nobody's restricting because of a mirror. They're restricting because eating feels bad, scary, or pointless to them — and that's a really different problem to solve.
Symptoms of ARFID
Understanding the symptoms of this ARFID is a crucial first step in recovery. It's also necessary to seek professional help to receive an accurate diagnosis. Common symptoms of ARFID may include:
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms
- Dramatic restriction in types or amount of food eaten
- Significant weight loss
- Dresses in layers to hide weight loss or stay warm
- Reports constipation, abdominal pain, cold intolerance, lethargy, or excess energy
- Experiencing consistent gastrointestinal issues around mealtimes, but the causes are unknown
- Will only eat certain textures of food
- Fears of choking or vomiting
- Lack of appetite or interest in food
- The individual's list of preferred foods becomes more limited
- No body image disturbance or fear of weight gain
Physical Symptoms
- Cold, blotchy hands and feet or swelling of feet
- Dry skin
- Dry and brittle nails
- Difficulties concentrating
- Thinning of hair on the head, dry and brittle hair
- Muscle weakness
- Poor wound healing
- Impaired immune functioning
- Stomach cramps
- Menstrual irregularities
- Abnormal laboratory findings (anemia, low thyroid and hormone levels, low potassium, low blood cell counts, slow heart rate)
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Feeling cold all the time
- Sleep problems
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we understand the challenges associated with ARFID and are here to support you or your loved one. We can assess, diagnose and provide evidence-based treatments for this condition. Our clinical and medical teams are dedicated to providing compassionate care and support so that you can feel empowered in your recovery.
How Can an Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Program Help?
Treatment can typically involve cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and nutrition counseling to identify eating patterns, understand triggers for ARFID behaviors and create healthy eating habits. An ARFID program can provide patients with the skills and strategies to manage their disorder safely and effectively.
Other benefits that patients may start to experience while undergoing treatment can include the following:
- Increased confidence in managing food consumption
- Improvement in relationships with family and friends
- Better nutrition and health outcomes
- Enhanced quality of life
The ultimate goal of our ARFID program is to help patients better understand their condition, build healthier relationships with food, and learn techniques to manage their symptoms. Our team at Sanford Behavioral Health provides compassionate and highly specialized care for people with ARFID.
Get Help from Sanford Behavioral Health's ARFID Treatment Program
Our avoidant restrictive food intake disorder treatment in Marne, Michigan, at Sanford Behavioral Health, is designed to provide evidence-based and compassionate care. Our team consists of qualified clinical and medical professionals and registered dietitians who are committed to helping you or your loved one reach their recovery goals. Managing this condition can take time, but recovery is possible with the proper support and guidance.
Contact us at 616.202.3326 for more information about ARFID and how our treatment program can help you or your loved one. We're here to make sure you get the support and care that you need.
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