I have ARFID (avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder), specifically the sensory subtype. That means that my brain’s wiring is unusual, and I can’t tolerate a much higher range of foods than the average person. I am limited to less than 5 total meals I can eat.

I am also an emotional unconscious eater. I thought at first I was a refuse-not unconscious eater (and I do have elements of this style), but I noticed with horror when working with an IE dietician that slowing down and focusing on my food felt awful. I learned that I do things while eating because eating is so frequently a negative experience for me. Even my most “safe” foods rarely feel tasty or worthwhile.

Reading the IE book has been interesting because, while it doesn’t mention ARFID, I can still see some connections. For example, I realized that, while I rarely avoid foods as a "diet," I do avoid it because I don't like it and then binge later on foods I do enjoy (or think I enjoy). When I'm unable to have safe foods, I buy expensive takeout just because it's "different" and a "treat," even though I frequently don't like it.

I also restrict because I'm ashamed of my food, which is often seen as a "childish" palette. This also leads to binging.

I mostly wanted to share my experience, but I’m also curious: does anyone else here have ARFID? How do you make sense of IE for you?

EDIT: Oops, didn’t mean to make the title all-caps!