November 26th, 2016 – a day to be remembered

Wow, so I have to believe that everything happens for a reason and this weekend I have had a life-changing experience.  This Thanksgiving I was experiencing the normal stress, anxiety, and fear of having the biggest food celebrated day of the year come around and not be able to spend it with any of my family who understand my picky eating.  I went to a friends house for Thanksgiving and was so worried about how embarrassing it was going to be with the usual questions, comments, and pressure to eat all the amazing food that they were preparing but that I couldn’t bring myself to eat.  (Side note: they were amazing by the the way and didn’t make me feel awkward at all and we had a great time).  So back to Thanksgiving morning I woke up and found the following video below posted on the Picky Eaters Association Facebook page.

Selective Eating Disorder (SED) / Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdnVhyZ9qqY&feature=youtu.be
• http://www.yourtango.com/experts/felixeconomakis/top-six-myths-about-selective-eating-disorder-food-phobias

I couldn’t believe it, it looks like there is finally an official title for my picky eating.  It is actually a food phobia called Selective Eating Disorder / Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (SED/ARFID).  It is different from the normal fussy eating a child goes through and grows out of.  I can’t believe that it is finally acknowledged as a real thing.

The most shocking part of this is that I think I found a psychologist who has worked with selective eaters and actually knows how to help named Felix Economakis.   So all morning I looked into it more and watched several of his you tube videos of picky eaters appearing to try new foods after meeting with him.

I was skeptical but hopeful and so I decided to try the online video therapy today and have the best news!   I have tried six new foods today and think this could be a turning point in my life: raw carrots, green beans, chicken nuggets, plain cheeseburger, Caesar salad and cheese pizza with sauce.  These six new foods were truly stretch foods for me, I discussed with my family and went out on a limb with things that I didn’t think I was ready yet to try even though I have been making some progress on my picky eating lately.  I have never in my life eaten meat before and today I tried chicken nuggets, a cheeseburger and chicken on a salad.  I am stunned.   This is one of the best days of my life and I am so hopeful for the future.

It is not a magic wand where I am suddenly cured and like to eat everything; I still don’t know if I like any of these foods but I was able to try them which is a huge step forward.  It is still going to take a lot of work and discipline to keep my momentum, be consistent with trying new foods, get my taste buds used to new things, to discover what I like and don’t like and to not just fall back on my safe foods but I think with the help of my family and friends I can do it.  I am truly moved and so excited.  I never ever thought this would be possible.

So this thanksgiving I am so incredibly thankful to have found this video and for the the amazing new possibilities it brings!!!!!!