Understanding Arfid: A Compassionate Guide to Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder for Parents, Educators, and Health Professionals

By: Reed, Samantha

Does your child avoid entire food groups, struggle with extreme picky eating, or become anxious at mealtimes? You're not alone and it might be more than just a phase. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a serious but often misunderstood eating disorder. Unlike other disorders, ARFID isn't driven by body image concerns-it's rooted in fear, trauma, sensory sensitivities, or a lack of interest in eating altogether. Left untreated, it can lead to nutritional deficiencies, anxiety, and daily struggles for families and caregivers.
Understanding ARFID is a compassionate, evidence-based guide for parents, educators, and professionals. Whether you're a caregiver seeking answers, a teacher concerned about selective eating, or a clinician supporting a child in recovery, this book provides clear strategies and real-world tools to help.

Inside, you'll discover: What ARFID is and what it's notHow to recognize early signs and distinguish them from "normal" picky eatingThe role of sensory aversions, anxiety, and traumaEffective treatments like CBT-AR and FBT-ARFIDHow to support children, teens, and adults through recoveryReal-life stories that offer clarity, comfort, and hopeYou'll also explode how ARFID appears in individuals with autism, how to manage meal refusal without shame, and how to build a positive relationship with food at home and in clinical settings. If you've been searching for answers, clarity, or a sense of direction, this book is your trusted companion on the journey toward healing.

Support begins with understanding. Recovery starts here.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FC6JYLYQ
• ISBN13: 9798286877317
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 58 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"