Anonymous #1 1d

i thought i had arfid for years but turns out it was an obsessive need for control over what goes in my body mixed with some moderate contamination ocd

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Anonymous #1 1d

but also the concept of having safe foods and the trouble in deciding what feels right to eat

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Anonymous OP 1d

Did a therapist remove your ARFID diagnosis and replace it with OCD?

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Anonymous #1 1d

ive never been to therapy but i used to struggle severely with feeding myself, like it took a physical toll on my body and everyone close in my life has seen me absolutely break down over not being able to find smth that works when im really really hungry, but now ive seen that need for control shift into the need for healthy ingredients and i while i still struggle with that control aspect, i have an easier time picking stuff cause if its healthy its safe, regardless of the texture or taste

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Anonymous OP 1d

Okay good I was about to say it sounds like that therapist has no idea what they’re talking about and you should consider a new one lmao.

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Anonymous OP 1d

before, i strongly needed predictable foods that i could imagine the texture and taste of before taking a bite. so i absolutely refused to try new things and would panic over that easily if someone pushed me. but now im much more open because my weird “requirements” have changed

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Anonymous OP 1d

So ARFID does not have control nor body-focused requirements, it is unique from other eating disorders in this way. It is comorbid with OCD, it can and does appear in the same individuals frequently. One can also develop OCD compulsions specific to their pre-existing ARFID symptoms the same way when someone has depression and OCD they often develop compulsions out of an intrusive fear that they will become depressed again.

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Anonymous OP 1d

More vague advice, only take if relevant, I recommend not fixating too hard on the exact diagnosis you might have unless it affects the care and treatment you are seeking, especially if you have OCD. It can be a dangerous thought path depending on how your OCD presents itself and diagnosis in general is only helpful so far as it allows you to communicate/determine your needs and get them met.

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Anonymous OP 1d

It has been really helpful for me personally with OCD to take a “symptoms first” approach. What are my symptoms, how do they affect me, and what treatment is available for people struggling with those symptoms. If you determine that there are different treatments depending on the cause of the symptom thats when I would start worrying about differentiating specific diagnoses to prevent medical rumination. (unless thats not something you struggle with for your OCD)

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