Food phobia where to start

[Time2]

Hello

I'm 30 and 22 stone my main issue is eating I have kind of a food phobia I've had therapy but gave up they don't understand. I literally only eat rice and chips with sauce or spuds/mash in a roast with no meat.

Food textures are my main issue and over thinking what's in food if I could combat this I used to be super active and could do that again I'm sure. I just don't know how to combat my food issues. Any advice?

[Hidden]

Hi Time2 - Are you saying you only ever eat rice and chips?

There will be your problem .... you cant live on those alone.

There are plenty of other foods that are the same textures if that is your main issue - have you tried cauliflower rice, buck wheat, cous cous?

Mashed carrots / swede / parsnips - all the same texture as mashed potato.

I urge you to try different things. Some you will hate and say never again, some you will think - oooooh ... i really like that. You won't like everything you try, learn .. trial and error!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello Time2 and welcome to the weight loss forum.

That is a very difficult situation. I'm sorry therapy hasn't helped you and I'm wondering if there's any value in you trying it again. Maybe you can find specialist help through Beat beateatingdisorders.org.uk/...

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[S11m]

Hi, Time2

You could try a cheese sauce, or melt cheese into the potato.

or liquidise anything, e.g. veg and white fish. ...or rice and white fish.

To get the most out of rice or potato, use "whole grain" brown rice and use the skin of the potatoes.

[IvanTheHorrible Maintainer]

I think you probably just need a different therapist. Can that be arranged? As I'm sure you're aware, you can't carry on eating nothing but rice and potatoes - that's just not going to end well.

Can you identify how or when this started? Can you elaborate on exactly why (for example) you wouldn't be able to eat an apple or a steak? I'm not sure it's a good idea to rely on ideas from a support group for something this serious, but there may be things you can do to help yourself until you can locate an experienced therapist.

I will just add that the therapist's job isn't necessarily to understand. Almost by definition he or she will have no direct experience of your situation, and therefore he cannot really empathize. His job is simply to fix the problem, and he may use techniques that may make little sense to you - the essence of CBT, for example, is "just do as I say and don't question it". People work in mysterious ways, and a very effective way to re-program unhelpful behaviour is to simply force the desired behaviour (in manageable doses) and allow the brain to generate its own rationalisations after the fact.

[Hidden]

A thought. I used to be a member of overeaters anonymous at one time and they do support anyone with any kind of eating problems and eating disorders. Your situation is more unusual but OA is a great place and group for getting lots of peer support and time to explore different ways to deal with any eating issues. you would be made welcome and I would be very suprised if you didnt find others with similar issues to identify with.Thye have a webisite an dyou shouold find local and online groups.

[Hildegard88]

I am not a psychologist or doctor but I would suggest that you look into ARFID - Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. I am not saying that you have the disorder but I do have it. I have had this disorder since I was a baby although it was only named in the most recent edition of the DSM-5. I will reject foods based on texture, smell, taste, appearance etc. I have tried very hard over the years to find healthy foods that I can tolerate so that I can eat a balanced diet.

Videos about the condition are starting to appear on YouTube. There is also a video called “The Truth about Fussy Eaters”. It shows a boy who went blind because he would not eat fruits or vegetables.

Since it is a relatively new condition not many doctors and psychologists know about it. You may have to present them with information about the disorder if you think that it is applicable to you. A clinical psychologist with experience in eating disorders should be able to assess whether you have the disorder. They may then be able to suggest appropriate treatment for you.

I did read somewhere that people with Arfid need to taste a new food 50 times until they will accept it. Normal people only need 5 or 6 times. That’s means you are going to have to get used to trying foods. A good psychologist should be able to help you with that.

Meanwhile you will need regular contact with a gp to assess your current nutritional deficiencies. I would also suggest that if you are not already doing so that you start taking a good quality multivitamin.

[Lindy500]

Are you perhaps aspergic?....if that's how it's spelt. Lol..... my grandson seems to have the same type of problems.... he is 8.... perhaps you are having the wrong type of therapy?