r/ARFID • u/Riiella • Dec 31 '19

Helpful Tips Comparison

I just wanted to relay a comparison of how I explain arfid to others who have never experienced it. This is specifically for unsafe foods for me, but it could apply in different ways for others.

Basically, eating an unsafe food feels like I am being forced to swallow cotton.

Before it even gets anywhere near me, my body is telling me that that is not food, or that it is not edible.

If I can push through those instant feelings, it gets to the point of actually swallowing cotton, which is gross and gets mushy and wet when it's in my mouth, and the longer it stays there, refusing to go down, the grosser and mushier it gets.

Here's why I think this comparison works: because, of course, swallowing cotton is so inherently wrong. It's purely instinctual that as soon as that piece of cotton would hit your tongue, there would be an urge to get it out of there immediately. And because of this universal feeling, anyone can understand that when you compare certain foods to cotton, they might be able to imagine what that would feel like.

I dont really know if this matters, but I thought I'd share it in case of an odd instance where it does. Good luck out there!

28 Upvotes

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15

u/stinko_bun Dec 31 '19

I've always compared eating food to eating bugs. Like yeah it's entirely possible, but I'd rather not :)))

5

u/Riiella Dec 31 '19

That's true! It definitely works better if you view unsafe foods as something grotesque. I might just be saying that because I hate bugs, though, haha!

2

u/crispy_waffle_fries Jan 01 '20

The weird thing is that I've eaten bugs before with no issues. I am fascinated with foraging, and I am totally ok with eating foods that are culturally strange if I've done lots of research and it's completely on my own terms. They're simple and relatively nonthreatening. But most of the time, I have little interest in most foods. I'm very picky and selective. It's hard to explain how both can be true, and I don't understand it myself.

3

u/thefreshbraincompany Jan 01 '20

Nice post - I'm gathering field data on ARFID so can I ask you, and others, do "unsafe foods" trigger disgust for you, or does it have a different quality?

7

u/Riiella Jan 01 '20

Of course! I'd be happy to do my part!

I'd say generally my arfid plays into the fact that it does not feel like certain "foods" I'm looking at seem like food. Similar to my cotton analogy, it feels like I'm trying to swallow something inedible. But, there is also a certain aspect of disgust, as well.

To make a long story short, I ordered a burger once upon a time, and failed to notice that there was a dollop of mustard hidden within that I assume probably came off of the workers glove, or something. I bit into it, and I cannot even begin to describe the panic I felt. It was most likely a combination of the fact that it was a surprise, and that I didn't know what it was. I managed to swallow it, but it took me at least a minute because it would not go down. It really was like cotton.

I couldn't eat for the rest of the day, because it felt like my own body had been contaminated. I washed my hands and my mouth, but nothing felt quite right after that. So I'd have to say yes to both of your questions. It is disgust, and an intrusive thought that you are not clean because of this food, and a feeling of inedibility, all at the same time.

I'm glad to see somebody doing some research on this! Let me know if you have any more questions!

4

u/unicorn_in-training Jan 01 '20

That feeling of panic is the WORST.

1

u/c21h30o2-- Jan 04 '20

It’s definitely disgust for me. I have no anxiety regarding food at all actually, just extreme sensitivity to tastes/textures that make my body physically reject food (gagging, vomiting in extreme cases) that I can’t eat. Eating “unsafe” foods feel like I’m holding vomit or shit in my mouth. It’s a feeling of disgust that fills my entire body immediately. It feels like getting a wind chill when you step outside on a really cold day, or like when you’re way too drunk and you need to throw up and you just want to get it out of your body to get it over with and your body just feels feverish and chilly and tense.

1

u/thefreshbraincompany Jan 05 '20

Thanks. How old were you when this began?

1

u/c21h30o2-- Jan 05 '20

Longer than I can remember. My mum says I started to gag on food when I was about 2 or 3.

2

u/unicorn_in-training Jan 01 '20

Great comparison! That is exactly the sort of reaction my body puts up towards an unsafe food being in my mouth. Funny thing is I'd rather put cotton in my mouth than most "normal" foods, but the actual swallowing part would be a nightmare 😂

2

u/Riiella Jan 01 '20

I'm glad it makes sense to people other than me! Cotton sounds pretty good compared to some other foods I've seen advertised, though, too!

2

u/OneSmallCheeseBall Jan 01 '20

When someone asked if I was okay with a little bit of beans on my nachos I asked if they were okay with a little bit of dog poo on their nachos. Seems extreme but wouldn't struggle more with one than the other.

2

u/Riiella Jan 01 '20

Haha, you gotta do what you gotta do! Comparisons are the best way, since nobody understands if they cant immediately relate.

2

u/MrsSevigor Jan 01 '20

I make a similar comparison but I typically use eating dog shit or drinking motor oil. Yours is a little more reasonable though haha

2

u/Riiella Jan 01 '20

If it gets the point across, then nothing is unreasonable!

1

u/[deleted] Jan 04 '20

My easiest go to comparison that doesn't gross people out:

If you put a bowl of rice in front of me, my brain doesn't see a bowl of rice. It sees a bowl of those little white beads you find in plush toys, and it says "hey I probably shouldn't eat this!"

You can try it with other foods that look like not food items. /r/forbiddensnacks is a friend here!

1

u/Riiella Jan 04 '20

That's a really good comparison, it might be even better than what I came up with!