CHAT WITH ME- How I Developed ARFID

[@leahbaer11]

Laura I can actually relate so much. I developed PTSD from a health scare and i’ve never met anyone who understands at all. And I related it to food too in a way. I don’t have ARFID but I do have anorexia and a form of PTSD. Thank you for making me feel less alone. Like truly. You have no idea how much it means.

[@sloooooothhhhhhhhhhhhhhy]

The difference in feeling between anxiety attacks and panic attacks doesn't even seem like a big deal until you get that chest pain, etc. And it's TERRIFYING. That was the first time I realized every time I thought I was having a panic attacks, it was likely anxiety attacks. Proud of you for sharing your story!

[@sarahg6886]

I agree completely. I didn't get immediate help for a stroke I was having because I thought it was one of my panic attacks. It's unfortunate that people don't realize how scary and severe they are. My first panic attack as a teenager I went to the ER because I was terrified!

[@strawbraryliberry4604]

This comment section shows I'm not alone in what happened to me 💙✨️ I too, have ARFID that developed due to emitophobia & health trauma! Mostly from developing food allergies after mono, mostly my gluten allergy because it did a lot of damage, physically & mentally. It was exacerbated by endometriosis issues. I became afraid of eating from my health problems, and scared of any new foods, new amounts, off my regular schedule. I stopped trusting my body, and that caused me to hurt myself by starving, which made my stomach issues/intolerances worse. I finally understand it & am trying to recover ^.^ I'm happy to see others talking about a similar experience, although it is a terrible experience. So much anxiety. Hope you all are doing well.

[@asksomeoneelse98]

Hey hey hey don’t think we didn’t see you eating that Boom Chicka Pop just then. That’s so amazing!!!

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

Hahah! Man, I’ve been eating it like crazy since I did the exposure!! I missed it 🤤

[@eviejo9013]

through your tiktoks i discovered arfid and i'm talking with my therapist next week to see if i can get diagnosed. arfid describes my relationship with food perfectly. ever since i was a child i've been terrified of food. i also have severe emetophobia and a panic disorder.

[@mckay5351]

Touching on the topic of health anxiety was so relatable to me! I tried an anti anxiety medicine and it caused panic attacks which made me develop health anxiety. I was terrified of any and all medicines. Not many people talk about health anxiety!

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

It plays a HUGE part in my struggles! I think health anxiety gets kind of downplayed tbh. People use the term “hypochondriac” willy nilly and as an insult.

[@ev6623]

I laughed multiple times watching this because I GET IT! I’ve experienced a lot of similar things to your story, and I’ve just recently realized I think I have an eating disorder brought on by anxiety and IBS. I’m in the search looking for a therapist now. Thank you for sharing your struggles and story with us. Praying you find peace and healing. God bless you!

[@gwillis01]

Thank you for an honest, detailed video

[@Angelwingedkitty]

I’m currently getting treatment for my own ARFID. I developed mine from a really bad allergic reaction, and it only got worse because my roommates in university were very careless about my allergies. I can soooo relate to the rollercoaster feeling when you’re sleeping and then you jerk awake - I had that nonstop for days after my allergy reaction which was a couple of years ago now, and I still get it every now and then!

[@catrinmahaffey5490]

I'm so glad you're getting better. I'm just a random person but I'm proud of you!

[@laurenburkee17]

I am so glad I found you on TikTok. I have emetaphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and healthy anxiety specifically. I never knew about ARFID before you and I didn’t even realize how much my anxiety resulted in my disordered eating pattern. I feel so seen, I’m almost emotional. I’m working on getting on medication but I also have anxiety about medication making me ill. Thank you so much for opening up about this. It means so much.

[@kelseywoodie3012]

“Unknown upper respiratory infection” in 2019. Looks at camera meaningfully. This happened to a lot of people before they knew about covid. I’m so glad you’ve come so far!

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

Sucks that we’ll never be able to know for sure if that’s what it was!! But I would not be surprised!

[@Moony2897]

I got sick with an “unknown respiratory infection” December 2019 as well. Never got any answers. I still have problems with my lungs now.

[@brandiknepper5526]

I feel for you. IBS sucks so bad. There were times that it brought me to my knees. I also thought veganism would cut that out and it did for a couple years, then mine came back with vengeance. I'm still off meat and dairy, and am currently combating it again. Your story and my story sound interestingly similar, but my food avoidance isn't as bad, but my anxiety is severe. I get shaky and my heart feels like it will explode. Now I'm convinced there is something wrong with my heart cause it seems to race all the time and it's TERRIFYING, but the doctors can't seem to catch it when my symptoms happen and I avoid the ER cause I don't want to take up space for COVID patients. May I ask what the condition you had was? I'm also so glad you're getting better! I hope you stay on the mend. I'm so glad I found you cause I feel a lot less alone with my symptoms.

[@nicolette9217]

I can't tell you how relieved I feel to hear that someone is experiencing the same thing I am. I mean I'm sad you have to go through the same thing but I am so happy to not be alone it's so hard dealing with panic attacks. This makes me realize I really need to get mental help.

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

Panic attacks are terrifying and I hate that you are dealing with them, too. 🖤

[@AJ-hk6tv]

My 12 year old son was hospitalized with a feeding tube last week for ARFID due to dangerously low weight. His story is so similar to yours minus the heart issue. It started a little over a year ago (pre-pandemic). Thank you for sharing your story. I’m trying so hard to understand what is going on and how to help him.

[@karly_ongrowth]

sending so much love ❤❤

[@rikkiriley341]

Wow. I relate a lot to this. I have IBS and have had a lot of the same fears leaving and eating in public. Thankfully, I found out I have a garlic intolerance. I still have problems, but I feel a lot better. I’m sorry yours led to ARFID.

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

I'm so glad you figured out some answers!

[@Potato-uh9gv]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I relate to it a lot as someone with IBS, food allergies, and severe lactose intolerance. I still haven't quite figured out what my "safe" foods are and I know very well the desire to just avoid food all together rather than agonize over what to eat and run the risk of triggering a flare. IBS can really destroy your relationship with food.

[@kathleenwilcox5777]

I can’t even begin to describe how comforting it is to know I’m not alone. I also have a heart condition that has been making it difficult to eat, making me not want to, unsure why, the whole thing. I found you on TikTok and realized you had a KZbin. You’ve brought so much light and knowledge to EDs and anxiety and everything, thank you for being so brave and honest! ❤️

[@livperucca952]

Girl ❤️ I have so much anxiety around my heart too. I have SVT and whenever I have a palpitation (which is the first sign I’m about to have an episode) I start to panic. They said the worst that can happen to me is I’ll pass out, but during the episodes I think I’m dying. I also check my pulse all the time. I’ve never known someone with these issues, so thank you for your video. It helps me feel less alone.

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

I definitely relate! I get so so scared too, it honestly feels like you're going to die. I'm sorry you have to deal with it but glad you feel less alone!

[@Torihatcher99]

I stumbled across your page on Tiktok and you are really reminding me of myself. I went through a pretty scary medical situation a year ago and since then have been hyper aware of every symptom I have, including a high HR, severe health anxiety and IBS . Due to my heart being irregular and in the works of being diagnosed with POTS I have also noticed I’ve become more restrictive with the foods I consume. I’ve been losing weight like crazy but can’t stop convincing myself cheese will clog my arteries, bread will give me diabetes, soda will trigger my anxiety, so on so forth. I’m so happy I found your channel I feel like I can relate to someone now and just makes the healing process that much easier. Thank you for this video

[@DoseOfDani0-0]

Im so sorry you’ve gone through these struggles I’m rooting for your recovery and I believe you have the strength to overcome this. I have arfid+ too (arfid and anorexia) and a lot of health anxiety I could totally relate to this video except I’m deathly afraid of throwing up

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

Oh I am too!! I have a huuuge fear of throwing up! I didn’t really touch on that in this video but I had a VERY bad stomach virus in like 2013 and I think it also played a big part in my developing ARFID!

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

I promise I normally can blend my shadow better than this lmaooo I CAN'T FIND MY BRUUUUSSHHHH

[@arsonzartz]

i was born with arfid. im working to try to try new things. a week ago i tried general tso sauce with chicken, i loved it!! :D cant wait for when we have it for dinner again!

[@NorthStarAdrenaline]

Thank you for sharing your journey. 🖤 I can relate so much. While I don’t have ARFID, I do have OCD and anxiety which both cause major food and medication fears. It’s so frustrating. My health anxiety is out of control and even though I know I need medication (it’s helped immensely in the past) I can’t get over the fear that it brings. It’s reassuring to know I’m not alone. I’m rooting for you and sending you all the love and good vibes!

[@Yamib-nyb]

Thank you so much for sharing your story!❤

[@misssassi3110]

I think I was develoving ARFID because of the emetophobia and I didn‘t even realize that this is an eating disorder. I luckily got it under control.

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

I’m so glad you were able to fight it! I have emetophobia too and it’s really tough.

[@misssassi3110]

@@lauramaeramsey5280 I really am. But I still have a long way to go with the emetophobia itself. Wish you all the strengh ♥

[@jessicalovestoms]

Okay, I got really happy for you when I saw you were eating the Boom Chicka Pop since you just recently retried it on tik tok! I'm sure it doesn't mean much, but I'm incredibly proud of you and your hard work to overcome this!

[@mirandacooley1410]

My anxiety started when I was about 10. I totally get it. I use to wake up and tell my parents I couldn’t breathe. And I went to the ER multiple times. It was so scary as a kid not being able to catch my breathe. At that point we didn’t know it was anxiety but I do looking back. Anxiety and panic attacks are both scary and feel horrible. So glad you are getting better❤️

[@user-ph4mg1mh9c]

I’ve been watching you on tiktok and I recall seeing you confronting popcorn 🍿- now look at you, so pleased for you ☺️

[@tonyahead8190]

I had the same thing with my heart and could not tell the difference between anxiety and heart problems. Because of a medication I took, I didn’t avoid food like this. But my cardiologist talked me through it also!! And I got to point I didn’t even want to walk because my heart would go up and anxiety would start again. Just now getting where I would get up and go places again. Was also afraid I was going to die.

[@mikemortoncore]

i was diagnosed with IBS when i was very young and i used to refuse to eat lunch and breakfast because i was so scared of being in the pain that i was in,, i’m glad that you are recovering from ARFID,, goodluck on your recovery!!

[@jessicaolson3060]

I don’t relate no where near your level. But I am in my first month of pregnancy and my morning sickness and nausea has been horrible. Everything I’m eating or even the smell of certain things are making me sick. So I have recently been so hungry but horrified to eat. I found you on TikTok and recently have been eating with you on your videos. When you try something your scared to eat I eat something too. Because recently even though I havnt been feeling as sick. I’m still terrified to eat. Keep being strong and Encouraging yourself to get better and others. Love you much. You got this❤️

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

I'm so proud of you for pushing through! I know how scary it feels. And congratulations on your pregnancy!!

[@brandidelaney2568]

Girl I was so sick while pregnant and believe or not pudding cups helped they didn’t hurt if I did get sick

[@anyapapa6927]

Thank you for opening up, because I can absolutely relate to parts of your story. I am working with professionals to help my mental and physical health, but it can be so hard to separate the two sometimes. My acid reflux started burning my esophagus which caused swelling which made it hard for me to swallow. I have medical ptsd and I find it really hard to believe when doctors tell me that I’m fine or that I’m going to get better with time. I’m just sharing to say that you also aren’t alone and that I am sending you love too!

[@Lisa-gl7rc]

I also have health anxiety and it’s really exhausting. It feels good to know that I’m not alone. I wish you a speedy recovery and thank you for sharing your story.❤️

[@chaihuahua]

ive been struggling with very similar issues, found out i have ibs and a gluten sensitivity recently (within the past year or so) and its caused me to have a lot of anxiety around food and caused me to have a very poor appetite. i eat the same things a lot of the time (like i eat oatmeal and yogurt with granola pretty much everyday lol) i havent had a chance to go to therapy yet unfortunately but my mom found a therapist that specializes in eating disorders so hopefully that would help me edit: i want to mention this to see if anyone else has had the same issue, but for a while i also had a severe fear of eating past certain times (it started with me not allowing myself to eat past 2 pm bc i didnt want to get acid reflux when i slept) with progress i was able to get over that fear and i try to not let myself obsess over what time i eat now, but idk if thats normal or not.

[@RitaMarie84]

I suffer from anxiety, depression, and ocd. The ocd is more obsessed thoughts (fear) then googling information (compulsion) and thinking something bad was happening to me. Mine was the result of failed depression meds. Multiple. So I relate to the health anxiety. I am on something now that has helped me. I had seen a doctor for panic attacks and she switched my medication multiple times due to side effects, which she shouldn’t of done so quickly. Long story short I saw a psychiatrist who knew what she was doing (thankfully) and she earned my trust and was able to find what helped me and trust in her to help me. It was so scary and many times thought I’d die or go through something horrific. Thank you for sharing and I wish you the very best!! I just wanted to say I can relate and it helps to know other people can also understand. I’ve been in the hospital also thinking the same thing to be told anxiety. Big hugs to you. You got this!! ❤️

[@ileneeo]

Thank you for sharing this🥰

[@nightmaremiraclekid]

I’m so thankful for you sharing your story. I feel like with seeing your videos I finally feel validated in my issues with food next to my ocd and anxiety. You are doing so great! I’m proud of you

[@adubskitties]

Oh my god. I’m 8:03 in and you sound EXACTLY like me. This is INSANE.

[@adubskitties]

I would seriously love to talk to you! Lol

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

Feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram! Same name as here!

[@emilyweaveroffical]

My story is almost exactly the same! Underlining health issue (mine was endometriosis). Started self treating with diet and removed several foods I deemed to be causing more pain. Didn’t think it was a thing. Then years later developed POTS out of the blue and things got really out of control my first year of marriage. Development PTSD too. Things got a bit better after a few years but had lots of ibs issues too. Doctor put me on an elimination diet and I did the same thing. Just didn’t ever add back.

[@bridgetmachum6138]

You have become such a comfort person to me 💗 you are so gentle, informative, and caring 😢💗

[@AlyssaLaine]

Super proud of you! You really are on the right path, and I’m so glad you’re helping others while you yourself recover! It’s who you are! Love you with all my heart ❤️

[@nataliatheweirdo]

I know this is three years late but you were the person who led to start my own arfid journey! I always struggled with food since i was a child but it was always just a ‘oh thats just a me thing’ but i saw you in autism tiktok compliation 😭 and you were trying boom chicka pop and i remember my thought process of ‘oh i hope she gets better!….wait’ 😂 i would probably say my arfids gotten a teeny bit worse in the last year due to food intolerences (‘oh i’ll eat this ans then i’ll have a reaction and i’ll die’ is my thought process. EVERY TIME 😭) but i can proudly say i reguarly eat vegtables 🕺🕺🕺

[@travischooter]

Do you have CVT i swear i feel you are telling a verry similar story to me

[@hayliepopovich6077]

I would just like to say this helped me so much and you are doing a great job so thank you!!!🖤

[@millsfamily7602]

Not to be a salesman but have you heard of Kardia Mobile? It's a pocket sized single lead EKG. I use it to determine if it's my PTSD stuff or my medical stuff. I'll check my BP, Kardia, and blood sugar and take whatever steps those tests point to. The whole time trying to calm myself because no matter what is going on being calm helps. Blessings and Love You aren't alone PTSD and AFRID sista

[@RozeLight]

I also have ARFID!

[@Rotoprism]

00:51 Casual Cameron. But yea, this is pretty relatable. I had years of having panic attacks as a kid and I just assumed it was normal.

[@madison8568]

I have severe stomach issues due to my whole GI tract being paralyzed (one of those organs is my stomach but my whole GI tract is paralyzed). My stepmom wanted me to do an elimination diet when I was like 16 and this was before it was confirmed it was an all food issue not a certain type of food issue. However I suspected already it was a digestion issue not an intolerance issue. So I decided against it because I thought it was was too restrictive especially for my age and I am so glad I did I think it would have been damaging at my age.

[@amberprice2023]

Came from Tik Tok! Glad to see a longer video from you and hope to see more!! You're doing great, keep up the great work!! One day at a time!!

[@gwillis01]

Hello Laura M Ramsey

[@MagnificantLights]

Wow... I never thought I would hear someone with a story so similar to mine. My issues with food started with an irrational fear of suddenly being deathly allergic to foods (tried before or not). I also have anxiety, so I didn’t realize that whenever I worked out that my heart rate would raise to a point that really resembled panic... and I haven’t exercised in a long time because of it. I’m trying to eat new foods as much as possible but I still get really scared.

[@NimQuesse]

So proud of you for sharing your story! :)

[@cassidycollazo740]

Watching this video made me realize I think I may have this disorder? I was traumatized as a child by a relative having a very violent vomiting episode, it caused me to be terrified of being in enclosed places with other people, like I hated riding the bus afraid someone would be sick, i hated being in school and going to my classes because i was scared someone would be sick. I ate my lunch in the teachers classrooms because that was also triggering. ANYWAYS!! I found out a couple years ago that i’m emetaphobic. This honestly gave me PTSD as a child, and i would stop eating foods i thought would make me sick. Once i got food poisoning after eating pizza hut and I didn’t eat cheese on pizza for 5 years because i associated it with food poisoning. I went through periods of binging and of not wanting to eat at all in fear i would be sick, so i would eat very little to avoid getting too full. Over the past.. 10 years maybe? I have developed a fear of a bunch of foods becsuse i associate them with illness. so when i saw your tiktoks about arfid it really seemed like something resonated with me. I know you’re not a professional, and as you say ARFID can come about in many ways, but do you think I have this disorder? or is it just a phobia? or can i have both? sorry for the novel, i’ve wanted to get your opinion this but tik tok only allows you to comment 2 sentences!! thank you in advance if you see this :) I’m proud of your progress on your fear foods journey and seeing you eat popcorn freely! 💕

[@laurenburkee17]

I have the same exact thing as you. My emetaphobia spurred from a horrible stomach bug as a child and now I avoids foods just as you do. It’s so hard, sending you positive vibes!

[@cassidycollazo740]

@@laurenburkee17 I’m so sorry you’ve experienced the same thing as me, it’s horrible. It ruined a lot of my childhood. Do you think this restricted eating coming from a phobia would be considered ARFID?

[@laurenburkee17]

@@cassidycollazo740 I'm honestly not sure. I've always just classified it all under my phobia, but I think that's a question for a therapist!

[@corinneadair2119]

I’ve been seeing tick tick compilations on here and I wondered if you had a channel and I just found it also you are adorable and you remind me of my friend you have similar personality’s lol

[@corinneadair2119]

Ticktock*

[@tlex86]

Is the heart condition you have SVT? I have that and I get so anxious about triggering an episode too!

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

Yes!!

[@tlex86]

@@lauramaeramsey5280 Ugh! It's so harmless but so scary! I had my first episode 3 years ago when my anxiety and panic attacks were at the worst. I had lost my dad to cancer and then a year later my mum and me were diagnosed with cancer as well. I already had anxiety my whole life but all that just made it so much worse. I wasn't eating much, having ocd about my health, and on top of that I had health issues lingering from my thyroid cancer that also affected my heart. Luckily for me after my first attack I went on anxiety meds and for me it actually seemed to help my heart rate episodes. Probably because stress and anxiety is what triggers it lol. It's definitely scary though when you get those palpitations and are worried it's the start of an episode.

[@kimmalloy2458]

I was literally scanning the comments to see if you mentioned the heart condition! I had SVT start up when I was about 14, I had extreme anxiety and didn’t tell anyone because I was scared. They usually went away quickly…until it didn’t. Has a few trips to the ER and dealt with some intense treatments to bring my HR down. Took beta blockers for years, then when I was 19 decided to get a cath ablation. Best decision! But SVT is very scary! We’re you prescribed Wellbutrin? My dr says that can cause rapid HR too.

[@sarahlovesdonuts9601]

You are very pretty. You don't need makeup.💕💕💕

[@AndreaShaenanigans]

It’s interesting to me!

[@KattyKat81]

Is your heart condition SVT?

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

It is! I didn’t flat out say it because I didn’t want to start getting a ton of health advice 😅

[@alyssahelms9536]

I have SVT as well. Can i ask if the medication was called amitriptyline/elavil?

[@lauramaeramsey5280]

@@alyssahelms9536 no it was lexapro!

[@alyssahelms9536]

@@lauramaeramsey5280 ahhh gotcha. I kept going into SVT and we couldn’t figure out why but ultimately linked it to the Elavil!

[@homebodysteve4248]

[@Beautybyshani11]

omggg the same thing exactly happened to me. I was put on some medicine to help swallowing, one day I used more than normal and i happened to be eating pizza at the same time. My heart rate spiked and i was having difficulty breathing. I went to A+E (English version of ER) and ever since then i can always feel my heart beat. And now i have a fear of food or medication cause im scared its going to trigger that again. I've had a smoothie same thing happened, and i had wheat one time after anxiety raised then the next day i had it again my heart rate spiked and then had to go back to the hospital. Multiple ECG's and been on a heart monitor. :(