After ten years of eating half a loaf of white bread and yoghurt every day, a 12-year-old child with a food phobia has finally tried new foods.
Ashton Fisher’s parents tried desperately to change his food, but he had “horrendous panic attacks” if he was given anything else.
They found a light of hope at the end of the tunnel for the family’s ‘living nightmare,’ which began in July when a psychologist diagnosed him with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
The Norfolk kid is ‘proud of himself’ for attempting a roast dinner, chips, and ham sandwiches.
Cara, 49, feels her son’s phobia derives from his infant reflux, which appears to be a typical trigger for ARFID patients.
She said:
Ashton’s GP referred to him as a ‘fussy eater,’ while a nutritionist asserted that he will ‘grow out of it.’
When he was nine, the young child opposed help from psychologist Felix Economakis, but when he reached secondary school, he became determined to fix the problem.
Cara said:
Speaking about their second appointment with Felix in July, Cara explained: ‘Everything made sense when Felix told us about the condition…
Selective eating disorder specialist Felix says his job is ‘all about being able to put the client at ease once they feel understood, validated and listened to’.