How ARFID Traits Can Show Up in Recovery From Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder

When people hear the term ARFID—Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder—they often think of children with extreme food aversions. But here’s something less talked about:
👉 ARFID traits can show up during recovery from anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.

If you’ve ever felt stuck with food fears, sensory overwhelm, or uncertainty about what’s “safe” to eat—even after doing a ton of recovery work—you’re not alone. These may not be lingering eating disorder behaviors. They could be ARFID traits that were always there, just hidden.

Let’s explore why this happens, how to recognize it, and what supportive, neurodivergent-affirming recovery can look like. 💛

🧠 What Is ARFID? Understanding Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

ARFID is a diagnosable eating disorder that involves food avoidance or restriction, but not due to body image or weight concerns.

Instead, people with ARFID typically avoid food because of:

🥴 Sensory sensitivities (taste, smell, texture, temperature)
😨 Fear of aversive consequences (like choking, vomiting, or allergic reactions)
😐 Low appetite or low interest in food (often due to neurodivergence or trauma)

ARFID can lead to significant undernourishment, nutritional deficiencies, or distress around food—but it’s often misunderstood, especially when it overlaps with other eating disorders.

🔍 Recognizing ARFID Traits During ED Recovery

If you're recovering from anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, ARFID traits may appear as:

⚠️ Avoiding entire food groups or unfamiliar foods
🥣 Eating only a limited number of “safe” meals
😰 Freezing when faced with too many food choices
🤢 Anxiety about getting sick or reacting badly to food
🌀 Difficulty identifying hunger or appetite
🤯 Feeling mentally overwhelmed by the idea of eating

You might’ve had these patterns long before your eating disorder started—or they may emerge once body-image-related symptoms start to heal. Either way, these experiences are valid, and they don’t mean you’re going backwards.

🤔 Why Do ARFID Traits Emerge After ED Treatment?

Let’s explore why ARFID traits often appear after or during treatment for anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder:

🧃 Sensory Needs Were Masked by Restriction

In the depths of restriction, you may have overridden your sensory discomfort to follow rigid ED rules. Recovery brings those true sensory aversions back to the surface.

🧸 ARFID Came First

Many people had ARFID traits in childhood that were never recognized. Over time, those avoidant patterns may evolve into anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. When weight-focused behaviors resolve, the original traits reappear.

💥 Food-Related Trauma Was Never Addressed

If you’ve experienced medical trauma, force-feeding, or gastrointestinal illness, eating might still feel unsafe on a body level—even if you intellectually know the food is fine.

🧩 Executive Functioning Issues Cause Shutdown

For neurodivergent folks, just deciding what to eat or preparing food can be overwhelming. Avoidance becomes a coping strategy—not because of body image, but because of mental fatigue.

⚖️ Intuitive Eating Feels Unsafe Without Structure

For those recovering from binge eating disorder or bulimia, letting go of rules may feel chaotic. The brain may respond by avoiding food altogether, especially when options feel unpredictable.

🚫 ARFID Traits in Recovery Are Not a Setback

Here’s the key takeaway:
👉 Noticing ARFID traits in your recovery doesn’t mean you’re backsliding.

It means you’ve reached a new phase of healing—one where underlying needs, fears, or sensory realities are finally being acknowledged. And that’s something to be proud of.

Recovery is not a straight line. You’re allowed to uncover new layers as you heal.

🌱 What Recovery Can Look Like With ARFID Traits

If ARFID traits are present during your recovery from anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, here’s what supportive, affirming care can look like:

✅ Name what’s happening – Reframing avoidance as part of ARFID can reduce shame and increase self-understanding

🔍 Stay curious, not judgmental – What’s the real reason behind your food aversions? Sensory? Trauma? Fear?

🧘 Support your nervous system – Use grounding tools, polyvagal techniques, or co-regulation to help you feel safer before meals

🍽️ Validate safe foods – Safe foods aren’t a crutch—they’re part of how your nervous system builds trust

🧠 Work with providers who understand ARFID – Especially those who offer neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-aware support

You don’t have to push yourself into distress. There are gentler, more sustainable ways to heal.

💬 My Experience: Clinically and Personally

As a neurodivergent eating disorder therapist, I’ve supported many clients through this exact experience. I’ve also lived it myself.

I have ARFID traits.

There have been times when just choosing a food felt paralyzing. When the textures in my fridge all felt too overwhelming. When my nervous system shut down at the idea of trying something new—even though I “knew” it was safe.

ARFID traits aren’t a failure. They’re a signal that your body needs a different kind of support. And you deserve that.

💖 You Deserve a Recovery That Fits You

You don’t have to eat every food.
You don’t have to override your sensory needs.
You don’t have to force yourself into a version of recovery that doesn’t fit your brain or body.

🌟 Recovery that includes ARFID traits is still recovery.
🌟 You’re allowed to heal at your own pace.
🌟 You are not too much—and you’re not alone.

🎓 Want Support That Actually Makes Sense?

If this post resonates with you, check out my ARFID & Selective Eating Course—a self-paced, online course designed with:

✔️ Neurodivergent brains in mind
✔️ Sensory-attuned strategies
✔️ Trauma-informed care
✔️ Real-world, practical tools for recovery

Whether you’re a provider, parent, or navigating ARFID traits yourself, this course is here to help you move forward—with gentleness and clarity.

👉 Learn more: www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid

💌 Let’s Stay Connected

Follow me on Instagram for more insights, support, and resources:
📲 @drmariannemiller

You're not alone in this. Your recovery matters. And your unique needs are worthy of care. 💛