DR MARIANNE MILLER
CARING EATING DISORDER TREATMENT IN SAN DIEGO AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON D.C. FOR ADULTS & TEENS
Food as Stimming: Autism, ADHD, Sensory Regulation, and Eating Disorders
Why does food feel so regulating for some autistic people and people with ADHD? Maybe crunchy foods help you focus. A familiar snack helps you decompress after sensory overload. You repeatedly sip or chew something during work. Or food becomes one of the fastest ways to feel calmer, more alert, or more grounded.
Why Eating Feels So Hard: ARFID, Sensory Overload, Trauma, Autism, ADHD, and Food Restriction
Sometimes eating feels much harder than it seems like it should.
You may know that your body needs food. You may even want to eat. Yet choosing something, preparing it, tolerating the smell or texture, and actually eating enough can feel overwhelming.
For people with ARFID, autism, ADHD, anorexia, restrictive eating disorders, trauma histories, or sensory processing differences, difficulty eating often has little to do with motivation. Sensory overload, executive functioning, nervous system activation, past experiences with food, and the effects of restriction can all make eating harder.
When Restrictive Eating Lasts for Years: Beyond Anorexia and the Path to Recovery
As an eating disorder therapist in San Diego, California, I've worked with people who began making meaningful progress after living with anorexia, atypical anorexia, ARFID, or another restrictive eating disorder for decades. Recovery didn't happen overnight, but it happened. They found more flexibility, more freedom, and a life that gradually became bigger than the eating disorder.
If you've been living with long-term restrictive eating, you are not alone. More importantly, you are not beyond help.
ARFID Help for Parents in California: Compassionate Ways to Support Your Child's Eating
Many parents search for ARFID help for parents after months or even years of trying every piece of feeding advice they can find. You've offered rewards. You've encouraged "just one bite." You've hidden vegetables in favorite foods. Maybe you've been told your child or teen will eat when they're hungry enough.
But if your teen or child has Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), those approaches often increase anxiety instead of expanding eating.
ARFID and PDA: Why Pressure Makes Eating Harder for Autistic and ADHD People
If you've ever wondered why someone seems to eat less the harder you encourage them to eat, you're not alone. Many parents, partners, teachers, and healthcare providers assume that more encouragement, reminders, or expectations will help someone with ARFID expand their eating. Unfortunately, when someone has ARFID and PDA, the opposite often happens.
ARFID Explained: What It Feels Like, Why It’s Misunderstood, & What Helps
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is one of the least understood eating disorders. Too often, people dismiss it as “picky eating” or assume someone can just “grow out of it.” The truth is far more complex. ARFID involves deep sensory sensitivities, powerful fears, and a nervous system response that makes eating challenging. In this post, I’ll explain what ARFID really feels like, why it is so widely misunderstood, and what approaches actually support recovery.
Why Letting Go of Restriction Feels Unsafe in Eating Disorder Recovery
Letting go of food restriction is often framed as a step forward in eating disorder recovery. But for many people with eating disorders in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and elsewhere, it doesn’t feel like freedom. It feels like fear.
If you’ve been told to “just eat more” or to “stop being so rigid,” but your nervous system screams unsafe, this post is for you. There’s a reason this step feels so hard. It’s not a lack of willpower. It’s about survival.
Why ARFID Isn’t Picky Eating: Signs, Symptoms, and Misconceptions
When people hear about ARFID, or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, they often brush it off as picky eating. At first glance, it can look similar: limited foods, refusals at mealtimes, resistance to trying new things. But this assumption is not only inaccurate, it can also be harmful. ARFID is a serious eating disorder that deserves recognition, understanding, and treatment. In this post, we will look closely at what ARFID is, how it differs from picky eating, the signs and symptoms to watch for, and why this distinction is essential for recovery and support.
Insights From ARFID Therapy With Neurodivergent Teens
Working with neurodivergent teens who have Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) has taught me more than any textbook or training ever could. My clients have shown me that ARFID is a deeply misunderstood eating disorder, especially when it shows up in autistic teens, teens with ADHD, or those with significant sensory processing differences.