How to get diagnosed with ARFID?

My therapist agreed that she thought I had it. We've been monitoring it for about a year and a half. At one point it was bad enough to where she thought about recommending me to an outpatient program. However, we were able to overcome the crux of it by simply finding foods I would eat. This happened to be pizza pockets 😅. I think I solely ate pizza pockets for 3 weeks before I was able to start eating real food. We also realized that my symptoms are stress related. The more stressed I am, the more I forget to eat. My best friend and bf are aware of this bc my therapist said I needed a support system. They take me out to eat when I'm not eating bc I'm motivated to eat if I go out to eat with them.

Something that also helps getting diagnosed is journaling how food affects you and your struggles. Sometimes having written evidence this is an ongoing problem can help! It gives them a timeline, and it also has the added help of giving you a way to write out and really consider how and when it affects you which will be SUPER helpful

I just told my existing therapist that I thought I have it, and she agreed. You could also go to a doctor & explain the issues you are having with eating, and add that “it sounds like something called Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.” I think if your ARFID has also caused nutrient or vitamin deficiencies, that the doctor has treated/recognized already, that will help them to understand why it’s important. I know it’s hard, it took me about 6 years from the time that I figured out I had ARFID until I told a healthcare professional & was diagnosed.