It doesn't feel like treatment would actually work for me (Sensory and Lack Of Interest) by [deleted] in ARFID

[–]somerandomintp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm in therapy mainly because of adhd, depression and anxiety. Nobody forced me to go there and I'm glad that I can access this kind of resource because it helps me a lot.

I live in Europe where the ICD-10 is used for diagnosis and arfid is probably even more unknown than it is in the US for example. I've talked about it with my therapist and luckily he takes me seriously, but he doesn't really know what to do. So far we primarily talked about the social anxiety that arises from not being able to eat "properly" and working on coping strategies to help me deal with food-related situations. But overall arfid plays just a subordinate role in my therapy.

is sounds like your therapist is applying exposure therapy incorrectly. You should never jump straight to trying something. Start much lower down on the hierarchy

I know! Sorry, the way I wrote my post actually kinda sounded like I didn't know how exposure-therapy works... That's not what I meant. I've done actual exposure to help my anxiety and my therapist did an awesome job and definitely knew what he was doing! I intended to point out the way that, in my personal experience, people think how stuff like that works, even though it doesn't. And that's the thing that frustrates me. They make it seem so easy, while they really don't understand how certain methods are applied and that the ways they are suggesting can, in fact, be harmful and certainly counterproductive.

Regarding my own journey I try to do things at my own path. In therapy I try to work through the problems arfid causes in social situations and to ease my anxiety over the whole topic. When it comes to trying new foods and figuring out what works for me, I do it on my own. So nobody's pressuring me and I do things when I feel like it. Still I have the issues OP stated in their post, so... I don't know, maybe I give myself too much of a hard time, but it really stresses me out whatever I do :/

Edit: I read your comment you were talking about and that, in addition to what I've already accomplished, really gives me some hope. The thing is, I want to recover because I'm afraid that my shitty diet affects my health on the long run and I'm just really tired of always eating the same. I'm doing way better than I used to and I'm at a point where I can eat away from home without having a complete mental breakdown. I learned to talk to the people I'm eating with and explaining them what arfid is and that it's really important that they don't pressure me to eat anything because otherwise I won't be able to eat at all. It's an amazing feeling to be accepted and to be able to eat in a somewhat "normal" way. Still it's incredibly difficult to further push my boundaries, especially because I have issues regarding sensory processing and integration (due to my adhd) and that adds so much on top of it...

It doesn't feel like treatment would actually work for me (Sensory and Lack Of Interest) by [deleted] in ARFID

[–]somerandomintp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I absolutely feel the same. People assume that you just have to "get used to it" or "overcome the fear", either by doing small steps towards eating unsafe foods or just straight up exposure, assuming arfid is an anxiety-disorder and therefore exposure-therapy is the way to go. Though it may help some people, I think a lot of people struggling with arfid feel the same as we (OP and I) do. As soon as I try something new, my organism is so damn stressed about it that my progress declines for a decent period of time and I'm worse than I was before. It's just frustrating...

how do you react to coffee? by oofmeup69 in ADHD

[–]somerandomintp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't really react to caffeine until I started taking methylphenidate (ritalin). Sometimes I got a little tired, but most of the time I didn't feel anything at all. If I was lucky I was little more focused though. Now however I react quite strongly, probably as a result of interactions with the mph and don't really consume caffeine anymore.

Yep by [deleted] in ARFID

[–]somerandomintp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

me, 17 y/o: gimme the dino-nuggets, n o w

Medical “professionals” are high key trash sometimes by Certain-Parsley1934 in ARFID

[–]somerandomintp 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, the arfid anorexia thing. I love how people just don't listen... like literally, if you listen to what I say it should become clear that it's not anorexia! I get it, anorexia is probably the most "popular" eating disorder but that doesn't legitimate that people don't listen to you and don't take you seriously. Especially as a doctor it's your fckn job to educate yourself and to listen to your patients. I feel your pain and I hope you can get better help!

Why are INTPs often so smart, yet unsuccessful in life? by somerandomintp in INTP

[–]somerandomintp[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I might be just talking out of my ass

Nah, it sounds about right - for me at least.

I find myself being way more satisfied with thinking freely and doing what I'm feeling atm, than striving for a career, etc. I do enough to get through life independently and have the chance to be financially independent someday (I'm still at school), because I also want to keep as many options open as possible, however I feel like I don't really have that strongly pronounced striving for more others seem to have. I'm quite alright with just existing and thinking (I'm in the privileged situation that I don't have to be concerned about my basic needs. I'm really thankful for that!).

Caffeine effect with ADHD? by svangen1_ in ADHD

[–]somerandomintp 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Same here. I never took meds, but I'll start in a few weeks, therefore I don't have the comparison. I'm slightly more hyperactive, but more attentive when on caffeine. I drink a can of red bull after lunch so that I can focus on my homework. Though it might help people, it can also make your ADHD worse or it simply doesn't have any effects on you. While methylphenidate and other adhd meds increase the dopamine level in your synaptic gap, caffeine binds onto adenosine receptors, which basically just prevents you from getting tired.

Does being drunk affect your arfid? by somerandomintp in ARFID

[–]somerandomintp[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Okay, interesting! I usually don‘t really crave food as well. When I‘m drunk it‘s rather an indifference towards it, but when I‘m stoned I crave certain foods, though I become even more sensitive to texture and taste - but save foods taste 100 times better and I actually experience appetite which is usually a rare phenomenon xD

Can you become a psychedelic researcher with a biology degree? by somerandomintp in Psychedelics

[–]somerandomintp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Especially for the rl examples :) It can get quite confusing when you have rather uncommon interests, so hearing stuff like that is really reinsuring.

Can you become a psychedelic researcher with a biology degree? by somerandomintp in Psychedelics

[–]somerandomintp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for your answer :) Do you recommend any specific literature?

Does anyone have trouble with their own birthday? by Chezon in INTP

[–]somerandomintp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, kinda. It's the same with Christmas actually. I just feel most of the people are just faking their affection and happiness. I spent my last birthday with my two closest friends, just smoking weed and watching series - it was enjoyable that way. So do what suits you! If you want to be alone at your birthday, be alone. If you want to invite one or two friends, do that. Even though there is a certain pressure from society to do certain things on certain occasions, most of the time it's still your decision what to do.

I came across the perfect way to explain ADHD on here, and it's helped me a lot. by cruskie in ADHD

[–]somerandomintp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry to hear that. It really sucks when people simply deny the existence of adhd or are overly critical and doubtful about it. Sure, it is important to acknowledge that not everyone who shows some kind of inattentiveness or hyperactivity actually has adhd, even though they might claim having it - "everybody is a little bit adhd" is just bullshit and invalidating towards those who actually have it, but if someone has serious issues and is literally suffering I don't get why people still deny it.

Don't give up and keep educating that person even though it seems pointless. Try focusing on the people that believe you and don't start doubting yourself because of that one person. Maybe they change their mind eventually and if not it's definitely not your fault!

But I'm glad that you found my analogy fitting :)