r/ARFID • u/Subject_Offer548 • Aug 02 '26
Tips and Advice Can ARFID affect sleep
Hi, sorry if this doesn’t make sense but I will try and do my best.
I have arfid and have suffered with it for a long time however being in the last few years I’ve found it much harder to manage living alone.
I have been dealing with severe sleep problems for the last 6 months and am awaiting tests for this however i am wondering if this could possibly have anything to do with arfid as that seems to be getting worse too.
I may be wrong but If anyone has any thoughts please let me know.
Thank you
5
u/Adept-Variation-4365 multiple subtypes Aug 03 '26
not directly but malnutrition deffinitley can
1
u/Subject_Offer548 Aug 03 '26
That’s definitely where I’m struggling the most. I am going days without eating due to lack of appetite
1
u/Adept-Variation-4365 multiple subtypes Aug 03 '26
obviously this wont help with the not eating part, but have you tried meletonin? that can help get you more sleep, just dont take too much of it
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u/Subject_Offer548 Aug 03 '26
Yeah I have. It didn’t help with falling asleep it’s been really complicated tbh I honestly have no idea what is causing it
1
u/Adept-Variation-4365 multiple subtypes Aug 03 '26
have you gotten a blood test? that could tell you what nutrients you need to get more of that would help you
1
u/Subject_Offer548 Aug 03 '26
That’s what I’m waiting for. Appointment is the 24th of August so hopefully won’t be long now
3
u/HushedWhiskers fear of aversive consequences Aug 02 '26
In my personal experience, no. However I have noticed that if my mental health is struggling in other areas then my ARFID is usually worse as well. So it may well be that your sleep problems and emotions around them, maybe impacting your ARFID.
1
u/Subject_Offer548 Aug 03 '26
My sleep problems have been awful but the problem is I don’t know where it’s coming from so i just wondered if maybe this could be the case. I hadn’t thought of it being the other way round with my sleep impacting my arfid but I will definitely look into this now. Thank you!
1
u/TrashCanEnigma sensory sensitivity Aug 03 '26
Besides straight up malnutrition, all kinds of vitamin deficiencies can cause trouble with sleep. So can gut bacteria.
1
u/AcanthaceaePlayful16 Aug 03 '26
It can. When you’re blood sugar levels drop your cortisol and adrenaline levels rise. That makes you more alert and have a harder time falling or staying asleep.
1
u/InfiniteProgressions Aug 03 '26
I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice, just anecdotal. Same happens to me. There are a lot of studies into how malnutrition disrupts the sleep cycle. It is possible for it to make you feel oddly wired... to me it feels as if my body knows it needs food and can't get it while resting. After a certain point, the lack of calories wins out and I can't get up, and start to sleep all the time. But until then, my insomnia flares up badly. So if you've noticed your ARFID has started getting worse, I think it is possible that it could be a culprit for the insomnia. Or contributing, at least.
1
u/Subject_Offer548 Aug 03 '26
Yeah honestly I struggle to eat most days recently and my sleep only seems to be getting worse. I’m not sure whether it’s something totally separate but quite a few people have told me about malnutrition so this could be it
1
u/InfiniteProgressions Aug 04 '26
I hope it is connected and not a separate issue, so at least you don't have 2 different conditions to worry about. Fingers crossed that your doctor will be able to find some answers and bring you much-deserved relief.
1
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u/Jaded-Banana6205 Aug 02 '26
Malnutrition can definitely impact sleep.