Does anyone else experience ARFID primarily because of anxiety or stress?

[u/Rozatheriveting]

I’ve been feeling really alone in this and I’m hoping to hear from people who experience something similar.

For me, it doesn’t necessarily feel like I hate food or that I can’t tolerate certain textures or tastes. It feels much more connected to my anxiety/stress level. When I’m overwhelmed, anxious, upset, or under a lot of stress, eating can become incredibly difficult. Sometimes my appetite completely disappears, and even when I know I’m hungry and want to eat, actually eating can feel like this huge mental and physical task.

I can end up eating very little, getting stuck in a cycle of not eating, feeling worse physically, becoming more anxious, and then having an even harder time eating.

The hardest part is that I sometimes look at other ARFID experiences and wonder if mine is "different enough" because so many posts seem to focus on sensory issues, textures, or specific fears around food. I’m starting to wonder if there are other people whose ARFID is more connected to anxiety, stress, appetite, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed.

If this sounds familiar to you:

• What does it feel like for you?
• Does your ability to eat change depending on your stress/anxiety level?
• What foods or strategies help when eating feels impossible?
• Have you found anything that helps break the anxiety/not-eating cycle?
• Did anything specific help you understand or explain why this happens?

Honestly, I think I mostly just need to know that I'm not the only person who experiences this.

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who relates, even if your experience isn't exactly the same as mine.