Sensory Integration And Eating Posted: 03-09-06 13:27pm
I have read a lot about sensory
integration. I found out about this
disorder when I was searching "textures
and food". I am an extremely "picky"
eater. There are only a few foods that I
will or have ever eaten. I do not mean
picky like, "i don't eat green beans" I
mean picky like; I have never eaten a
hamburger, hotdog, pizza, vegetable, etc.
I am not "choosy" to lose weight or avoid
weight and do not consider my disorder
anorexia or bulimia but for me it is an
eating disorder and I can't find help for
it, or anyone else with it, nor a name for
it. I have been told to see a
psychiatrist and I did. After one visit,
he diagnosed me with ocd tendencies and
wanted to give me a rx which I did not
take. I do have ocd tendencies like
counting, organizing, cleaning but they
are not out of control or in control of my
life. I am just a clean and organized
person. I am however, out of control and
frustrated with my non-eating. Doctors
tell me that I am healthy and if I tell
them I am picky they just tell me to take
vitamins to make sure I am getting all of
the nutrients that I need. Well, that is
fine, but at this point in my life it is
more of a quality of life issue than
anything. I can only go to two fast food
places when my friends go because only two
have the chicken nuggets or grilled cheese
that I will eat. My husband will eat
anything, but for us to go to a restaurant
we have to go to one of the very few that
will let me order off the kid's menu which
has chicken strips/nuggets or a grilled
cheese. And, the fact that I have eaten
a grilled cheese sandwich or chicken
nuggets every single day for as long as I
can remember, would be an understatement
to say that I am tired of them. I don't
like thick chicken nuggets or soggy
buttered bread either.
I can not make myself eat other foods
though. I do not want mushy food, I do
not eat vegetables and the only fruits I
eat are apples and banannas on occasion.
I will eat cereal but not if it has too
much milk or is already soggy. My mom
said that even as an infant I would only
swallow two or three baby foods no matter
how many she tried to give me. My
parents and brother eat "normally". Mom
also said that if I could "squish" the
food with my finger (highchair age...) I
wouldn't eat it. I think that my issue
is the texture of foods or maybe there is
something wrong with my stomach or
intestines, etc. Someone once jokingly
said that I have overactive tastebuds.
Maybe that is it. All of the research I
have done about the sensory integration
sounds like me though. The kinds of
things that are borderline ocd stuff which
makes me feel like I was misdiagnosed. I
hate tags/seams on clothes to rub me. I
have to go to the extreme to feel
satisfied in life or to get a thrill (like
with skydiving, flying, skiing). Any
advice is welcome. This is so odd that
most doctors won't sit long enough to hear
it all or they do not even know about Dr.
Aeyers (sp?) sensory theories.
Some of the things you describe sound a
lot like me (need, clean, hate seams on
clothing, only eat grilled cheese, chicken
nuggets, ordering off the childrens menu,
etc). I am now starting to have a bigger
problem with food because I moved to
another country and the food sucks. Now I
am losing weight with an already very low
BMI; now my appetite is almost completely
gone. I choose to try and solve my own
problem before seeking medical attention
because the doctors are not very good
here.
By no means am I qualified to express my
medical opinions, however, I agree with
the fact that it sounds like you do not
have OCD.
If I come across anything that may help us
out, I will forward it to you. Thank you
for sharing your story.
|
purrfection
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sydney, Australia
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-01-08 00:37am
I have kind of similar problems. My
parents have always laughed it off and it
has become like a joke in my family. Most
foods I can't eat because I either think
its too old (I cant eat something more
than a day old it has to be just bought
from the shops or made) before I eat
something I have to examine it and if I
see something that looks like mould or
just something that I decide is a bit odd
(even if everyone reassures me it is meant
to be there I cant eat it) I was at a
restaurant last night and I couldn't eat
my food because I convinced myself the
cutlery andn plate were dirty and the food
just disgusted me for some reason.
One of the main things is that I decide
foods or even water has a taste to it and
i cant eat it... Like I will say "I can''t
eat this it tastes like dust" or "it
tastes like sweat or mould"
Even if I really want to eat the food i
cant bring myself to do it. Sometimes I
just end up not eating anything or I have
to resort to a safe food like a new packet
of biscuits.
I also can't eat anything that is in a can
or tin... I don't know why.
Doctors won't take excessive picky eating seriously Posted: 08-08-08 02:52am
I have two boys ages 3 1/2 and 10. My
oldest son has always had sensory
processing issues. He had severe acid
reflux also. I have always been told that
he would grow out of it. It has gotten to
the point that I am starting to take him
to see a food pychologist. My three year
old is following in the same pattern.
Chicken nugget, french fries, yogurt,
apple sauce etc. I mean I have to really
get creative to get them to eat what they
do. They even eat so much of what they do
like that they get sick of it. I have
tried all the tricks: faces on the plate
with food, rewards, and letting them go
hungary. It has become a major issue. Both
boys tell me they do not like something
just by looking at it. I have heard of
Automatic Negative Thought process that
makes people automatically not want to try
something. They do not eat with us because
they do not want to see, smell, or taste
"our food". Help!
