Beth conquers veg fears
“I had no idea how many other people out there struggled like I did and it give me a sense of real hope that things would get better. For the first time in years I didn’t feel silly, or that I was having eyes rolled at me behind my back, which is how it felt growing up, surrounded by people who didn’t understand and didn’t want to either.
“When we started the hypnotherapy itself, I was astounded at how quickly things changed.
“Like my mind could rest from the constant fear I carried around with me. After my first session, that rest from the phobia continued, and after my second session, it just grew bigger.
“Excitement and intrigue replaced the fear, and I found myself looking forward to meal times so I could make something new and try something different.
“We’ve recently had my third session and I’ve never felt such a sense of freedom in my whole life.
“I can now barely remember how it felt to walk around a supermarket, unable to even look at the things I feared.
“I walk about the veg aisle, picking up food and talking to Rob about them, eager to learn about them, their vitamin contents, and how they benefit you, how to cook them and what they go best with.
“It’s like starting all over again with a completely clean slate. Me and my taste buds are finally, after 18 years, joyous friends, on an incredible journey of discovery and I already feel healthier, and much, much happier.
“I am looking to the future with a completely new outlook. I used to wonder how I would work my future around my phobia.
“Now I can’t wait to find out what the future holds.
“The fear does not dictate my life anymore.
“The fear does not darken what may come and my future has never been so bright.
“The pure joy and excitement and wonder at discovering new foods, and feeling better equipped to deal with any situation that may arise in my life, is such a stunning thing.”
As Naomi explains, there are numerous problems and challenges which may arise for a person who has a Selective Eating Disorder, including:
Social anxiety: One of the most common symptoms among those with Selective Eating Disorder is high anxiety about eating in social situations. For instance, a person may avoid meeting friends for lunch, going to a business meeting at a restaurant or being invited over for dinner because of their limitations about which foods they’ll eat. This can cause alienation from others, problems in the workplace and ongoing anxiety problems.
Inadequate nutrition: Because people with Selective Eating Disorder tend to include only a small number of foods in their diet, they often suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Some of the most common foods that people with this disorder eat are blander foods like plain pasta, cheese pizza, French fries or chicken nuggets, all of which are unhealthy if not eaten in moderation along with other healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Developmental impairments: For children who suffer from Selective Eating Disorder, their physical development may be stunted when they do not receive a healthy and varied mix of food in their diet. These children may begin to miss developmental milestones that are related to mental or physical development due to their extremely limited diet.
Children who are simply “picky eaters” will often improve their diet as they grow older, but those with Selective Eating Disorder are experiencing something distinctive from simply being picky about food. Those with this disorder, whether they are children, adolescents or adults, should seek help if their eating habits are causing them to get inadequate nutrition or experience significant social anxiety. These are signs that the individual’s eating habits may be an actual eating disorder rather than simply being picky about what they eat.
Thankfully, there is help available. West Coast Hypnosis in Ayr have plenty of experience in dealing with all types of eating problems. “It’s one of the more common problems that we tend to see here at Ayr”, Naomi says.
“It can sometimes be that worried parents bring a child into the clinic if the diet is extremely restricted in some way – such as only wanting to eat chips, pizza and sweets, for example – but we also see quite a number of adults too, who have simply not grown out of the problem.
“Sometimes it can be related to texture or temperature, rather than being a problem with fruits or vegetables, as in Bethany’s case.
“There are a wide range of difficulties.
“Happily, we have never had a problem in greatly reducing fears around trying new foods. Bethany has quickly been able to work through her difficulties with us, and we are delighted with the results.
“It’s great news that she will now be able to eat a wide variety of foods at her wedding this autumn.”
Bethany adds, “We went for our wedding menu tasting on Tuesday last week and I had the most incredible time. When we first looked at the choices on offer, I was scared stiff, and fully expected to have to let Rob take the decision of choosing the menu by himself. But I ate everything, it was incredible.”
If you or someone you know has a problem around your eating habits contact West Coast Hypnosis in Ayr on 0794 1 106921, or by email at enquiries@ westcoasth ypnosis. co. uk.
Sometimes it can be related to texture or temperature rather than being a problem with vegetables themselves