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They didn’t stop caring. They just ran out of capacity. When you’re navigating ARFID day after day, the meals, the distress, the negotiations, the constant holding, something eventually gives. Not because you’re doing it wrong but because you’ve been doing it alone for too long. And when support drops? ARFID doesn’t step back… it gets louder! This post is about that moment, The burnout, the shift, and why families get stuck there.

Parents don’t give up on their child, they burn out, and in the context of ARFID, it is something I see more often than people realise. Not because parents don’t care but because they have been caring, relentlessly, for a long time… often without enough support, guidance, or relief. What Burnout Actually Looks Like It doesn’t always look dramatic. It can look like: backing off at mealtimes avoiding conflict to keep things calm letting go of expectations “just for now” choosin

ARFID Is Trending — But So is Misinformation If you’ve been on social media lately, you may have noticed a rise in conversations about ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). On one hand, this is a positive shift. For many families, ARFID has been misunderstood, minimised, or labelled as “just fussy eating” for far too long. Increased awareness can help people feel seen — and access support earlier. But alongside this rise in awareness…there’s also been a rise in o

I recently started going to fitness classes again. It's been a long time since I stepped into a gym space and even longer since my reasons for being there have changed. This time, I chose classes because I want to build strength. Not shrink. Not compensate. Not “earn” my food. Just… strength. And that felt important. But something caught me off guard. As I moved through the class rotating between machines, following instructions, getting back into the rhythm of it all. I noti

At first glance, keeping the peace at mealtimes feels like the kindest, most reasonable thing to do. Your child is distressed. The tension is rising. Everyone is on edge. So you step back. You soften expectations. You say, “Let’s just leave it for now.” And instantly — things feel better. The room calms and your child relaxes. You feel relief. But there’s something important happening beneath the surface. The Relief Trap In that moment, it’s not just you and your child experi

It’s one of the most common concerns I hear from parents: “They eat fine at home… but won’t eat at school.” Lunchboxes come home untouched. Eating takes forever. Or it just doesn’t happen at all. It can be confusing — and often frustrating — especially when it looks like your child is “choosing” not to eat. But in my experience, it’s rarely that simple. For many children, particularly those with ARFID or ADHD, eating at school isn’t just about food. It’s about sensory overwhe

When it comes to healing from eating disorders and complex feeding challenges, finding the right support can feel overwhelming. I understand how important it is to have a gentle, compassionate approach that respects your unique journey. That’s why I want to share with you the Stepping Stones program in Ivanhoe, a place where care is tailored with warmth and understanding. This program offers a pathway to peace with food, especially for those who are neurodivergent or facing

When it comes to eating, many of us experience more than just hunger. There’s a subtle, often overwhelming background hum that can make mealtimes confusing and stressful. This is what I call food noise - the constant chatter, distractions, and emotional signals that interfere with our ability to eat peacefully. For those navigating eating disorders, ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), or complex feeding challenges, this noise can feel deafening. But there is h

When more than one sibling is struggling, common challenges can include:– comparison and competition– tension around fairness and attention– blurred boundaries– reduced family connection. Over time, families can feel organised around the illness rather than connection. A key part of recovery involves: supporting each child individually; strengthening family boundaries reducing eating-disorder-focused dynamics rebuilding connection outside of the illness This is where family-i

One of the hardest stages in eating disorder recovery is moving away from the meal plan. What once felt restrictive can start to feel like a safety net. Letting go of it can bring fear, uncertainty, and the question many people ask: “How will I know if I'm doing it right?” Recovery isn’t about removing structure overnight, it's about gradually building trust in your body, your hunger, and your choices. This is work we do together — gently, at your pace. email toda y: hdean197

One of the biggest misconceptions about eating disorder recovery is that once someone starts eating again, everything is “fixed”. But anyone who has walked alongside recovery knows it’s rarely that simple. Eating again is an important step — but the real work often begins after that. In this Dietitian Diaries post, I unpack why recovery is about so much more than food, and the deeper questions many people face along the way. If this resonates with you, or someone you love, y

The Quiet Shift from Movement to Compulsion Exercise is often described as something purely positive. Good for your heart. Good for your mood. Good for your mind. And often, it is. But sometimes, quietly, slowly, something changes. What once came from a place of joy and health can begin to come from a very different place. A place driven by fear. Fear of gaining weight. Fear of not doing enough. Fear of missing a day. And before long, exercise stops being something you choose