8-YEAR-OLD OVERCOMES FEAR OF FOOD: HANNAH'S STORY OF ARFID

At just eight years old, Hannah Hemings faces a challenge that most children her age don't understand—fear of food. Hannah’s journey is shaped by her struggle with a rare eating disorder known as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). While other children enjoy pizza, donuts, and sandwiches, Hannah's relationship with food is fraught with anxiety and discomfort, making everyday meals a significant hurdle.

A NEW BEGINNING IN SIXTH GRADE

Hannah’s small stature immediately made her stand out on her first day in sixth grade. She had skipped two grades, a testament to her intelligence, but this achievement didn't shield her from the whispers of her peers. Tyler, one of her classmates, couldn’t help but point out her height, setting the stage for potential challenges in social acceptance.

Despite the tension, Hannah's teacher encouraged the class to welcome her and made it clear that Hannah’s intellectual ability more than justified her place among the older students. One student, Kristen, tried to make her feel comfortable, telling her that skipping two grades was “cool” and that Hannah must be a “total genius.” Still, underneath this new start lay the ever-present worry about food and the anxiety that came with it.

ARFID: MORE THAN PICKY EATING

During a class celebration, the teacher brought jelly donuts as a treat for the students who had earned the highest standardized test scores. As her peers eagerly devoured the sweets, Hannah hesitated. She didn’t feel like she earned the treat, and more importantly, the sight and smell of the donut triggered her ARFID—a condition that causes her to feel fear, disgust, or anxiety toward certain foods.

When her classmate Tyler noticed Hannah wasn’t eating, he quickly grabbed her donut. The pressure to fit in was immense, but Hannah’s fear of food was stronger. Tyler's teasing and continued focus on food created a growing sense of isolation for her.

ARFID isn’t just being a “picky eater.” For people like Hannah, certain foods are not just unappealing—they are terrifying. The sight, smell, texture, or even thought of these foods can trigger intense anxiety, nausea, or physical sickness. In Hannah’s case, lunch meats, seeds, and certain types of bread all fell into her list of "unsafe" foods, making her school lunches a source of stress.

THE CHALLENGE OF SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE

As the weeks went by, the social pressure continued to mount. Tyler, though not entirely malicious, took every opportunity to poke fun at Hannah for her eating habits. One day, during lunch, he teased her for not wanting to eat pepperoni pizza or curly fries. His taunts, while seemingly harmless to him, hit Hannah deeply. She was gagging just at the sight of the food he enjoyed so much, and her fear of being singled out because of her eating habits grew stronger.

Hannah confided in Kristen, telling her about her condition, but asked her not to share it with others. The fear of being misunderstood or labeled as “weird” was real. The more people knew about her ARFID, the more likely it seemed that she would become a target for teasing and judgment.

FINDING STRENGTH AND SUPPORT

Despite the teasing, Hannah was determined to face her fear. She kept a journal where she recorded her "safe" and "unsafe" foods. This journal helped her track which foods made her feel sick and which ones she could eat without anxiety. Her safe food list was short, and Tyler's teasing about her lunch only made it shorter. But Hannah was making progress, trying new foods and pushing through the anxiety with the support of her family.

At home, her mother reminded her that overcoming her fears was a gradual process. “Just because something’s hard doesn’t mean it’s impossible,” she would say, encouraging Hannah to keep trying. Her mom understood the delicacy of her condition and the effort it took for Hannah to sit through meals at school where her safe foods were scarce.

A SURPRISING TURNAROUND

One afternoon, after a particularly challenging day at school, Tyler's mom invited Hannah over to work on a science project together. To Hannah’s surprise, Tyler’s mom was kind and understanding. She explained that Tyler’s sister, Cindy, had autism and often struggled with social interactions, much like how Hannah struggled with food. This revelation softened Hannah's view of Tyler, and it made her realize that everyone had their own challenges.

Tyler, too, began to see Hannah in a new light. When it came time for their science presentation, Tyler admitted he hadn’t prepared, but Hannah’s impressive knowledge of surface tension made their project shine. Tyler’s earlier teasing now felt childish, and he began to show respect for Hannah’s intelligence.

OVERCOMING FEAR, ONE STEP AT A TIME

Hannah’s journey with ARFID is far from over, but her strength and determination to overcome her fear of food is clear. While the road ahead will have challenges, Hannah has already proven that she’s capable of handling much more than most kids her age. By facing her fears, pushing through the teasing, and finding the support she needs, Hannah is slowly learning to take control of her disorder and show the world that she’s not defined by her fears.

Hannah’s story is a reminder that many struggles remain unseen, but with patience, understanding, and resilience, even the most daunting fears can be overcome.