Gagging Vs Choking: What’s The Difference?
If you've ever watched your child gag while eating, chances are your heart skipped a beat. As parents, our instinct is to protect our children, and seeing them cough or gag can be scary.
Parents will often report to me that their child chokes regularly when eating, when what they really mean is that their child gags or coughs frequently.
While gagging and coughing can be alarming, they are very different from choking–and knowing the difference can help you respond appropriately and confidently.
ARFID and Caregiving
Caregivers are the heroes with ARFID. They never stop thinking about or worrying about feeding their children. They celebrate when they eat. Cry when they don’t. Never stop worrying that this didn’t have to be so hard. They worry about what if a safe food disappears or if a favorite brand changes. They worry about the future of their kiddos. Of their health, independence and quality of life.
ARFID=Avoidant, Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorder
There is a lot of anxiety around food with someone with ARFID but sometimes it isn’t the result of just anxiety. It can be the result of Fear, Anxiety, Sensory Distress, Disgust, Uncertainty and Avoidance.
