Backpacks are packed, new shoes are tied, and school bells are ringing again. For many children, the first weeks of school bring excitement, a chance to see friends, learn new things, and step into another year of growth. But for many families I work with, this season also carries a quieter truth: back-to-school can be overwhelming and full of dread.

The transition from the rhythms of summer to the structure of school isn’t always simple. Bright lights, loud hallways, new teachers, and changing routines can create a perfect storm for stress especially for kids who experience the world with heightened sensitivity. For some, that stress looks like tears or meltdowns. For others, it hides under the surface as stomachaches, headaches, or the sudden insistence that they just don’t want to go.

I have lost count of how many times I have heard, “Just try it, you might like it.” For some people, that is harmless encouragement. For others, especially those who are neurodivergent, it can be the fastest way to trigger panic, shutdown, or nausea.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is not stubbornness or a childhood phase. It is a complex relationship between body, brain, and sensory environment that can last a lifetime. I have seen how ARFID is misunderstood, minimized, or completely missed in adults both in my counseling work and in my own life.