Coventry teenager undergoes hypnotherapy to overcome food phobia after eating plain pasta for 16 years

A teenager from Coventry has said she has hypnosis therapy to thank for giving up her food phobia – after 16 years of eating nothing but plain pasta.

Olivia Evans, 18, started refusing food at the age of two and suffered from extreme anxiety and nausea when offered anything other than pasta shapes or spaghetti.

But the talented actress, who works full-time as an Elsa impersonator at Frozen-themed children’s parties, can now eat anything after undergoing therapy.

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Olivia, from Coventry, said: ‘If I smelled food cooking or tasted anything I would immediately feel sick.

“When my mother was preparing a family meal, I stayed in my room and only came down after opening the windows and removing the smells.

“I was making myself the blandest thing I could think of was just boiled pasta in a pot.

“I never thought of putting sauce on it because even the idea made me gag.

“Working as an Elsa impersonator was also difficult because I performed at children’s birthday parties and the smell of cake and party food made me very sick.

“I just forced myself to stay in character and get out of it because I didn’t want to let the kids down.”

Olivia was referred to her GP but said the sessions never helped and she was called a ‘fussy eater’.

Mum Estelle, 51, said she was worried because they couldn’t take Olivia anywhere and Christmas was a real challenge.

“I took her to the GP but he just said she was a picky eater and she would be fine, but she never did,” she added.

Her mother contacted London-based therapist and hypnotist David Kilmurry, who identified Olivia as having avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

“It was really amazing. After the session, I got to try lots of different foods,” added Olivia.

“I noticed a big difference in how I feel.

“Sometimes in my job I could do up to five parties a day, which is really tiring, but now I have so much more energy and I’m bouncing around like crazy.

“My boyfriend was really supportive of my eating habits and never pushed me to go to restaurants.

“Now that I can eat different foods, I can’t wait for us to go out for a Chinese or Indian meal like most other couples our age.”

Mr Kilmurry said eating plain spaghetti on a daily basis is dangerous and really puts the body and the brain in trouble.

He said: “I’m so proud that Olivia had the courage to break through her neophobia/ARFID.

“Food phobia is fueled by negative imagination and any trick is used to eliminate the risk of the tongue finding out what is good or not.”

Overcome Eating Disorders is the UK’s eating disorder charity that offers support to anyone who is suffering and can be contacted by email, online chat or phone.

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