I am 60 years old. I was a severe picky eater since I was a baby. In the beginning I would spit up my milk, keeping enough down to nourish me. When I was old enough for solid food, I would not take it. Eventually my mother was able to find a few things I would take. Peas, fries, mashed potatoes, gravy without the thickening, among the very few things I would eat. People did not understand my problem with food and I lived constantly with the fear of being forced to eat by someone. Only once my mother tried to force me to eat something I did not like. It only caused me to dislike it all the more, even to this day. Going to someone’s house that did not know me very well was embarrassing and brought me anxiety. Kids teased me and could not believe the things I would not eat. When I was old enough for dating, men did not understand and would drop me. I used to think I would outgrow it one day but the aversion towards food would not change with age. Finally when I was 22 I was at a point in life where I had to make a major change. That change included being able to eat what was placed in front of me. With full determination, I did it. It was not easy. Much gagging, somethings took a long time to eat, other things I never did like. While I did get over many things, I have come from severe to moderate picky eater. In the last year medical tests have found that I have a paralyzed stomach which restricts my diet and I am pretty much back to the way I used to eat... minus junk foods.