Real Housewives Of Orange County star emotionally reveals 10-year-old son's rare eating disorder diagnosis
The reality TV personality, 49, opened up about her son's diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) during an interview with People.
She broke the news shortly after another RHOC star, Tamra Judge, was called out for falsely saying that she had been diagnosed with autism.
Before Emily's son's diagnosis, she had always just assumed he was just a picky eater, she told the outlet.
'He only eats a few different foods and he's very overwhelmed by texture, color, smells. He will only eat white rice,' Simpson, 49, said of what Luke's main symptoms are.
'And he has to inspect each piece of rice before he eats it. So it's beyond picky eating. A lot of control issues. It's very overwhelming.'
Emily shared that prior to learning about her son's condition, he would often say he was 'starving' — because he was — but would still 'refuse to eat.'
'As a mom, that was so frustrating,' she confessed.
'I didn't know what to do because on one hand he's crying and telling me he's starving, and on the other hand, he refuses to eat anything that I offer.'
The condition causes a person to lose interest in eating over anxiety–filled fears of choking, vomiting or a need to avoid unwanted colors, taste, textures or smells of different foods, per the Cleveland Clinic.
The Bravo star said that every day is still 'challenging' but she tries to put herself in Luke's 'shoes.'
'Smells are extremely overwhelming for him. Color is overwhelming for him. Textures of food are overwhelming and make him gag,' the reality star said.
'So I have to constantly remind myself that he doesn't operate neurologically like we do.'
The Cleveland Clinic states that treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy and medications like antipsychotic medications, antidepressants or others that stimulate a person's appetite.
Emily also took to Instagram to share her thanks to those who reached out to her after the People article was published.
'Hello Friends! ❤️❤️, she began. 'First, thank you so much for your support, kindness and love regarding Luke.
'This was by far my most difficult season filming RHOC I've ever had, and there were multiple times I felt that it was in Luke's best interest for me to quit.
'My reason for continuing on and navigating this truly challenging time (in real time and on camera) was because I knew I'd get more answers, support and feedback than any therapist or doctor could provide.
'The Bravo fans are incredible and caring people, and I wasn't wrong,' she continued.
'Thank you for the information and support you are all sending my way! Please keep it coming and please talk to your children about being kind to the kids who might be a little different ❤️❤️.'
She concluded by throwing it back to RHOC, 'Secondly, what did you think of episode one?!'
Fans will see her face Luke's diagnosis in real time, since it happened while she was filming season 19 of RHOC.
'There were lots of times I didn't even know if I could continue to film,' she said. '[Husband] Shane and I are learning every day how to navigate it.'
Emily said Luke is currently in therapy and working with a nutritionist.
And his diet has expanded to include not only rice but also. french fries, sliced bananas, potato chips, ice cream and plain turkey that 'doesn't have any lines or blemishes in it.'
The worried mom admitted that its not easy to tread the line between trying to get him to eat new foods and not making him feel bad that he doesn't want to.
Emily and Shane are also parents to son Keller, 10, daughter Annabelle, 12, and Shane's daughters from his first marriage — Chanel, 19, and Shelby, 24.
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