Horrors in your plate: food phobias that harm your health

Afraid of… food? It sounds strange, and yet such an obsessive fear does occur and is called cybophobia. It is often confused with anorexia, but the main difference is that anorexics are afraid of how food will affect their figure and body image, while people with cybophobia are afraid of the food itself. However, there are those who suffer from both disorders at the same time.

Let’s analyze the main symptoms of cybophobia. This, by the way, is not so simple: in the modern world, where the emphasis is on a healthy lifestyle, the majority refuses many products. Wherein:

1. People with cybophobia in most cases avoid certain foods that have become objects of fear for them – for example, perishable ones, such as mayonnaise or milk.
2. Most cybophobic patients are extremely concerned about product expiration. They carefully sniff foods that are about to expire and tend to refuse to eat them.
3. For such people it is very important to see, know, understand how the dish is prepared. For example, such a person may refuse a seafood salad if the restaurant is not located on the coast.

In addition to cybophobia, there are other food phobias.

Fear of acid on the tongue (Acerophobia)

This phobia excludes from the diet of people any citrus fruits, sour candies and any other foods that cause a tingling on the tongue or a strange, unpleasant sensation in the mouth.

Fear, aversion to mushrooms (Mycophobia)

The main reason for this fear is dirt. Mushrooms grow in the forest, in the ground, “in the mud.” For most of us, this is not a problem: just wash the mushrooms and you can start cooking. For those who are prone to Mycophobia, such a prospect can cause overwhelming feelings of fear and even tachycardia.

Fear of meat (Carnophobia)

This phobia causes nausea, chest pains, severe dizziness from just one kind of steak or barbecue.

Fear of vegetables (Lacanophobia)

Those suffering from this phobia not only cannot eat vegetables, they are not even able to pick them up. Even the sight of a vegetable on a plate can scare such a person. On the green, however, fear does not apply.

Fear of swallowing (Phagophobia)

An extremely dangerous phobia that needs to be dealt with. People suffering from Phagophobia are confused with anorexics. An irrational fear of swallowing usually causes an extremely strong gag reflex in patients.

TREATMENT METHODS FOR FOOD PHOBIAS

Why do people develop certain phobias? There are quite a few reasons: both a genetic predisposition to anxiety, and negative memories or incidents associated with food, and certain experiences. For example, food poisoning or an allergic reaction can leave negative memories that gradually develop into a phobia. Another possible cause of food phobias is social fear and the associated discomfort.

Social fear is a panic phobia, the fear of judgment. For example, if everyone around a person adheres to a healthy lifestyle, and he suddenly has an unbearable desire to eat fast food, he may refuse this desire, fearing that he will be judged.

Whatever the cause, phobias are irrational fears, and avoiding a stimulus (such as avoiding certain foods) only makes the situation worse.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CPT)

The goal is to help the person realize that their fear is irrational. Such therapy allows the patient to challenge dysfunctional thoughts or beliefs while being mindful of their feelings. CBT can be done individually or in groups. The patient is confronted with the image or situation that triggers the panic attacks, so that fear does not arise. The doctor works at the pace of the client, the least frightening situations are taken first, then the most intense fears. Treatment in most cases (up to 90%) is successful if the person is willing to endure some discomfort.

virtual reality therapy

Another technique that helps people with phobias confront the object they are afraid of. Virtual reality is being used to create scenes that were not possible or ethical in the real world, and is more realistic than imagining certain scenes. Patients can control scenes and endure more exposure (visualization) than in reality.

Hypnotherapy

Can be used alone and in combination with other therapies and helps to identify the root cause of a phobia. A phobia can be caused by an event that a person forgot about, forced him out of consciousness.

It is important for a person who is prone to this or that phobia to realize that panic attacks and constant fear can be dealt with. Of course, there are phobias that require more thorough and thorough treatment, but in the end you can even get rid of them. The main thing is to contact a specialist in time.