Do you assume that phobia of a particular food means not wanting to eat it? Think again. Food phobia is a condition in which an individual suffers from a persistent fear of food.
The word “food phobia” or “cytophobia” is derived from the Greek word sitos, which means “bread,” or the Latin word cibo, which means “food,” and phobos, which means “fear.”
People with food phobias experience increased levels of anxiety about how food is prepared, and by whom. And whether it may contain poison or not?
Christopher Paul Jones, a phobia specialist and author of “Face Your Fears: 7 Steps to Overcoming Phobias and Anxiety,” says food phobia, also known as “cebophobia,” is an intense fear or anxiety resulting from certain foods.
“This can happen because of the sight or smell of food, or even just the thought of it,” he adds, explaining that food phobia often stems from early negative experiences. These experiences may include choking, allergic reactions, or emotional traumas associated with food, such as being forced to eat food in a Childhood and then feeling sick. If these fears are left unaddressed, they may grow over time, leading to a severely restricted diet that can affect a person’s health.
Food phobia expert Felix Economakis, who runs a private practice in Hampstead, London, explains in an interview with the British newspaper The Independent, “If the brain thinks food is dangerous, it makes perfect sense to avoid it. But the brain knows that it needs food to survive, so it will choose What is considered the safest food?
Mark points out that food phobia may be mistaken for anorexia, when in fact it is “a lack of confidence in food – which is often misplaced.” Sufferers feel an intense fear of some foods, as their bodies tremble, as would happen if you gave someone a spider.
Psychotherapist Kerry Jones says food phobia is frequently seen in cases of avoidant/restrictive eating disorder, a complex condition characterized by avoidance of certain foods that are unrelated to body image or weight concerns. “Instead, this could include sensory issues, shock, or fear of negative effects, such as suffocation or nausea,” she says.
Food phobia is somewhat less common than other types of eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder, but it still affects a large number of people.
The NHS tends to offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or family therapy to treat food phobia.
Other techniques used include “food chaining,” in which “chains” are created between the food those with food phobia are already eating and new foods that are similar in taste, color, or texture. These techniques, including exposure therapy, take weeks and even Even months.