Phagophobia is a psychogenic dysphagia, a fear of swallowing. It is expressed in various swallowing complaints without any apparent physical reason detectable by physical inspection and laboratory analyses.
The exact causes of Phagophobia are not known, but the condition is typically caused by a singular or series of traumatic events that involved eating; incidents such as choking, abuse or regurgitation. Underlying physical or mental health conditions can also factor into someone's fear of swallowing.
Symptoms of Phagophobia
Anticipatory anxiety before meals. Eating in very small mouthfuls and drinking frequently during meals to aid in swallowing. Extreme anxiety and fear at the thought of swallowing. Panic attacks.
Phagophobia is a rare disorder and the literature is sparse. There is no specific treatment described for this life threatening condition.
Those with phagophobia fear the process of swallowing, while those with pseudodysphagia are afraid of choking after swallowing. Choking phobia is a rare condition where sufferers hyperfocus on the sensations they experience when eating and swallowing food in a desperate bid to avoid choking at all costs.
What Does It Mean to Fear Long Words? Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words. Understanding the phobia can help you overcome it and live a fulfilling life. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary, and ironically, it means the fear of long words.
Second, practice mindful eating, which involves being aware of your thoughts and feelings while you are eating and focusing on the present moment. Third, if necessary, seek professional help such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or other types of therapy to assist in managing and overcoming the fear.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of having peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth. Arachibutyrophobia is a rare phobia that involves a fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth.
In most cases, the onset of the disorder follows a swallowing accident, which leads to swallowing phobia, which in turn is considered a particular form of post-traumatic stress disorder. It can also be associated with separation anxiety in children as in our case.
These include breathing deeply, positive visualization and/or guided meditation. These self-help methods along with behavior therapy and Gradual desensitization are very useful in overcoming Pseudodysphagia or the fear of choking.
This could be something physically uncomfortable or painful, like a choking incident, or even an unsettling thought about swallowing or losing control. For other people, just noticing swallowing can lead to anxious thoughts about it. You may fear that you are swallowing too much or not frequently enough.
Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as: a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, or dementia. cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer. gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.
1) Arachnophobia – fear of spiders
Arachnophobia is the most common phobia – sometimes even a picture can induce feelings of panic. And lots of people who aren't phobic as such still avoid spiders if they can.
A narrowed esophagus (stricture) can trap large pieces of food. Tumors or scar tissue, often caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause narrowing. Esophageal tumors. Difficulty swallowing tends to get progressively worse when esophageal tumors are present due to narrowing of the esophagus.
By 2 to 5 years
Children also develop and express typical fears during the preschool period—of the dark, of strangers, of monsters, of going to the doctor, of dogs or other animals, and more. As children get older and can use more logical thinking skills, these fears can fade.
Although prevalence rates vary from 11% to 84%, most studies indicate that approximately one-half of children with ASD meet criteria for at least one anxiety disorder. Of all types of anxiety disorders, specific phobia is the most common, with prevalence estimates ranging from 31% to 64%.
While the scariest phobia is subjective, one phobia that can cause significant distress is phasmophobia, or fear of the supernatural or ghosts. Research from 2018 indicates that fear of the supernatural is associated with several distinct symptoms such as: nighttime panic attacks.
Fear of blood (hemophobia), injections (trypanophobia), needles or other sharp objects (belonephobia), or injury (traumatophobia) occurs to some degree in at least 5% of the population.
Only a handful of people are known to suffer from the fear of bananas from all over the world. Most cases begin in childhood, when one has been forced to eat bananas by parents or caregivers to an extent that leads to stomach distress or vomiting.
Treatment of phasmophobia can be divided into 2 types: therapy and medication. Some special cases will need to combine the two to increase the effectiveness of treatment. Drugs to reduce the feeling of obsession Depression or anxiety drugs are types that can stabilize your psyche.
What are ways to overcome nosophobia? A mental health specialist can help you overcome a fear of disease. You may benefit from therapies like: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A form of psychotherapy (talk therapy), CBT helps you understand why you think and feel the way you do about diseases and your health.
Coulrophobia, or the fear of clowns, is a widely acknowledged phenomenon. Studies indicate this fear is present among both adults and children in many different cultures.