What Causes Cibophobia?
The exact cause of cibophobia, like other phobia types, is still unknown. However, certain theories and anecdotal studies say that phobias usually develop when certain objects or situations are combined with an episode of emotional experience or emotional trauma.
For example, when a person is forced to eat certain foods which they dislike, it may trigger a fear of food in them. As aforementioned, such fear is also developed when a person experiences painful muscle spasms after eating or swallowing.
Phobias are also the result of certain genetic conditions or malfunction in the brain neurotransmitters. When this is the case, the triggering of this food phobia is not related to any emotional episodes. [2]
Certain food allergies, fear of hidden allergens in foods or a traumatic event related to allergic reactions of foods could also be the cause
Pre-existing anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are also considered the main cause of triggering phobias like cibophobia. It could also be due to other eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia. [3].
In short, if we conclude, the fear of food is likely to develop when a mild dislike from food, may be due to its texture, expiry or colour, gets accompanied by an traumatic event or untreated mental health condition, causing the fear to expand over with time and affect the quality of life.
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Types Of Cibophobia
Some of the ways to know you have cibophobia include the arrival of these symptoms:
- Fear from almost all types of foods and beverages.
- Fearing perishable foods like mayonnaise, fruits and milk as cibophobiacs believe they are already spoiled.
- Fearing undercooked foods due to the harm they provide to the body.
- Fearing overcooked foods as they may burn or get dried..
- Overly aware of expiration dates of foods as it might have caused them some stomach problems earlier.
- Fearing prepared foods or say, foods which are not prepared in front of their eyes.
- Fearing foods which are leftovers by others.
- Fearing from foods as they believe that foods can choke them to death while swallowing.
- Fearing from certain types of food textures like sticky, chewy or spongy items.
- Abnormal obsession with reading food labels.
- Fear of all animal-based foods, may be due to certain religious reasons followed by extreme physiological stress.
Symptoms Of Cibophobia
When a person experiences one or more of the aforementioned fears of food, they often get symptoms such as: [4]
Diagnosis Of Cibophobia
Diagnosis of any phobia is carried out by analysing the symptoms as per the scale of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). While diagnosing, the medical expert asks specific questions to the patient, specifically based on triggering, intensity and time period of the phobia. [6]
While treating cibophobia, doctors may ask questions like "what type of foods do you fear from" or "have you encountered any unreasonable fear before".
Other methods include CT scan of the brain to look for any brain injuries or abnormalities which might be causing the condition, followed by blood and urine tests.
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Treatments Of Cibophobia
Though treatment of phobias depends on its intensity and types, it can be treated with certain treatment methods like: