As much as some insist on considering phobias as hobbies or oddities of some people, the truth is that they are very dangerous anxiety disorders. Some, such as Phagophobia, can cause significant health problems since it directly affects eating. We tell you everything about Phagophobia or the fear of swallowing.
What is Phagophobia?
Phagophobia is the fear of swallowing. If you have ever choked on food while eating, you surely remember that feeling of helplessness for not being able to do anything and, especially, the. But these are isolated episodes that in most cases we forget and continue eating normally.
In people who suffer from Phagophobia, this fear of swallowing and of something bad happening is constant and this limits both their relationship with food and their social relationships. How are they going to go out to dinner with their friends with that fear of eating? That the instinctive reaction to a phobia is avoidance makes us clearly see the implications of this phobic disorder. Can swallowing be avoided?
Phagophobia symptoms
As with all phobias, when the feared stimulus is presented, the body reacts with a series of physical symptoms that are the same as anxiety. The prospect of having to eat and therefore having to swallow causes dizziness, rapid heartbeat, headache, panic attack, and vomiting.
In addition to the physical symptoms, Phagophobia also presents a series of psychological symptoms such as low and a feeling of unreality. Deep down, the person with Phagophobia knows that it is a distorted thought, that his fear of her is irrational and that her behavior of her is leading to self-destruction. But he thinks that he can’t do anything about it.
Causes and consequences of Phagophobia
The question that we all ask ourselves is how an almost reflexive act such as eating, which most of us do mechanically, can be a real torture for people with Phagophobia. The answer is found in a previous anxiety disorder that promotes the appearance of irrational fears in the face of the most varied stimuli.
Nor is traumatic experience ruled out as a cause of Phagophobia. That memory of a choking that most of us can easily forget may remain in the minds of some people as a moment full of fear and horror. What if you have ever seen someone die from choking?
The consequences of Phagophobia are very dangerous, since to avoid swallowing, you have to avoid eating. This causes a deficit in food and nutrients that the body needs and is also related to other eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, either by cause or by consequence.
Phagophobia treatment
It is necessary to seek a treatment for Phagophobia as soon as possible, before its effects begin to be noticed on health. And to overcome a phobia you have to put yourself in the hands of a psychology professional, without ruling out in some cases complementing the therapy with medication.
Therapy is the most effective when it comes to treating phobic disorders because it helps to modify that distorted thought that leads us to see danger where there is none. Once the thought is modified, the avoidance behavior will not be necessary.
In the treatment of phobias, the practice of meditation or relaxation techniques is very helpful, since they reduce the high degree of anxiety present on a daily basis. And in the case of Phagophobia, it is not a bad idea to consult with a nutritionist who makes us see the dangers of avoiding food.