Cibophobia or fear of eating is one of the problems with the greatest impact on people who suffer from it. In general terms, this clinical condition means that food can be an obstacle that prevents fruitful and long-lasting social relationships. This suffering is reflected in a mental health disorder that generates extremely unpleasant consequences in the person’s daily life and negatively affects the academic, work, family and/or social performance of a person. In this sense, having teaching material available allows you to develop strategies to cope with situations in a more enjoyable way.
In this Psychology-Online article we will provide you with information about the Cynophobia or fear of eating: causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is cibophobia
Cibophobia is a mental health disorder that is characterized by the presence of a irrational and excessive fear of the idea of consuming food. In other words, this condition causes severe dietary restrictions that can endanger people’s lives. In this sense, it is possible that complications may arise regarding the person’s eating patterns.
Within the parameters established by the DSM-V, cibophobia can be placed in the group of specific phobias based on the characteristics it presents. However, to carry out an adequate evaluation it is necessary that a series of diagnostic criteria be met:
- Fear or anxiety about a specific situation or object.
- Avoidance of fear or fear.
- Disproportionate fear or anxiety facing the real danger that a specific situation represents.
- Duration of six months or more.
- Deterioration of social, work and family relationships.
- The alterations cannot be explained by the ingestion of toxic substances, medications or other mental health disorders.
Causes of cibophobia or fear of eating
This problem has certain origins that interfere with the appearance of its main symptoms. Below we show you the causes of cibophobia or fear of eating:
- Psychological factors: The presence of other mental disorders can be a condition that gives rise to the most characteristic symptoms of cibophobia. In more specific terms, anxiety and depression negatively affect the life of a person with a fear of eating. On the other hand, the experience of traumatic situations linked to food intake also plays a determining role in the ways of thinking, feeling and carrying out actions. In this way, a person can develop this type of alterations.
- Organic factors: suffering from pyloric obstruction, neoplasia or intestinal ischema produces a series of complications in the human body that can cause this fear of consuming food.
- Cultural factors: Social pressures and ideals of perfection and beauty contribute to the development of unfavorable eating behaviors.
Symptoms of cibophobia or fear of eating
This clinical condition stands out for having a presentation that allows us to detect some indicators to reach an appropriate diagnosis. In line with this, we will define the symptoms of cibophobia or fear of eating:
- Fear of certain foods.
- Catastrophic thoughts linked to food intake.
- Immediate anxiety in the presence of food.
- Excessive concern about food.
- Fear of suffering from poisoning.
- Avoidance of specific social situations.
- Excessive sweating.
- Nausea and dizziness. Here we explain.
- Incrise of cardiac frecuency.
Beyond this description, it is important to clarify that the isolated presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily represent a condition of cibophobia. For this reason, it is essential that the diagnosis be made by a mental health professional who evaluates the clinical conditions of each person.
Cibophobia treatment
Despite the complexities that this pathology entails, there are some alternatives that enable a significant improvement in quality of life. In the next items, we will develop the treatments for cibophobia:
Psychological therapy
This space invites reflection on personal aspects and implementation of new objectives in everyday life. In turn, therapy can help solve the conflicts of cibophobia or fear of eating through the use of various tools that can generate relief.
On the one hand, short-term therapy emphasizes the emotions, thoughts and behaviors related to this disorder that negatively affect the development of daily activities. Among the best-known approaches, we can mention the .
On the other hand, long-term therapies have the objective of locating the origins of this problem, specific to each patient. In this way, it is possible to adopt other types of actions in the face of the difficulties that arise. The best-known approach to long-term therapies is psychoanalysis.
Psychiatric medication
In the event that cibophobia represents a danger to the lives of one’s own personnel and third parties, the provision of anxiolytics can be an effective solution. However, in these cases it is always relevant to supervision of a professionall of mental health. In this article you will find more information about the .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Gempeler Rueda, J., Rodríguez Guarín, M., Muñoz, F., Pérez Muñoz, V. (2008). Food aversion in childhood: phobia, obsession or unspecified eating disorders? Colombian Journal of Psychiatry, 37 (3), 355-364.