Introduction
For some people, the act of eating is a real suffering that, due to its daily frequency, can generate a high level of discomfort. We have all had the unpleasant experience of choking at some point, however, for people who suffer from this phobia, each meal is an ordeal as they anticipate the possibility of suffering from it every day.
Unlike eating disorders, this fear is irrational and makes the person feel as if their throat is narrowing when eating. Approximately, 6% of otorhinolaryngology consultations refer to swallowing difficulties, but half of them do not suffer from any organic difficulty, and the origin is eminently psychological, classified as a specific phobia within anxiety disorders.
The tendency to suffer from this problem can lead to other difficulties such as weight loss, lack of nutrients, insecurity or fear of dying, among others. It is worth highlighting the difficulties of social relationships, since food is an act that tends to be shared and the person avoids exposing themselves to others for fear of being judged.
The feeling of dry throat or difficulty swallowing is a very characteristic physiological symptom of anxiety and that is why when the person goes through situations of greater stress or tends to suffer more states of anxiety, the problem increases.
Mention that in addition to food, there are people who develop this phobia by taking pills.
Causes
The causes are particular in each case, but in most cases it may have occurred from a traumatic event in which the person could have choked.
Additionally, as with other anxiety disorders, the phobia may have developed as a learning If in the family environment, parents tend to be especially concerned about choking, undermining the person’s safety with overprotective behaviors towards them.
Finally, a phobia could develop having observed some traumatic circumstance such as choking another person causing death or serious illness, developing extreme fear as a witness.
Symptoms
TO physical levelanxiety can cause dry mouth, tension in the throat muscles, excessive sweating, tachycardia, rapid breathing as a conditioned response to the act of eating, which by causing distress during it, can tend to aggravate the symptoms themselves.
TO cognitive level, the person tends to anticipate the difficulties they will have when eating, preparing the person to avoid the act of eating for fear of having difficulty choking. The person tends to become desperate in their attempt at a solution and may develop a high level of insecurity, reducing their self-esteem.
TO behavioral level, The person can avoid eating, select only certain foods that they consider “won’t give them problems,” eat alone or with people they strictly trust, and avoid social environments in which food will be shared.
Treatment
If the person has suffered a traumatic situation that has caused the problem, it would be necessary to intervene on them with trauma processing techniques such as SHEC, EMDR, etc.
It is necessary for the person to learn physical anxiety management strategies such as relaxation strategies or meditation or mindfulness techniques. In order to approach the physiological symptoms and learn to regulate them.
Needs manage anticipatory thoughts that constantly assault the person due to the frequency of the act of eating and that can generate a true obsession.
Finally, gradually expose yourself to the problemin times and types of food or pill.