Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsComplicationsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Complications
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Fear of food is also calledcibophobia. It’s a type ofspecific phobia, which is classified as ananxiety disorder. Having cibophobia means that you have a deep, irrational fear of food. This can be limited to certain foods or beverages, or it may include many foods.
If left untreated, cibophobia can impact your quality of life as well as your nutrition.
This article explains the symptoms and causes of cibophobia and discusses the different treatment options available.
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What Is Cibophobia?
When a person has an extreme fear of food, it’s called cibophobia. The fear can be so intense that it disrupts daily activities.
Despite knowing the food(s) don’t cause any actual harm, they’re unable to overcome their fear.
Anorexia vs. CibophobiaPeople witheating disorders, including anorexia, often avoid food becausethey fear that eating it will cause weight gain. Unlike anorexia, cibophobia has nothing to do with a person’sbody imageand occurs when a person exhibits fear of the actual food itself.Cibophobia isn’t classified as an eating disorder. However, a person can develop cibophobia from disordered eating or have both conditions at the same time.
Anorexia vs. Cibophobia
People witheating disorders, including anorexia, often avoid food becausethey fear that eating it will cause weight gain. Unlike anorexia, cibophobia has nothing to do with a person’sbody imageand occurs when a person exhibits fear of the actual food itself.Cibophobia isn’t classified as an eating disorder. However, a person can develop cibophobia from disordered eating or have both conditions at the same time.
People witheating disorders, including anorexia, often avoid food becausethey fear that eating it will cause weight gain. Unlike anorexia, cibophobia has nothing to do with a person’sbody imageand occurs when a person exhibits fear of the actual food itself.
Cibophobia isn’t classified as an eating disorder. However, a person can develop cibophobia from disordered eating or have both conditions at the same time.
Anxiety: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Symptoms of Cibophobia
The symptoms of cibophobia are very similar to the symptoms of other specific phobias. A specific phobia is defined as a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, activity, or person.
A person with cibophobia will often experiencesevere anxietyor havepanic attacksaround trigger foods. Depending on the severity of cibophobia, symptoms can be difficult to detect.
Symptoms include:
People with cibophobia may have a fear of almost all food and beverages, or their fear may be more specific. Types of foods that may generate fear include:
Symptoms typically resolve on their own but can feel very frightening at the time, causing a person to entirely avoid social situations in which trigger foods are present. A person with a severe fear of food may avoid grocery shopping, dining out, or eating in front of others.
How Common Is It to Have Both Anxiety and Depression?
Complications of Cibophobia
Research shows untreated phobias may worsen over time.If left untreated, cibophobia (as well as any other phobia) can interfere with school, work, personal relationships, and social life. Complications of untreated food phobias may include:
Diagnosing Cibophobia
Cibophobia would be classified as a specific phobia. Getting a diagnosis of a specific phobia involves a visit with a licensed mental healthcare provider.
Your provider will analyze your symptoms against the diagnostic criteria outlined in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition” (DSM-5).
This guide uses the following diagnostic criteria to diagnose specific phobias:
Is Cibophobia Part of OCD?Not all people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have a fear of food. However, someone can have both OCD and cibophobia.
Is Cibophobia Part of OCD?
Not all people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have a fear of food. However, someone can have both OCD and cibophobia.
How Is Phobia Diagnosed?
Causes of Cibophobia
The exact cause of specific phobias, including cibophobia, remains unknown.
What Causes Anxiety?
Treating Cibophobia
If you believe that you or a loved one has cibophobia, several promising treatment options can minimize or completely resolve symptoms:
Stress vs. Anxiety: Triggers, Symptoms, and Tips for Coping
Coping With Cibophobia
Coping with a specific phobia such as cibophobia can be challenging, but know that you’re not alone. An estimated 19 million adults in the United States live with a specific phobia.
Additionally,exercising regularly, andrelaxation, visualization, andbreathing techniquesmay help reduce symptoms associated with specific phobias.
How To Stop Food Anxiety
Summary
Fear of food is also known as cibophobia. This is a specific type of phobia that causes an irrational and constant fear of food.
If you suspect that you or a loved one has cibophobia, consider talking with a licensed healthcare provider. They can refer you to a mental healthcare professional.
Treatment for cibophobia includes CBT, medications, hypnotherapy, and exposure therapy. Many people also find it beneficial to join a support group to improve coping skills.
Types of Mental Health Therapy
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific Phobias.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms of Specific Phobias.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XNational Eating Disorders Collaboration.Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Samra CK, Abdijadid S. StatPearls Publishing.Specific Phobia. Updated May 15, 2021.Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics. Updated September 9, 2021.National Health Services.Self-help - phobias.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific Phobias.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms of Specific Phobias.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XNational Eating Disorders Collaboration.Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Samra CK, Abdijadid S. StatPearls Publishing.Specific Phobia. Updated May 15, 2021.Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics. Updated September 9, 2021.National Health Services.Self-help - phobias.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific Phobias.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms of Specific Phobias.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XNational Eating Disorders Collaboration.Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Samra CK, Abdijadid S. StatPearls Publishing.Specific Phobia. Updated May 15, 2021.Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics. Updated September 9, 2021.National Health Services.Self-help - phobias.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific Phobias.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms of Specific Phobias.
Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X
National Eating Disorders Collaboration.Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Samra CK, Abdijadid S. StatPearls Publishing.Specific Phobia. Updated May 15, 2021.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.
Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics. Updated September 9, 2021.
National Health Services.Self-help - phobias.
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