People with a fear of food may have one of these more specific types: Food neophobia is the fear of new foods. Or post about people finding horrible things in food. And the first experience of this was when I had a anxiety attack after eating food. That is how completely irrational this is. American Psychiatric Association, 1994. It is different from…. For some people, encountering new foods may cause intense anxiety and panic. The dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy.” — Paracelsus. Maybe this time I really do have food poisoning. People with this phobia are sometimes mistakenly thought to suffer from anorexia, an eating disorder. The word Iophobia comes from the Greek word io which means poison or rust and the Greek word phobia which means fear. "The history of food fears is the history of human efforts to evaluate and, if possible, to reduce or master the risks.'' I still irrationally throw out food that I’ve decided I can’t eat, and I HATE doing it, but it’s a lot less frequent. My anxiety now is manageable on a day to day basis. Diagnosis should be made only by a trained clinician. For example, they’re fearful eating food will lead to weight gain. I’d honestly rather just get sick that spend this much time thinking about getting sick! "Spinach is one of the few raw vegetables that Emily loves,'' Susan said. Doncaster East, VIC, 3109, I wasn’t always like this. Otherwise, your reading may actually reinforce your fear. My food poisoning thing is a bit of a running joke amongst my friends. This phobia may develop spontaneously. We’ve been through periods where my anxiety and phobia of food has been so high we’ve gone more-or-less vegetarian, just to save on food waste. In 2015, there were only 15,969 murders in the US. If left untreated, a food phobia can have a significant impact on your health and life. In terms of treatment for iophobia or toxiphobia, cognitive behavioral therapy might be used to help the sufferer reframe their fears. And despite the fact the actual expiration date for the meat is still two whole weeks away, three days is normally too long for me to have meat in my fridge before I will irrationally panic and throw it in the bin. Bathrooms can often contain dangerous poisons within toilet bowl cleaners and drain cleaners. #notallheroeswearcapes, I guessed you got a bad case and was wrong! If the product says to use it in a well-ventilated area, this is to minimize toxic fumes and the warning should be heeded. Prove you're human, which is bigger, 2 or 8? Science Trends is a popular source of science news and education around the world. You need to go to your doctor to get examined. I often get amusing messages from friends telling me they’re eating 5 day old leftovers and thought of me. If you don't wash your hands before handling food or don't keep cold items in the refrigerator, then there's a high chance for bacteria, toxins or viruses to contaminate the food. I think it started some time around when my son was born. Thanks a bunch. Your email address will not be published. Only a trained medical professional can evaluate symptoms of a possible phobia and determine whether or not the symptoms are indeed the result of a phobia. Funnily enough I was even a bit flippant about food when I was pregnant. Best of Prams, Baby Carriers & Car Seats Reviews, Luxury Prams – The Absolute Best High End Prams, Compact Travel Prams – Super Light Compact Prams, Baby Carrier Reviews – and Babywearing Tips, Car Seat Reviews – Capsules, Car Seats and Boosters, Should You Get The Whooping Cough and Influenza Vaccination during Pregnancy, Be the first to find out about our Giveaways. Bathrooms and laundry rooms can contain poisonous compounds like trisodium phosphate in all-purpose cleaners, bleach, insecticides, and detergents. Yet at a certain point, a general wariness about toxic substances and poisons can develop into a full-blown phobia, where it may begin to have serious consequences for a person’s lifestyle. In 4 – Out 4. However, it’s clear that untreated phobias can become very problematic. The fear of poison, known as Iophobia, is the irrational fear that you will be poisoned.