Lachanophobia (A Complete Guide)
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In this brief guide we will discuss Lachanophobia.
Phobia is a word derived from Greek language which means fear. This may be an exaggerated aversion to something.
There are various factors which can contribute to develop phobia. Environmental and genetic factors are likely to pave way for the development of a phobia.
Anyone can expose themselves to any kind of phobia by thinking irrationally about a particular thing.
A person with some kind of phobia will try to avoid things which he considers to be hazardous.
Phobias are mental disorders which can be cured or overcome.
Lachanophobia
Lachano is a word derived from Greek language which means vegetable and phobia means fear.
An individual with a phobia may have faced some situation where he had to eat vegetables forcefully in his childhood regardless of the fact if he likes or dislikes the taste and may have been punished for not eating the vegetable meals.
Some people may have seen the process of planting and cultivating the vegetables that how they are grown with worms and insects running on them freely.
People fear that if they eat those vegetables they might end up ending those worms and insects as well.
Few people also have this irrational belief that while eating vegetables if they will accidentally swallow its seeds it might grow inside them.
Many people with autism have problems eating vegetables. People who have developed this phobia of vegetables might refrain going to those places where vegetables are grown and cultivated.
It means that they will also avoid going to grocery stores and restaurants where vegetable meals are prepared.
In some cases people with lachanophobia might also avoid eatables in which vegetables are used. For example, pizza with tomatoes.
Symptoms of Lachanophobia
People with lachanophobia might come across intense forms of anxiety if they will get to look at the vegetables at grocery stores or restaurants.
A thought might trigger in their mind that their beliefs about vegetables are irrational but once they have started feeling anxiety they won’t be able to comprehend this.
This is the main factor why they get to confront anxiety.
People with this kind of phobia can possibly go to an extent that they will refrain from traveling on a highway along which these vegetables are grown and cultivated or they will also intentionally refrain tl go to a grocery store where vegetables are sold.
They may also build a perception in their mind that vegetables are not healthy because they don’t have minerals and vitamins.
Making them not believe in the benefits of vegetables.
Few of the more common symptoms of lachanophobia;
- Feeling anxious while thinking about or looking at vegetables.
- Denying the facts related to the advantages of vegetables.
- Inability to cope with strong emotions.
- They may get panic attacks.
- They may show some signs of malnutrition.
- Doing extra efforts to avoid vegetables.
Causes of lachanophobia
It has been observed that lachanophobia has no obvious causes.
But genetics and environmental factors may also play a role in developing lachanophobia.
For example, family history with a mental disorder, particularly with anxiety, has high probability to develop lachanophobia.
If they are likely to have this genetic problem, then it only might need them to experience some sort of traumatic event.
A shocking experience which may be intruding for a person to develop lachanophobia.
It may be a case for them that they may fall sick after eating vegetables before or after they came to know that those vegetables they have eaten contain worms or insects in it.
It doesn’t matter that they know that vegetables contain healthy minerals and vitamins, experiencing a traumatic event might be enough in developing the lachanophobia so far as they have the proper genetics.
Though the causes of lachanophobia are still ambiguous and not fully known to researchers.
Still they agree on the fact that nature and nurture are important factors to develop a mental disorder.
Treatments for Lachanophobia
No specific treatments have been developed to help people get rid of lachanophobia.
Few are the treatment methods which can help the people with lachanophobia.
Psychiatric Medication
These types of medicines can help people to avoid panic attacks. Anti anxiety medicines are thought to be vital for people who are having lachanophobia.
Because people who are suffering from this phobia often tend to face anxiety and panic attacks.
Medicines made for the treatment of anxiety are not used often and their quantity can be increased if a person feels that lachanophobia is getting severe.
Antidepressants are also considered to be useful.
As, these medications are not only designed for people who are suffering from depression but also who are facing anxiety because people with lachanophobia also tend to face anxiety.
Taking drugs might help in lessening the symptoms of lachanophobia. These types of medicines can be used daily.
These drugs can be helpful in prevention of panic attacks and anxiety as well.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy
This is a plan based therapy of eight weeks which has so much to offer for the contentment of mind through training of mind and can be helpful for people to deal with their anxiety, depression and stress.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction therapy can also significantly be helpful for a person who is diagnosed with lachanophobia.
Mindfulness training offers meditation which is found to be extremely advantageous for people suffering from anxiety.
This therapy offers a productive structure with a variety of skills which are beneficial in lessening the anxiety which is associated with lachanophobia.
Meditation for Lachanophobia
A variety of meditation exercises exist which are considered to be extremely beneficial for patients who are dealing with lachanophobia.
Mindfulness training has been found to be very helpful for people to get relaxed and put their minds at ease.
There are various ways to apply mindfulness meditation.
Meditation is a source of contentment for mind and it can significantly impact a person’s state of mind help them divert their spam of thoughts from their fear to those thoughts which are constructive and productive.
To apply this meditation in order to help a patient lessen his stress and symptoms of lachanophobia, one can do this by concentrating on his breathing process that how his muscles get contracted in his abdomen and his chest contracts and focusing on being relaxed while breathing in and breathing out.
Apart from paying attention to breathing one can also be focused on the voices in surrounding, how it feels to you when you touch the objects, how food tastes and how different aromas smell.
Putting attention on all five senses can be effective in reducing stress and anxiety related with lachanophobia.
To benefit from meditation it is important to be regular and be persistent.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The aim of Cognitive therapy is to assist people in the identification of their feelings related to anxiety and enabling them to change these feelings with more realistic thoughts and positive vibes.
An individual who is diagnosed with lachanophobia may also be shown few examples or evidence that being in around vegetables does not necessarily mean that it can give rise to negative thoughts and can lead to negative results.
Cognitive restructuring is the part of cognitive behavioural therapy which helps the individuals suffering from lachanophobia as they have developed negative thought patterns about vegetables.
Moreover, many individuals do not know how capable they are of coping with such situations when they get around vegetables.
Cognitive restructuring helps to get to understand the value of countering their negative thoughts and then to change them to productive or positive thoughts which result in reducing stress and avoid anxiety.
Phobias exist in the subconscious mind of a person which means that it is impossible to understand that a specific phobia is not dangerous doesn’t matter how much we tell ourselves.
Our body and our mind will still react to fear.
Hypnosis intends to directly get in touch with our subconscious and try to alter our thinking patterns about phobias.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis Consists of mechanisms of getting a person into a relaxed state of mind.
Therapist will get into conversation with the person about lachanophobia without letting him lose control of himself as long as the process of hypnosis continues.
If the person is not exactly aware of the root cause of phobia then it might be a lengthy process to reach the reason behind the phobia.
As a therapist is successful in getting to know the root cause of phobia he will advance further with the treatment methods and will be applying various techniques to alter the responses of clients.
This will make the client to slowly and peacefully confront the phobia while being in a normal and calm state of mind.
Relaxation
This is a simple and convenient method to deal with phobias.
In this method of treatment taking deep breaths can be helpful for people with lachanophobia.
It is very useful for managing the apparent symptoms and also it can help to manage stress and anxiety which is associated with lachanophobia.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour therapy has been found to be extremely advantageous with the people who are struggling with their emotional regulation while confronting their phobias.
This therapy is also useful in treating the patients suffering from borderline personality disorders.
However, this is extremely beneficial for the patients who are struggling with their anxiety disorder particularly in the cases of lachanophobia.
The reason behind using this therapy for treatment purposes is that this therapy has to offer a variety of coping skills that one can learn and apply to deal with lachanophobia.
The process of treatment through dialectical behavioural therapy is lengthy and is spread over around forty eight weeks and this therapy is usually applied in groups.
These groups may consist of two to several people depending on the availability of people and how many of them are willing to be the part of group therapy.
Half smiling is considered to be the most powerful and extremely helpful part of this therapy.
This technique is applied on a patient by making him think about the things he is afraid of or make him upset by lightly bringing a smile on the face.
Thus this is referred to as half smiling. Although, in half smiling it isn’t enough to just think about fear but it is also important to curb from arising the those painful emotions that may be evoked by the fear.
Though Lachanophobia seems dangerous, there is no need to get worried. Get help from some trained professional and you will be ok.
FAQs about Lachanophobia
Q1. What is the fear of vegetables?
Fear of vegetables is called Lachanophobia, a type of phobia which is associated with those people who are afraid of eating vegetables and even going around those places where vegetables exist.
Q2. What is fear of fruit called?
Fear of fruit is known as Fructophobia
Q3.What are the main symptoms of lachanophobia?
A person suffering from lachanophobia may demonstrate both kinds of symptoms, i.e, physical symptoms or psychological symptoms.
Q3. What are the physical symptoms of lachanophobia?
Physical symptoms of lachanophobia include fast heartbeats, shivering ect.
Q4 What are the psychological symptoms of lachanophobia?
Psychological symptoms of lachanophobia include anxiety, depression, panic attacks etc.
Q5 What are main treatment options for Lachanophobia?
Few major are effective treatment methods for Lachanophobia are, cognitive behavioural therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, hypnosis and relaxation.
References
hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/articles/phobias
psychtimes.com/lachanophobia-fear-of-vegetables/
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