Arachibutyrophobia Definition
The term “arachibutyrophobia” describes a fear of peanuts or peanut butter sticking to the roof of one’s mouth. This phobic condition is usually triggered by eating peanuts, but it may occur after touching them, smelling them, or even just seeing someone else eat them. People with arachibutyrophobia are afraid that they will get food poisoning from contact with the stuff.
Some people with this phobia have tried all kinds of tricks to avoid getting food poisoning, such as washing their hands frequently, not eating out at restaurants where there might be raw meat on the menu, and so forth. However, these methods do not always work.
Symptoms of Arachibutyrophobia
People suffering from arachibutyrophobia experience several symptoms when they encounter peanuts or peanut butter stuck to the roof of their mouths. These include:
Fear of going to the bathroom while eating or drinking something.
Frightened expression when eating or drinking something.
Excessive sweating. (Itchy palms)
Nausea and vomiting. (Sometimes accompanied by diarrhea.
Treatment of Arachibutyrophobia
There are many ways to treat arachibutyrophobia, but only a few WORK. One treatment is called “behavior modification therapy” in which the patient is exposed to small amounts of peanuts or peanut butter. These small amounts must be increased until the patient can handle a whole jar of peanut butter without having a panic attack.
The advantages of this treatment are that it is relatively cheap and it has a low rate of relapse. However, the main problem with this treatment is that some patients end up developing an allergy to peanuts.
Another treatment is called “shock therapy.” The patient voluntarily chooses to eat a whole jar of peanut butter without having a panic attack. This is then paired with electro-shocks, which condition the mind so that the patient does not panic when eating peanut butter.
The problem with this treatment is that it doesn’t always work for all patients. Some patients are so scared of food poisoning from raw meat that they become too intimidated by the possibility of contracting salmonella or e-coli from peanut butter, even though such instances are extremely rare.
A third treatment for arachibutyrophobia is hypnosis. The patient is hypnotized, and then treated with positive suggestions such as “I love peanut butter” and “food poisoning from raw meat doesn’t exist.” The advantage of this treatment is that it has no side effects.
The disadvantage of this treatment is that it doesn’t always work. Some patients are so stuck in their ways that they cannot change regardless of how much they might want to.
Finally, there is a surgical treatment for arachibutyrophobia known as a gastropexy. This surgery involves suturing the patient’s stomach to the patient’s back so that when he forks food into his mouth it never touches his stomach. The advantage of this treatment is that it is sure to work.
The disadvantage of this treatment is that 20% of patients die during the surgery and 80% are left unable to digest food properly.
Which treatment would you prefer?
Sources & references used in this article:
Inquiry in the School Library: A 21st Century Solution? by CA Gordon – School Libraries Worldwide, 2010 – search.proquest.com
Forum on the Arts by R Brinkerhoff – National Forum, 1997 – search.proquest.com
President’s Choice Blue Menu Peanut Butter-Stir vs. No Stir by HPBI Made – wiki.ubc.ca
Family Child Care by KA Safe, FR Trainings, FE Servicing, PBL Month… – 1997 – rcfcca.com
