Arachibutyrophobia

On our English workshop a while ago, unfamiliar words was introduced and Arachibutyrophobia was one of those words that stucked on our minds, i went home and further research about this word/condition.

What is Arachibutyrophobia?

Defined as "a persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth", each year this surprisingly common phobia causes countless people needless distress.

To add insult to an already distressing condition, most arachibutyrophobia therapies take months or years and sometimes even require the patient to be exposed repeatedly to their fear. We believe that not only is this totally unnecessary, it will often make the condition worse. And it is particularly cruel as arachibutyrophobia can be eliminated with the right methods and just 24 hours of commitment by the phobic individual.

Known by a number of names - Arachibutyrophobia and Fear of Peanut Butter Sticking to the Roof of the Mouth being the most common - the problem often significantly impacts the quality of life. It can cause panic attacks and keep people apart from loved ones and business associates. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and overall feelings of dread, although everyone experiences arachibutyrophobia in their own way and may have different symptoms.

What is the cause of Arachibutyrophobia?

Like all fears and phobias, arachibutyrophobia is created by the unconscious mind as a protective mechanism. At some point in your past, there was likely an event linking peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth and emotional trauma. Whilst the original catalyst may have been a real-life scare of some kind, the condition can also be triggered by myriad, benign events like movies, TV, or perhaps seeing someone else experience trauma.

But so long as the negative association is powerful enough, the unconscious mind thinks: "Ahh, this whole thing is very dangerous. How do I keep myself from getting in this kind of situation again? I know, I'll attach terrible feelings to peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth, that way I'll steer clear in future and so be safe." Just like that arachibutyrophobia is born. Attaching emotions to situations is one of the primary ways that humans learn. Sometimes we just get the wiring wrong.