How Is Cibophobia Caused?

For example, if you're afraid of becoming ill and needing to vomit, you might become fearful of food because it could make you ill. This phobia may develop spontaneously. It could also develop after a person has become sick and vomited because of food.

Is cibophobia a mental illness?

It is considered a specific phobia, which is an anxiety disorder. People with this phobia are sometimes mistakenly thought to suffer from anorexia, an eating disorder. While those with anorexia fear the effects of food on body image, those with cibophobia are afraid of the food itself.

Is cibophobia a form of OCD?

Anxiety that for some can develop into an obsessive-compulsive condition known as cibophobia. Kronberg is a spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association and said not only is it on the rise, it can be debilitating. “There's really a torment around not being able to participate,” she said.