Symptoms

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Symptoms: Friends of the Fear

Every case of sticky peanut butter phobia is a little different.

Why? Because the core of the problem – the patterns of thinking, the images, movies, sounds and dialog that are internally associated with peanut butter – are different in each person.

(Note that most cures offered for sticky peanut butter phobia – expecially using drugs and medications – will tackle only the symptoms, not the thinking that is the actual core of the problem).

But while the 'internal representations' as they are called are different from person to person there are a number of symptoms which are common to many arachibutyrophobes:

  • A feeling of uncontrollable anxiety when you think about or are exposed to peanut butter
  • The feeling that you must do everything possible to avoid peanut butter
  • The inability to function normally because of your anxiety
  • Often, the knowledge that your fears are unreasonable or exaggerated but feeling powerless to control them

Arachibutyrophobic symptoms can be mental, emotional and physical. The anxiety and fear can go from mild feelings of apprehension to a full-blown panic attack.

Typically, the closer you are to what you’re afraid of, the greater your fear will be. You can test the severity of your problem with this 2-minute online sticky peanut butter phobia test.

But because the fear is a physical response to patterns of thinking about peanut butter and not the actual peanut butter almost all people with sticky peanut butter phobia can create a very strong reaction just by using their mind.

> For help chaging these patterns of thinking, read this article How to Overcome Sticky Peanut Butter Phobia.

Mental Symptoms

  • Obsessive Thoughts
  • Difficulty thinking about anything other than the fear
  • Really bad images and/or movies of peanut butter
  • Feelings of unreality or of being detached from yourself
  • Fear of losing control or going crazy
  • Fear of fainting

Emotional Symptoms:

  • Anticipatory Anxiety: Persistent worrying about upcoming events that involve peanut butter
  • Terror: A persistent and overwhelming fear of the same
  • Desire to Flee: An intense instinct to leave the situation (which is tough when its purely in the mind)

While not generally experienced at the same time as sticky peanut butter phobia episode, we find that overall when they think about their past, most clients have elevated levels of one or more of:

  • Anger, Sadness, Fear, Hurt & Guilt

Physical Symptoms:

  • Dizziness, shaking, palpitations.
  • Shortness of breath or smothering sensation
  • Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Feeling of choking
  • Sweating
  • Nausea or stomach distress
  • Feeling unsteady, dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
  • Numbness or tingling sensations
  • Hot or cold flashes

Next Action

Or learn more about Sticky Peanut Butter Phobia:

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