Consecotaleophobia is the morbid fear of chopsticks. It is a rare, specific phobia. As most of us already know, chopsticks are not used in every part of the world; they are mostly used in Asia and Chinese restaurants.
For this reason, it may seem out of place for someone to have an irrational fear of chopsticks.
Nevertheless, this does not negate the fact that there are indeed people who cannot stand the thought or sight of chopsticks, and these people have Consecotaleophobia.
Symptoms of Consecotaleophobia
No phobia should be undermined. The fact that some phobias may seem unrealistic does not change the fact that they have to be taken seriously, as a lack of proper treatment could be detrimental to the sufferers’ lives.
Sometimes, phobias can become so severe that they lead to extreme anxiety and even depression.
It is important to find ways to manage thoughts and stress if a person must overcome a fear, such as the fear of chopsticks.
People who have an intense fear of chopsticks will often deliberately avoid places or occasions that will make them come in contact with chopsticks as it may trigger their anxiety.
While that might seem like an excellent way to stay sane instead of living in fear, it is also not advisable as the patient unknowingly begins to justify their concerns.
Sometimes, individuals who have Consecotaleophobia will not only avoid using chopsticks but also prevent the thought of it and places where they will be exposed to chopsticks.
In reality, a person doesn’t always have to be in a place where they are exposed to chopsticks before their Consecotaleophobia kicks in because the human brain can create a reaction to a feared object or situation even in the absence of that object or situation.
People are naturally different, as are all the many phobias someone may suffer. So, it is not out of place for the symptoms to vary greatly or for the severity of a person’s experience of these phobias.
But in a general sense, Specific phobias and fears like Consecotaleophobia fall under the anxiety disorders category, which means that a person can suffer any, if not all, of the physical and/or psychological symptoms mentioned below.
Physical Symptoms
Fear of chopsticks sufferers often suffer panic attacks. These sometimes frequent panic attacks can be very distressing and frightening for the person who suffers from them.
These symptoms happen suddenly, most of the time without prior warnings or signs.
No matter how overwhelming the feeling of anxiety is, a panic attack can lead to real physical symptoms like the ones mentioned below:
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Hot flushes or chills
- A choking sensation
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Pain or tightness in the chest
- A sensation of butterflies in the stomach
- Headaches and dizziness
- Nausea
- Feeling faint
- Dry mouth
- A need to go to the toilet
- Numbness or pins and needles
- Ringing in your ears
- The rise in blood pressure
- Confusion or disorientation
- Tightness in the chest/chest pain and difficulty breathing
- Hyperventilation
Psychological Symptoms
In some very severe cases, a person could experience a panic attack triggered by Consecotaleophobia, mostly when he or she is exposed to its triggers like chopsticks.
Below are some or all of the psychological symptoms that can be explained:
- Fear of fainting
- Feelings of dread
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of dying
- Guilt, shame, self-blame
- Fear of harm or illness
- Withdrawing from others
- Feeling disconnected
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Anger, irritability, mood swings
- Confusion, difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety and fear
Although this happens quite rarely, people may suffer from more than one case of phobia from time to time. Cases like this are referred to as complex phobias.
When a person suffers from a complex phobia, it is crucial to seek professional help immediately, as the symptoms associated with these phobias may be detrimental to the person’s mental and physical well-being.
This means that the person may be incapable of leading a regular personal and social life. Most of the symptoms that accompany complex phobias are those listed above and also depression.
Treatment of Consecotaleophobia
Many individuals who are living with the fear of chopsticks, also known as Consecotaleophobia, do not always feel the need to get treatment because they can avoid the object of their fear.
This gives people who have Consecotaleophobia a feeling of control over the problem. But sometimes avoiding chopsticks might not be possible or enough.
A person with any phobia needs to seek professional help when it is possible. This way, you do not get to lose time and do a better job of understanding what you are dealing with.
With understanding, you can figure out the next move on overcoming your irrational fear of chopsticks.
While most phobias can be cured, there is no single specific treatment that is available for all of them or one that is guaranteed to work.
It generally depends on the person dealing with the phobia and the severity of their symptoms. There are situations where a combination of treatments may be more effective.
You shouldn’t take treatments without first discussing them with your doctor. All of the treatments mentioned in the next step are strictly for informational purposes and not specific to the treatment of Consecotaleophobia. Most phobias are treated with the methods below.
Talking Treatments for Fear of Chopsticks (Consecotaleophobia)
Talking treatments, also known as talking therapies, including counseling, may be useful for treating the fear of chopsticks. Talking therapies are a very laid-back method of therapy, and they are physically non-intrusive.
They usually involve talking to a proficient or highly trained professional about the thoughts, feelings, and behavior you have been dealing with.
There is a broad range of talking therapies, but they all have the same aim:
- Help patients recognize unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and find possible ways to change them (if they want to).
- Help patients resolve complicated feelings or find possible ways to live with them.
- Help patients make sense of things and understand themselves better
- Give patients a safe time and place to talk to a person who won’t judge them
Talking therapies are, in almost all cases, the same as psychotherapy, counseling therapy, psychological therapy, and talking treatment. When these terms are used, there is often little or no difference in what is meant.
(CBT) Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
CBT treatments are mostly used as they stand on the concept that what a patient thinks and perceive commonly influences their behavior.
Experiencing distress and anxiety can, in some cases, distort and bend a person’s perception of reality.
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to identify whether a person’s beliefs are a correct depiction of reality. If they are not, the therapist employs strategies to challenge and overcome them.
For instance, when someone experiences the fear of chopsticks, Cognitive behavioral therapy can help them identify whether the anxiety and fear they experience are correct depictions of reality.
And if that is not the case, work on ways to change that.
Medication
Medication should never be taken without first consulting a doctor. Generally, medication is not recommended for the treatment of any phobias.
Therapies have been discovered to be a definitive way to help people overcome their fears.
However, some types of medication are prescribed as short-term fixes to the side effects of phobias. Below are some of the medications.
- Tranquilizers
- Beta-blockers
- Antidepressants
