My Child is Scared of Swallowing Food – How can I help?

We all can agree that a phobia can impair day-to-day activities, but when it becomes so serious that it’s impacting a person’s health and well-being then getting help is a necessity.

So what should you do when your child develops phagophobia?

What is Phagophobia the Fear of Swallowing?

Phagophobia is defined as the fear of choking, and usually occurs when the affected person is eating. They have an irrational fear of swallowing their food and experience severe anxiety come lunch or dinner time.

The condition is usually triggered by a traumatic incident in the past. It doesn’t help that most of these children have a strong gag reflex. This, along with the phagophobia makes it almost impossible to feed your child certain types of food.

Why Do Some Children Develop a Fear of Swallowing?

The root cause may be different from one child to another. However, it’s usually due to an incident that happened in the past.

For instance, your child may have choked on a hard vegetable or meat, or maybe they were told a story on how swallowing can be dangerous. Their gag reflex might be so pronounced that they refuse to eat anything bigger than a grape.

How Long Does Phagophobia Tend to Last in Children?

Typically, phagophobia can last anywhere between 2 to 6 months, but it can be compounded if he or she doesn’t get the attention and help they need to overcome it.

If carried on for longer, your child can develop other consequences in mental and physical aspects. That said, acting upon it as soon as you confirm your child has phagophobia is one of the best things you can do as a parent or guardian.

How You Can Help Your Child Get Rid Of Their Fear…

The usual first step to addressing the problem is to check with a paediatrician and ensure that it’s not a medical condition. Then, work towards a step-by-step solution until the fear of swallowing or choking goes away.

Here are a number of things you can do….

Calm Down and Be Patient

Parents need to set an example and stay calm. Worrying and being upset is understandable, but panicking won’t help in any way at all. Getting angry with your child or forcing them to eat will not help because the irrational fear is not addressed. In fact, you must ease up on the situation and make eating as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

Understand Your Child and His or Her Phagophobia

Phobias are a real condition, and as such you’ll need to understand that it happens. Accepting it, then trying to find a way out of it should be your primary goal as a parent. In times like these you will need to show your child that you understand and support them every step of the way. This alleviates their fear to a degree and makes them trust you, thus allowing both of you to work it out.

Discuss the matter with your child and explain why people choke. Then, quickly follow up with ways on how we can avoid choking, e.g., chewing your food properly, not talking while eating and others.

Eat Together

Mealtimes should be an enjoyable moment shared with family, and it’s important to show your child what this means. Also, your child will then see that everyone’s enjoying their food and not choking or being in any danger. Afterwards, they’ll slowly understand that they can do the same.

When Should You Consider Medical Help for Phagophobia?

Consulting a medical professional can be done when the phobia is severe enough that it limits your child’s food intake and interferes with his or her health. Speaking with a psychologist is recommended if he or she is losing weight because they won’t eat anything. Also, if you’ve tried all the steps above, then it may be time for an expert intervention.

Conclusion

Phagophobia in children is not a light matter- make sure to acknowledge the condition as soon as you see the signs. Communication and getting your point across is crucial to understanding. Also, do not force or act in anger as it can aggravate the situation. With patience and a bit of work you and your child may be able to overcome phagophobia and to better health.