My Child Is Afraid Of Choking: What Can I Do?
The fear of choking is known by the name of phagophobia, a specific type of phobia characterized by excessive and irrational fear of swallowing food.
The lives of people with this pathology are significantly affected, as they usually suffer intense episodes of anxiety every time it’s time to eat, and even try to avoid any food-related situation.
Do you think your child has this disorder? If so, keep reading carefully, as we’ll explain what to do in these cases below.
My child is afraid of choking: what can I do?
Fear of choking often occurs in some children after an episode of choking on food or after witnessing someone else choking. While there are many other reasons why phagophobia can develop in childhood, these are basically the most common.
However, regardless of the cause of this problem, the most important thing is to find a solution. Do you want to help your child overcome the fear of choking? Below, we’ll give you a series of guidelines that you can put into practice at mealtimes.
be patient and keep calm
We know that the fact that a child does not want to eat for fear of choking is very worrying and despairing. However, for her sake, you must remain calm in this situation.
Forcing her to eat or get angry will not help, as her irrational fear of swallowing will continue to exist. Therefore, you should be patient and try to make meal times as stressful and oppressive as possible.
If your child is afraid of choking, show understanding of the situation
It is important for your child to know that you understand their difficulty in eating. You must show your unconditional support and say that you will not allow anything bad to happen to him.
In these cases, it is essential to establish an open and fluid communication so that the child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions related to the subject.
Control meal times
One of the steps you can take if your child is afraid of choking is to control meal times and make sure those times don’t take too long.
If the child becomes distressed and excessively tense, it is advisable to remove the plate and try again to offer the same portion of food during lunch or dinner.
try to eat as a family
If possible, try to eat as a family. This attitude is important for your child to understand that this is a time of fun and meeting. In addition, this way, the child will observe how other family members eat without problems, without feeling threatened or in danger.
Get expert help
If the situation does not improve by putting the above recommendations into practice, it is best to consult a professional psychologist, who can help your child overcome this irrational fear through specialized therapy.
The importance of treating fear of choking
If the fear of choking lingers over time, this can cause a large number of negative consequences for both the mind and body of the person suffering from phagophobia , such as:
- Malnutrition. When deciding to stop eating or to eat too little, the body does not obtain the necessary nutrients for its proper functioning.
- Social isolation, by avoiding sharing food-related moments with other people (family, friends, etc.).
- Depression as a result of the great psychological discomfort experienced day after day.
Therefore, it is not a trivial matter, quite the contrary. For the sake of your child’s physical and mental health, as soon as the presence of this pathology is detected , it is necessary to intervene in order to eliminate it as quickly as possible to avoid even greater problems.
Your child will want to lead a normal life and enjoy food just like anyone else, and you should be there to help, support, and accompany him in the difficult process of overcoming a phobia or irrational fear.
