Woman's fear of vegetables genuine

Pamela Allardice
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Getty Images
Getty Images
A woman in the UK has been diagnosed with lachanophobia, a rare fear of vegetables.

It is a fear many children will claim to suffer if they find it out it's a legitimate phobia, but Vicki Larrieux from England has a genuine fear of leafy greens.

"I have always had an irrational fear of vegetables; even as a child I used to properly freak out if some carrots or a few peas were on my plate," Larrieux told the UK's Daily Telegraph .

"But as it continued into adult life I started to think it might not just be a dislike for vegetables but an actual phobia," she said.

"Every time I would see vegetables, not just on my plate but anywhere, I would get feelings of panic, start sweating and my heart rate would shoot up."

The unusual phobia affects very few Australians, and treatments for the condition include "psychological re-programming" to control the anxious response to seeing vegetables.

SANE Australia say 14 percent of Australians are affected by an anxiety disorder which can include obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias.

Effective treatments for anxiety disorder include medication, cognitive behaviour therapy, community support and recovery programs. During cognitive behaviour therapy, a person learns new and effective ways to cope with their symptoms. Speak to your doctor if you have concerns regarding a fear or phobia.

Your say: Do you think you have a fear of anything? What do you think would be the worst fear?

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