Alliumphobia: The Extraordinary Fear of Garlic

Alliumphobia, quite possibly the strangest word I've heard in quite sometime (no this isn't a Dr. Seuss rhyme). But, what's even stranger is what it means. Alliumphobia is the extraordinary fear of garlic. I can't say I've actually met anyone suffering from alliumphobia yet, but I would definitely not take them out for Italian if I did. I'm not even sure how I heard about it, I was simply browsing the internet and somehow found my way to a person complaining they had a very eccentric reaction whenever they saw or smelled garlic of any kind. Apparently people with alliumphobia get severe panic attacks or anxiety when in close proximity to garlic. Now that I think about it, a person with alliumphobia must have quite a rough time because almost everything we eat in American society contains some form of garlic or seems too at least.

Alliumphobia also is used to describe a more generalized phobia. Besides garlic, those suffering from alliumphobia usually have an extreme fearful or anxious reaction whenever confronted with something that is not dangerous whatsoever, things like opinions or beliefs of other people. So, if you offered someone a piece of gum or told them what you thought about the headline news, and they ran away screaming in fear I suppose that would be another example of alliumphobia.

Think you might have alliumphobia? If you open your fridge and see that menacing garlic clove and experience some of these signs, you may want to see someone.

Signs of alliumphobia (taken from an informative alliumphobia website) include loss of breath, dizziness, shakiness, becoming mad or losing control over ones self, unable to think or speak, get an uncontrollable fear that you are going to die, become detached from reality or have a massive panic attack. These are all some serious signs, and if you get some of these while doing something completely safe you may want to consult your doctor. You might have alliumphobia.

What sort of impacts can alliumphobia have on a person's life? Quite a few! And they are all very negative. People suffering from alliumphobia are usually scared of social interactions, what people think of them, or other things that someone wouldn't normally make a huge deal out of. If not recognized as a problem, alliumphobia could get in between you and your job, your education, your personal relations or your business relations. All joking aside it is very serious and if you find yourself relating to any symptoms in this article or know someone who does, you should seek help for yourself or that person because it is quite likely that alliumphobia is the culprit.

Treatment for alliumphobia includes a variety of drugs that take over the chemical imbalance of the body, but often the withdraw symptoms of these powerful prescriptions are worse than the alliumphobia itself, and will never give any permanent cure. So how do you get rid of this monster? There are several programs out there offered by phobia clinics that teach you to take control of your mind, to train yourself and conquer your own fears. Overcoming yourself is the only known way to get rid of alliumphobia for good.

And, if you're fear solely revolves around garlic...you might want to check out for family tree, 'cause you just might be a vampire!