Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth (arachibutyrophobia)

Arachibutyrophobia is a humorous word for a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. Most people meet it as trivia, but the sensation it describes, food clinging in the mouth and feeling hard to swallow, can be unpleasant for anyone.

About this phobia

The name blends the Latin arachis, meaning peanut, with butyrum, meaning butter. It is a novelty term rather than a recognised fear. Real fears of choking, sometimes called pseudodysphagia, and worries about sticky or dry foods do exist and are taken seriously.

What it feels like

• Avoiding peanut butter sandwiches or other sticky spreads
• Taking a drink after every bite to keep the mouth clear
• A brief panic when food will not shift from the roof of the mouth

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is a fear of sticky food a sign of something more serious?

Often it is part of a wider worry about choking or swallowing. If you have any real trouble swallowing, check it with a GP. If the fear means eating much less or losing weight, speak to a GP too.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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