Fear of chewing gum (chiclephobia)

Chiclephobia is a fear of chewing gum. It might mean disgust at gum stuck under tables and on pavements, being unable to watch people chew it, or worry about swallowing it. For some, the sound of chewing is the hardest part.

About this phobia

The name comes from chicle, the natural gum from the sapodilla tree that was used in early chewing gum. It is rarely reported and has little clinical documentation. When the problem is mainly the sound of chewing, it may be closer to misophonia, a strong reaction to certain everyday sounds.

What it feels like

• Disgust at old gum under desks, seats or on the pavement
• Needing to leave the room when someone chews loudly
• Worry about gum getting stuck in hair or on clothes

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

Common questions

Is chewing gum harmful if swallowed?

A piece swallowed by accident usually passes through the body without any problem, though gum is not meant to be swallowed. If a child seems unwell or has tummy pain after swallowing gum, check with a GP.

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.

See all session options and prices