Would Hypnotherapy Assist with Disliking Certain Food?

Factual Questions
1

I hate cheese. There, I said it.

I don’t like the smell. I don’t like the taste. I don’t like the texture.

As you can imagine, this makes me a bit of a pariah when it comes to eating with others. Going out for pizza with buddies is definitely out of the question.

The reason for this intense hatred would seem to stem from a milk allergy as a child- I was in my teens before I drank milk or ate ice cream. Now, I will consume both without issue, but cheese on the other hand…
So as I apporach my 30’s (“When you get older, you will learn to enjoy it!”, I was told in my teens), I feel more and more embarrassed about this particular facet of my life, and would like to improve upon it. I’ve tried eating it on pizza. I’ve tried sneaking it in other items so I couldn’t taste it. Now in desperation, I wonder if hypnotherapy might be worth a last ditch effort.

Is this possible?
Would there be anyone who would do it?
Should I just toss my money in the trash and save the gas?

Thoughts?

2

I don’t know the answer but am eager to hear from someone who does. If it could work, I’m getting me a hypnotist appointment fast.

3

I’ve just written a staff report on the topic. The answer is–possibly. The effectiveness of hypnotherapy depends on a lot of factors. It also tends to work better in conjunction with some sort of psychotherapy. Few states regulate hypnotherapy by itself, although there are some professional groups that offer certifications, so checking them out can be a bit difficult. I’d suggest finding a licensed counselor or psychotherapist, perhaps one who does cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with hypnotherapy.

For the record, I’m neither a doctor nor a hypnotherapist.

4

Gfactor is absolutely right. hypotherapy “may” help. If you really really want it to. I’ve tried it, and it didn’t help me.
But why would you? Not eating cheese? OK, don’t eat cheese, Vegetarians of all types don’t eat a whole lot of things and they seem to get along more or less fine.

5

The latter. I have a feeling that the only person who cares about this is you. It’s a personal preference. There is no reason to be embarrassed about it. Personally, I don’t like soup. It’s like eating ditchwater. George Bush (Sr.) doesn’t like broccoli. No one cares.

That is, unless you have a full-blown cheese phobia or something: “Oh my god, it’s so white and bland! NOO!! Get it the hell away from me!” That would be embarrassing. But if you just don’t like the taste? I don’t think anyone gives it a second thought but you.

I mean, if one of your friends declined the offer of a slice of pizza because (let’s say) he didn’t like tomatoes, would you care? Or would you just shrug, and forget about it within 30 seconds?

6

I tell you what. Go on a date, a first date, and try to explain why you don’t eat cheese.

After that, you will understand. :smiley:

7

I’m a hater of all kinds of seafood (except bland sushi), and my reasons for wishing I wasn’t are these:
[ul]I can’t happily participate in a seafoody meal with friends, even those who are excellent cooks. Not only do I end up turning down an offered gift, which is rude, I also don’t get to enjoy the stuff they’re all exclaiming over, and I’m constantly trying not to let on that it stinks to me.[/ul]
[ul]When you dislike something like cheese or fish that’s so common, you really limit your options when eating out. I’ve lived in two different coastal cities with world-famous seafood restaurants… and never eaten in any of them. Many of the best little local places use fresh local materials, and this isn’t beef or poultry country.
[/ul]

8

Upon preview, I see I must elaborate.

No, it’s not quite as simple as someone not liking tomatoes, which is quite common.

No, it is not just me, either. I’ve had 3 decades of experience in this department.
Person A: Have some of my nachos.

Me: Thanks for offering, but I don’t really eat cheese.

Person A: (and it is ALWAYS the same) You don’t eat CHEESE?!? (99% of the time followed with: )…

Person A: …How do you eat PIZZA?!?

Me: By opening my mouth, and using a chewing motion.

Person A: Are you SURE?!? Have you tried it on [insert your favorite cheesy substance here]?!?!?

Me: Yep. The stuff still tastes bad.

Person A: Man, you are missing out! I don’t think I could live without cheese…

Me: (Who by this time is repeating the sentences they are saying in chorus with them because I have heard it SO MANY DAMNED TIMES) You would be surprised- It hasn’t killed me yet. I expect you could do it.
From this point, it depends on my mood as to how the conversation goes. If I’m in a good mood, I let it go, and I listen to their oh-so-humourous jokes that inevitably continue long after the initial discussion. If I’m not, I begin describing the bacteria and mites that accumulate on cheese, and make them sound 1000 times worse, because, chances are, the person has no idea of the reality. It brings a smile to my face when I see them carefully take their next bite of mac & cheese.

So, yeah…Not liking cheese isn’t an issue? Not so much. And it’s only a matter of time until I have a meeting with someone I am trying to impress (Not just to get between their legs), and I have to dance around the subject of why I won’t eat whatever dish I “simply MUST have”…

9

Just order something without cheese at the restaurant. If you don’t make a huge deal out of it, your date probably won’t even notice until the third or fourth date.

Proposed substitution:

Just don’t bring up the cheese issue. You don’t owe people an explanation of why you won’t eat something. I keep kosher, so there are a lot of foods I would decline if offered, but I don’t go into an explanation of the rules of kashrut every time I decline something. I might well get an exchange like you do if I did, but I don’t. Most people, in my experience, are polite enough not to keep trying to push food on me after I say “no thank you”.

10

While I appreciate your input, I am already aware of this, and you are correct.

However, the point of this thread is not, “How Can I Minimize the Impact of Not Liking Cheese on a Date?”. Rather, the question is, “Would Hypnotherapy Help Me to Like Eating Cheese?”.

11

You know, I would like to hear of some experience in this issue, too, without getting distracted with the cheese (literally and metaphorically).

My twelve year-old son has only about a half-dozen dishes that he will eat. If it isn’t an approved dish, he will absolutely refuse to eat it. He will be polite, but he won’t eat it. The more you push, the more frustrated and uncomfortable he becomes, but he will not eat. Going into a new restaurant is a stressful experience for him. He has a difficult time trying new things (food-wise). Not only must a dish be something he likes, but it must be served correctly. For example, he loves hamburgers. However, if we go to a new place, he won’t order a hamburger because it might come on the wrong bun or have some offending ingredient. Even if it looks okay, there might be something wrong with it. It’s enough that my wife and I think he may have some sort of eating disorder (though he is hardly thin or losing weight). I worry that it will really be a handicap in those social situations that are not that far off in the future (re: dating).

So, is hypnosis a possible solution to this problem? Should I just let him go through life eating Chili’s Old-Timer hamburgers, Taco Bell tacos (no cheese or lettuce), chicken McNuggets, and Pizza Hut cheese pizza? There are a few things he will eat at home in addition to those things, but not much.

12

Again, it might: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=8897222&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/extract/120/1/179

13

I suspect a big part of the answer will depend on whether you’re suseptible to hypnotism. I’m not, so I know it wouldn’t work for me.

You could always tell folks you’re lactose intolerant.

Drum God - Yikes. That sounds like a really odd problem. Have you ever asked him to articulate why his aversion is so strong? (I seem to remember that one of my cousins was a bit like that, but I don’t remember any details - he didn’t live in the same state.)

14

There is some evidence that suggests food aversion could have a genetic component: Food Ingredients & Food Science - Additives, Flavours, Starch

15

Your quest, Spit, might be quite similar to someone looking for a hypnotherapist to quit smoking.

Do you have a G.P. or any Med Care person who’ll recommend one?

I had a very good hypno, a physician’s assistant in a medical practice who was able to “put me under” so to speak when all others - a dentist, an M.D., etc., failed. He was no-nonsense. No artsy-fartsy patter as you see in night clubs. He convinced me intellectually that I could be hypnotized and proved quite effective.

I wish you well.

16

Huh. that was interesting. I never thought of a genetic component. Calling it a phobia was a bit extreme. He doesn’t run screaming from the room. His stress comes from worrying that he will be put into a situation where he has to be impolite in refusing the food (or his dad will yell at him for not eating that dinner he paid for! :D)

He doesn’t seem to articulate his disagreement with new foods. His older sister has long been a very “high-maintenance” child and takes considerable amounts of our attention and resources. At times, our household appears almost out of control because of issues our daughter has. The boy sometimes bears the brunt of our daughter’s frustrations, which leaves him feeling vulnerable and out of control. He is victim to her We have generally felt that our son uses this one thing, his food issues, as one area of his life where he feels he has complete control. So, he exercises control over food.

17

Eating disorders don’t necessary manifest in noticeable loss of weight or a thin appearance.

Not to make too much of a psychological/diagnostic comment on this, but if your son feels confronted and frustrated when people ask him about his eating habits, it might be a good idea to chat with a therapist who specializes in eating problems to find out the best way to talk with and support your son regarding the issue.

18

This cracks me up because it’s so similar to the conversation I have with people when it comes up that I hate chocolate. I usually get the “Well, you haven’t had the right KIND of chocolate, then!” :rolleyes:

I feel badly for you because your issue is a cause for embarassment. In my case, my wife is happy for my “affliction” because we never have to fight over the chocolate whenever someone gives some to us. The only downside is that I have to leave the house on the rare occasion she makes fudge because I can’t stand the smell.

19

I think your analysis is pretty good. In the UK, there are a couple of reality shows that attempt to deal with food issues. They feature people who eat specific items (ie sausages, beans and chips only, every single day). These people have damaged social lives, relationships and physical health in some cases. A psychologist is involved, and usually the eating issues stem from personal control issues as a child (family breakup, changing circumstances etc).

My take is that these things can get more entrenched as sufferers get older, and thus harder to break, so it would be better to work on them now. On the other hand, sometimes people grow out of them naturally as they get older. I hated veges and salad as a child, but now (at 40) I rely on salads as a major component of my diet as I try to lose weight (but not that icky cucumber - keep that on a separate chopping board with another knife cause I can’t afford a second kitchen for you to chop it in). :rolleyes:

Si

20

I have trained myself to eat a lot of foods I once disliked, such as milk, tomatoes, mushrooms, and shellfish. There are very few foods I don’t like now. Beets are next on my list of things to learn to like. The secret is very simple, I forced myself to keep trying them over and over. And these weren’t simple dislikes. Mushrooms used to be abhorrent to me. I thought they smelled bad, tasted bad, and the texture was downright alien. But, after eating them a few dozen times, in a lot of different preparations, they stopped being so alien and started tasting pretty good.

It worked for me. It might work for you.