Client Case
Presenting Issues
Client experienced intense anxiety and physical discomfort at the thought of eating eggs, following a past incident of food poisoning. This led to avoidance behaviours and social limitations.
Background Information
The client is a 34-year-old professional with no previous history of eating disorders. The food-related fear began after a severe reaction to eggs two years ago. Since then, the client avoided all egg-containing products and developed a fear response to even the smell or mention of eggs.
Assesment
A pattern of conditioned fear was identified, with heightened anxiety responses linked to specific sensory triggers. Client reported a lack of control, increased food-checking behaviour, and occasional embarrassment in social settings.
Treatment Plan
Goals
- Reduce anxiety response to egg-related stimuli
- Reintroduce egg-containing foods gradually and safely
- Build confidence in food choices and reduce social discomfort
Intervention Strategies
- Cognitive reframing of fear-based thoughts
- Relaxation and grounding techniques
- Systematic desensitisation using hypnotherapy and visualisation
- Exposure hierarchy agreed collaboratively with the client
Frequency and Duration
6 weekly sessions over 6 weeks, with ongoing email check-ins between sessions
Results
- Client now comfortably tolerates the smell and sight of eggs
- Successfully consumed a cooked dish containing egg without distress
- Reports reduced food-related anxiety in social settings
- Significant increase in confidence and quality of life
"I never thought I’d be able to eat eggs again without panicking. The sessions helped me stay calm, challenge the fear, and take back control of my choices."
Case Details
Symptoms Encountered
Racing heart or palpitations when exposed to the food, nausea or stomach discomfort at the thought of eating it, sweating or feeling flushed, muscle tension or shaking, avoidance of meals that may contain the food, excessive checking of food labels or ingredients, distress or embarrassment in social eating situations, panic attacks or breathlessness, intrusive memories or thoughts linked to a past negative food experience, difficulty trusting others to prepare or serve food, feelings of being “out of control” when food is present, over-reliance on “safe” foods or rigid eating habits.