Fear of Decaying Matter

The food that’s left over after we eat at a restaurant is thrown in the garbage. From there is it taken to a dumpster. Then, by truck, it is hauled to a landfill. By this time the food we once enjoyed smells badly and is showing signs of decay with mold and discoloration. It is a natural process, but when there is fear of that which is decaying the individual may be experiencing Seplophobia.

Birds, such as hawks and vultures, are also helpful in ridding the planet of rotting matter. They can be found on roads and fields consuming the rotting carcasses of animals.

What Causes Seplophobia?

This fear may be a product of separation anxiety. What I mean by that is we have been separated from rotting material because we have closed containers and regular garbage pickup in many parts of the world. We are no longer regularly subjected to the sight or smell of rotting material. Then when we encounter decay it can be considered vile and offensive.

We may observe this tendency in others and emulate the response or we may have been emotionally disturbed by a direct and close encounter with decay. This may be especially true if the decay was in the form of the carcass of a once living creature.

Symptoms of Seplophobia

An individual with this fear may have a profound struggle dealing with decaying food left over in their fridge. They may be inclined to have someone else purge their cooler and they likely would dispose of containers holding decaying food. Again this would not be a chore they would likely be able to do on their own.

Other symptoms may include…

• Dry mouth
• Extreme nausea
• Air hunger
• Trembling
• Fainting
• Weeping
• Panic attack
• Vomiting

This phobia may prevent the one who fears from being able to work in food service or in the trash business. It might even prevent them from being able to take the trash out on their own.

How to Overcome Seplophobia

The earth has its own way of dealing with death and decay. It simply works to reclaim that which is no longer fruitful. Mold grows and feeds on the death of a food’s usefulness. It is a natural process and one that is essential to the balance of earth’s resources. Many individuals will make use a compost heap to aid in this process.

While decaying material is normal it is still something that is feared among seplophobes.

Those who seek out a therapist can find help in dealing with their fear. The ultimate fear that may trigger the fear of decaying matter can be something as small as germs to something as ominous as personal death. The fear of decaying matter may simply be symbolic of the primary or originating fear.

Education and behavioral therapy can be a powerful combination in confronting fear and managing reaction to that fear. Retraining the mind to respond first in a rational way can also be a huge help. In the case of most phobic response an individual will typically rely on the emotional part of the brain – this is what allows exaggerated response.

The fear of decaying matter is also referred to as:

• Seplophobia

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