While the waitress says she has a ketchup phobia, a therapist told Fox News Digital that talking about her ketchup phobia could make the situation worse.
Alexandria Govan, 23, from Glasgow, Scotland, recently shared a TikTok video of herself refilling ketchup bottles at the restaurant where she worked.
In the video, Govan can be seen gagging and wincing, while text on the video's screen reads: “Worst moment of the day.”
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The video has been viewed over 8.7 million times and received over 370,000 likes on the app.
In her caption, Govan said she had a “fear of ketchup.”
Waitress Alexandria Govan, 23, said she developed a fear of ketchup after her sister sprayed her with a bottle as a child. (Jam Press)
The fear stemmed from childhood, Govan told the British news agency What's the Jam, according to Jam Press.
“My sister sprayed me with a bottle of it,” she said. “Not only the smell, but even the color makes me shiver. I hate it so much.”
As a waitress, Govan had to work with ketchup and had to hide her extreme reactions to the condiment, she said.
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“I think the vinegary smell is the most unpleasant,” she said. “The bottle makes a sound when a customer uses it. [me feel] Even worse. ”
“I think the vinegar-like smell is the most unpleasant.”
Govan's aversion to condiments isn't limited to ketchup, she told What's the Jam.
“I have a phobia of most other sauces, especially mayonnaise,” she said. “And I'm so worried about the little holes in the crumpets that I can't eat them.”
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Govan for additional thoughts.
In the comments section of Govan's post, many echoed her discomfort with ketchup.
“I seriously thought I was the only person in the world who was afraid of ketchup,” one TikTok user wrote.
Several others who commented on the viral video confessed to having similar fears about ketchup. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
”[I don’t know] If it's just me, but I think so [a] 'Ketchup phobia' because my soul can't stand when ketchup touches my skin,'' said another.
Rachel Goldberg, a Los Angeles-based eating disorder recovery therapist, told Fox News Digital that Govan's dislike of ketchup may not be a “true phobia.”
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“Because of a genuine phobia, you may not be able to tolerate working in a restaurant where you are in constant contact with ketchup,” Goldberg says.
“In her case, it is possible to be close to her, although there is noticeable discomfort.”
Goldberg said it's not uncommon for food-related fears to be tied to traumatic experiences, such as being splashed with a ketchup bottle as a child.
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“Alternatively, these fears may be rooted in an aversion to certain textures, smells, or flavors, which may be a feature of an eating disorder called avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). “It’s sexual,” she said.
Goldberg said phobias “tend to persist because they are reinforced both mentally and behaviorally.”
Many empathized with Govan's discomfort with ketchup (she is shown above). On the other hand, one therapist said that such phobias “tend to persist because they are reinforced both mentally and behaviorally.” (Jam Press)
“By recognizing that she has a ketchup phobia, talking openly about it, and demonstrating physical discomfort that approximates it, she is reinforcing that fear and activating it in her mind as something to be avoided.” I keep it,” she said.
If Govan wants to eliminate her fear of ketchup, she needs to either try to get more exposure to it or “reframe her perception” of the food to alleviate her fear of ketchup, Goldberg said. .
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“She's already tolerated some exposure, so it might be helpful to change the taste a little bit or find a way to incorporate it into the foods she likes,” Goldberg said.
It may also be helpful to understand exactly what makes ketchup unpleasant, Goldberg said.
“If it's primarily due to the smell, there may be limited ways to change her reaction. But if it's related to past trauma, that event may have changed her relationship with this food.” It can be helpful to address how we no longer define ,” she said.
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“Ultimately, a lot of this problem may stem from how deeply she knows she has a phobia, which may make the problem worse,” Goldberg said. said.
“By reducing her concentration, gradually facing her discomfort without flinching, channeling it in a way that expresses her fear, and talking about it to others, she can feel more empowered to deal with it.” Sho.”
