flanerie.org

A Cheltenham mum is to undergo therapy to help her overcome her fear of peas.

Louise Arnold flees restaurants if she spots peas on a plate and gets anxious if she sees them in a supermarket.

Now Louise, 35, is to undergo therapy as part of an ITV show called Phobias in a bid to cure her irrational fear.

She will see counsellors, hypnotherapists and acupuncturists to tackle the phobia which began after the birth of daughter Chloe, five.

She said: "I've got to stop this because I can't bear to be in the same room as peas.

"There have been occasions where I've been out for a meal and asked the waiter for no peas and had to rush out of the restaurant when they forget.

"I can't even go to my local pub because they serve peas on the menu. I'd love to lead a normal life and be able to go into the pub and have a drink."

But she gets little sympathy from her friends, who bought her a T-shirt saying: "Give peas a chance".
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[lifted from ananova]

and a little more from the Gloustershire Echo (a local newspaper):

Louise's fear started five years ago, soon after she had Chloe, but she can't remember what triggered the phobia.

She hopes the TV counsellors will be able to find out where the fear comes from and help her overcome it.

She says she gets little sympathy because her phobia sounds so ludicrous. Friends think her problem is funny and bought her a T-shirt saying 'Give peas a chance'.

Louise said: "I try and play along with my friends' teasing, but I'm petrified when they show me a pea for a joke.

"I can't even look at the T-shirt because it reminds me of peas and my daughter thinks it's hilarious.

"I don't know what started the fear, but the experts seem to think it has something to do with the birth of my daughter.

"They said I'm probably blocking it out and it's a case of finding what causes it and getting over it."

While she was waiting to see the experts yesterday, she met a man who was scared of cobwebs and a woman petrified of canoes.

"Meeting these people was bizarre but I hope I'm on the road to recovery," she said.
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A pea phobia is a little strange, but with enough drugs I can understand it.

But canoes? That kills me.