Hi, I suffer from Emetophobia (fear of throwing up). It makes life pretty difficult as I have a weak stomach so tend to get sick a lot or at least feel sick. I often have to hold back cz I'm so afraid, I always think I'm doing to pass out or die.
I googled ways to overcome it & there was things like, watching someone pretend to throw up, spitting into a toilet.
I can't help but feel like these things wouldn't help me at all.
Has anyone else suffered this or can anyone offer any advice on the subject?
Thanks in advance!
Emetophobia is very common. But rarely comes on its own. Do you have other issues with anxiety? Have you been diagnosed with anxiety/panic disorder? Are you under a lot of stress? Or do you remember how you developed your fear of vomiting?
I can't remember where it came from, but I think it started in my teens, I'm 24 now. It didn't bother me at all when I was a kid.
I also have panic attacks that are similar to NEAD Disorder & so have quite bad general axiety too.
I used to have that too. And still do but not as much. I fear more the fact that I MIGHT gonna throw up somewhere public and get embarassed, or inside a house or sth. It's more of a genaralised anxiety and the fact that you don't believe in yourself enough so that you fear you're gonna vomit. The more you think about it the more sick your stomach is gonna get. I've been through that. It's a vicious cycle, you have to break it.
As for the act itself, I got over it as I last year I was stressed about exams (before anxiety disorder hit in) and I had a messy stomach way too often. Once I threw up 7 times and I think that's when I got over the act thing. It's nothing really. I'm more scared of FEELING nauseous. Now, I even enjoy throwing up as well :P Like a weigh is off.
I never care about it being embarrassed by doing it, like if it was infront of others.
But I always need someone with me even thought I won't let them touch me.
My biggest fears with it (as well as thinking I'm gonna die) is 1. Waking up in the middle of the night to puke, as I'll be tired & confused & might pass out.
2. Puking somewhere other than home incase the toilet is really dirty or just in acssesible.
I haven't suffered a bug in a few years. I feel sick a lot, probably due to anxiety, but am very rarely sick as I hold back, and I also live off Anti Sickness Tablets (Cyclizine Hydrochloride).
I hate feeling sick as much as being sick, cz when I'm feeling sick I don't wanna do anything at all.
Have you been diagnosed with anxiety? Panic attacks do not often present similar to NEAD. Other things need to be excluded.
Have you had blood tests and any other tests to exclude physical causes for your overall symptoms and anxiety?
I am asking because although you escalated to GAD and developed emetophobia as well, the initial problem may have originated from something specific.