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Discussion: Emetophobia.
Member Since: 2/18/2012
Posts: 25,853
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Anyone here struggle with emetophobia? For the past few years I've had some really bad spells with it. Some facts;
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The DSM-IV1 diagnosis of emetophobia is 300.29 - Specific Phobia: Other Type. “Other Type” refers to “situations that might lead to illness, choking, vomiting.”2 I would submit that it is more closely related to the Blood-Injection-Injury Type because sufferers tend to identify strongly with others they see vomiting – the phobic enters into their reality and assumes she, too, is sick or soon will be.
Since the phobic fears her own body, this disorder tends to be particularly debilitating. Avoidance of the stimulus is impossible, and thus without treatment the emetophobic is continually re-traumatized, ritualistic behavior intensifies and the condition worsens. Treatment is difficult, as structuring gradual exposure is tricky. (How can you set up someone continually vomiting for the client to be gradually exposed to? How does exposure work when the client fears himself?)
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 List of notable characteristicsThe following are characteristics of most emetophobics:
- excessive cleanliness
- fear of eating outside of one’s home, or eating food one has not prepared (in case it may lead to food poisoning which would cause vomiting)
- nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea a great deal of the time. (While these symptoms should be checked out, they are usually due to anxiety.)
- fear of taking any prescription medication that may have nausea or vomiting as a listed side-effect.
- fear of animals who vomit
- fear of all children (as they vomit more often, sometimes without warning, and they are more prone to viruses)
- fear of pregnancy (due to morning sickness, or vomiting at delivery)
- fear of anesthesia – due to vomiting as a side-effect
- fear of hospitals and nursing homes
- fear of traveling (in case they are motion sick, or someone else is)
- fear of alcohol consumption, or parties where alcohol is consumed
- fear of amusement parks where people may be sick on rides
- fear of television and movies (more and more, vomiting is becoming commonplace in the media)
- fear of psychotherapy (lest it involves exposure therapy they feel they can’t handle)
- fear of a number of jobs, limiting career choices. (Emetophobics also often have difficulty holding down a job, due to the number of sick days they take.)
- fear of sick or injured people no matter what they have, as vomiting can be a symptom of every illness.
- fear of public toilets (as someone may come in there and vomit)
- fear of others’ coughing, burping, touching their stomachs, looking pale, saying they don’t feel well
- nightmares – particularly about vomiting, but night terrors are common as well
- refusal or inability to actually vomit. Most emetophobics do not vomit at all but for exceptional circumstances.
- anger, frustration and despair at not being understood, believed or supported – especially about the severity of the feelings of terror and horror.
When emetophobics encounter someone who is vomiting, or feels ill, they will:
- panic immediately, often with incredible immediacy (The panic attack will not necessarily rise up slowly – so inserting cognitive “tools” is not always a possibility. Again, this depends on the severity of the disorder.)
- become dissociative and completely irrational, often crying, screaming, and sometimes harming themselves or others.
- feel nauseous themselves and be convinced they will also vomit
- run away at high speeds, despite risk to personal safety or the well-being of their children
- refuse to remain in the house, car or enclosed place with the sick person even if it is their own child or a family member who “needs their help”
- if trapped, close their eyes and plug their ears (sometimes for an entire night)
If emetophobics feel nauseous, or believe for some other reason they may vomit they will often:
- refuse to eat or drink (they think they can’t vomit if their stomach is empty)
- assume all gastro-intestinal feelings are nausea, which will lead to vomiting. (This may also extend to mistaken feelings about dizziness, headache, body temperature, etc.)
- refuse medical help (in case they are trapped in a hospital with more sick people)
- refuse medication (in case the side effects are nausea/vomiting)
- panic, and continue to have a series of panic attacks over long periods of time (as they are unable to avoid the stimulus which is their own body)
- assume (incorrectly) that a symptom of the panic attack itself will be vomiting3
- pace, cry, beg others to help, run from others, scream, become dissociative, self-mutilate (scratching skin, hair-pulling, cutting), bring harm to others.
- insist on being alone, or insist on having a significant other with them.
- refuse to go near a toilet or other receptacle, or refuse to be anywhere else for unusually long periods of time.
- try a number of over-the-counter medications to control vomiting (Pepto Bismal, Dramamine, Peppermint, Ginger). Some emetophobics ingest large amounts of these remedies over time.
Any fellow ATRLers effected by emetophobia?
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 5,723
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I feel anxiety and stuff when I vomit but when I see someone else vomit I don't flinch at all. 
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 3,499
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I suffer with this - to a pretty awful extent.
I think some people read a bit about it and say oh yeah I have that cause nobody finds vomiting pleasant or anything but if you have serious emetophobia then you know.
So yeah I sympathise with you OP 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 22,126
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no ... OP r u alrite 
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Member Since: 5/19/2011
Posts: 34,328
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Let me save this to read it carefully later.
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Umm what does it mean? A fear of choking?
Because that's what I got from the OP
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Member Since: 3/25/2012
Posts: 10,076
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No 
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 3,499
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Quote:
Originally posted by RatedG²
Umm what does it mean? A fear of choking?
Because that's what I got from the OP
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That can be related to it but the main meaning of it is you have a severe phobia of throwing up
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Member Since: 7/12/2010
Posts: 9,704
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Oh wow, I used to have it bad for years. It's not really prevalent in my life today. The thing that bothers me is hearing or seeing anyone else do it. That will forever trigger me to run for the opposite direction.
I went 13 years without barfing. I am a master at nausea, I have remedies for everything
I got really sick back in march of this year and barfed like 3 times. Lol.. but tbh, it didn't bother me one bit.. Especially since I was alone. I wasn't afraid or anything. People think it's the end of the world, but it's really not. Lol.
My fear has definitely dwindled to almost nothing, but I definitely still have kinks. I think people fear nausea more than the act of throwing up itself.
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Member Since: 2/18/2012
Posts: 25,853
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Quote:
Originally posted by Koons
I suffer with this - to a pretty awful extent.
I think some people read a bit about it and say oh yeah I have that cause nobody finds vomiting pleasant or anything but if you have serious emetophobia then you know.
So yeah I sympathise with you OP |
I tried a lot of things to help mine - cognitive, prescribed herbal remedies, specialists, but I don't think there's much I can do to really rid the fear. Just like you can't totally expect someone to get over their fear of spiders. But this is on another level, you know.
I've been a lot better recently to be fair to myself, but I can't remember the last time I went through a day without something going off in my head telling me "that could make me sick". It's really bizarre trying to explain to someone what it feels like when they don't know the severity of it.
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Koons
That can be related to it but the main meaning of it is you have a severe phobia of throwing up
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Oh I see.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 3,499
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jack!
I tried a lot of things to help mine - cognitive, prescribed herbal remedies, specialists, but I don't think there's much I can do to really rid the fear. Just like you can't totally expect someone to get over their fear of spiders. But this is on another level, you know.
I've been a lot better recently to be fair to myself, but I can't remember the last time I went through a day without something going off in my head telling me "that could make me sick". It's really bizarre trying to explain to someone what it feels like when they don't know the severity of it.
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Yeah I completely understand what you mean - it's the worst. And I am exactly the same with every day looking at everything with a mindset of 'could this make me ill' etc.
I've also been to cognitive therapy and a few other things. The cognitive therapy helped me get over the panic attacks that I was having in relation to it (or at least help control them) but didn't actually help me to beat the fear. It's extremely controlling over your life though it's awful.
I've had it all my life but around a year ago out of nowhere it got pretty massively awful and I lost a whole bunch of weight and stuff cause I just became scared to eat and stuff. But yeah trying to combat it a little at the moment.
I think really the only way you'd ever fully get over it as awful as it sounds is probably exposure therapy. Cause I think if you were exposed to the actual act of throwing up yourself a few times in a row for a while you'd slowly get used to it again.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 3,499
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mani.
Oh wow, I used to have it bad for years. It's not really prevalent in my life today. The thing that bothers me is hearing or seeing anyone else do it. That will forever trigger me to run for the opposite direction.
I went 13 years without barfing. I am a master at nausea, I have remedies for everything
I got really sick back in march of this year and barfed like 3 times. Lol.. but tbh, it didn't bother me one bit.. Especially since I was alone. I wasn't afraid or anything. People think it's the end of the world, but it's really not. Lol.
My fear has definitely dwindled to almost nothing, but I definitely still have kinks. I think people fear nausea more than the act of throwing up itself. |
Did it just dwindle over time? Or did you do something specifically to help you overcome it?
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Member Since: 7/12/2010
Posts: 9,704
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Quote:
Originally posted by Koons
Did it just dwindle over time? Or did you do something specifically to help you overcome it?
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Well tbh, in 2010 it was at it's worst. I did shock therapy to help myself get over it... Which means I would force myself to watch videos of people barfing online to get rid of the scary factor behind it.
I know that sounds awful, but it really helped me.
Idk if you haven't experienced being physically ill for years like I have, but actually throwing up myself when I was sick made me not fear it anymore. It's almost like "Oh, that's what I was afraid of? Eh."
You will always dislike it, trust me. I still get panic attacks over someone being sick sometimes, but It's definitely not crippling in anyway to me. I rarely think about it anymore.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 3,499
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mani.
Well tbh, in 2010 it was at it's worst. I did shock therapy to help myself get over it... Which means I would force myself to watch videos of people barfing online to get rid of the scary factor behind it.
I know that sounds awful, but it really helped me.
Idk if you haven't experienced being physically ill for years like I have, but actually throwing up myself when I was sick made me not fear it anymore. It's almost like "Oh, that's what I was afraid of? Eh."
You will always dislike it, trust me. I still get panic attacks over someone being sick sometimes, but It's definitely not crippling in anyway to me. I rarely think about it anymore. |
Unfortunately I agree with you. It's like I said in the other post, I think for most people (myself included sadly) the only way to truly beat it is to expose yourself to it physically.
The main fear for me though is myself throwing up - I mean I get super grossed out and panicky if I witness others throwing up, but unless it's right near me or I'm scared I'm going to then catch whatever they have (say if they're ill or something contagious) I'm not as bad.
So unfortunately I think watching videos online of others would only slightly help me, I'd actually have to force myself to vomit a few times to help myself overcome it.
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Member Since: 2/18/2012
Posts: 25,853
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Quote:
Originally posted by Koons
Yeah I completely understand what you mean - it's the worst. And I am exactly the same with every day looking at everything with a mindset of 'could this make me ill' etc.
I've also been to cognitive therapy and a few other things. The cognitive therapy helped me get over the panic attacks that I was having in relation to it (or at least help control them) but didn't actually help me to beat the fear. It's extremely controlling over your life though it's awful.
I've had it all my life but around a year ago out of nowhere it got pretty massively awful and I lost a whole bunch of weight and stuff cause I just became scared to eat and stuff. But yeah trying to combat it a little at the moment.
I think really the only way you'd ever fully get over it as awful as it sounds is probably exposure therapy. Cause I think if you were exposed to the actual act of throwing up yourself a few times in a row for a while you'd slowly get used to it again.
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About 7, maybe 8 years ago we went on a family holiday and we all got ill, that was when it started for me. It took me ages to start properly eating again in fear of being ill and I just always had that in the back of my mind (I still do) and it effected me pretty atrociously. I started to get better and then just a few years ago, maybe three or four I had a night where I just felt terribly ill. I fought everything within me to not be sick and I remember my mum saying to me it was probably all psychological. After then I properly went through it badly, kind of like you losing weight, not eating properly, then it effected my social life when I started uni, things like going out and drinking, partying, the lot.
I'd do anything to not have it, I really would. Exposure therapy scares me though, and I don't think a lot of people would risk putting you through it. If I knew it were to work then maybe I'd feel more comfortable about going through with it.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 3,499
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jack!
About 7, maybe 8 years ago we went on a family holiday and we all got ill, that was when it started for me. It took me ages to start properly eating again in fear of being ill and I just always had that in the back of my mind (I still do) and it effected me pretty atrociously. I started to get better and then just a few years ago, maybe three or four I had a night where I just felt terribly ill. I fought everything within me to not be sick and I remember my mum saying to me it was probably all psychological. After then I properly went through it badly, kind of like you losing weight, not eating properly, then it effected my social life when I started uni, things like going out and drinking, partying, the lot.
I'd do anything to not have it, I really would. Exposure therapy scares me though, and I don't think a lot of people would risk putting you through it. If I knew it were to work then maybe I'd feel more comfortable about going through with it.
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Oh i'm sorry to hear all of that
I get what you mean about uni, luckily when I started mine was on a bit of a lower scale so I was okay for my first year, but then it shot up last year and I'm in my last year at the moment and it's just ruined everything a little, as going out really stresses me out (particularly in the winter months cause there seems to be so many more awful things going around during that time )
Yeah I know what you mean regarding exposure therapy, it's really risky and would be such an awful thing to go through.
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Member Since: 2/18/2012
Posts: 25,853
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Quote:
Originally posted by Koons
Oh i'm sorry to hear all of that
I get what you mean about uni, luckily when I started mine was on a bit of a lower scale so I was okay for my first year, but then it shot up last year and I'm in my last year at the moment and it's just ruined everything a little, as going out really stresses me out (particularly in the winter months cause there seems to be so many more awful things going around during that time )
Yeah I know what you mean regarding exposure therapy, it's really risky and would be such an awful thing to go through. |
I'm generally fine going out now, I know how to control myself and just remove myself from a situation when I feel uncomfortable. But I'm normally fine. My friends usually make the night fun so sometimes they help ease my mind. Hopefully things take a turn for the better for you soon, it's just not something you want ruining your last year of uni. I know how you feel about winter. I was in Boots at the airport last week (so felt on edge as is) and there was a poster about the winter bug and it set me off a bit.
I should read up on it more. See what the general consensus is about it.
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Member Since: 11/11/2011
Posts: 6,524
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I have this, I had to go to therapy for it in high school it was so bad
I would get anxiety if I had to vomit, but other people's vomit didn't bother me
I can't deal with throwing up or anything going down my throat still though. I physically can't let a doctor give me a throat culture I reflexively push them away
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 3,499
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jack!
I'm generally fine going out now, I know how to control myself and just remove myself from a situation when I feel uncomfortable. But I'm normally fine. My friends usually make the night fun so sometimes they help ease my mind. Hopefully things take a turn for the better for you soon, it's just not something you want ruining your last year of uni. I know how you feel about winter. I was in Boots at the airport last week (so felt on edge as is) and there was a poster about the winter bug and it set me off a bit.
I should read up on it more. See what the general consensus is about it.
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Ugh yeah I hate all the signs and things about it - I try to keep away from reading about it all and the illnesses that are going around cause it just sets me off even worse.
But yeah you should! There's loads of info online about it thankfully.
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