Emetophobia - any fellow sufferers? What do you do to cope?

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PollyPerks

I hope you feel better soon and your little one avoids the bug! I go on the same Google spiral - finding out where the outbreaks are, how many people, then calculating the percentage that is of the total population to find out my chances of catching it! It's a nightmare and I try very hard not to do it any more. I nearly fell back into the spiral when the reports were coming out about surges in Noro following freedom day but I stopped myself as going down that path will turn me into a hermit. I really feel you on how people don't understand, they just say 'well no one enjoys being sick!' as though a phobia is comparable to not enjoying something!
 
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Spicy_bananas

Hey everyone! I had emetophobia for 25 years (8 to 33 years old) and it controlled my life. Everything you've all said, I felt the same and acted the same. I had major panic attacks whenever i was confronted to someone who might be sick or was sick.
After many different failed therapies I decided to try hypnosis. The psychiatrist I saw was great and after 3 sessions my phobia was gone. It's been 13 years now and it never came back.
You can ask me questions and I'll try to answer them.
I wish for everyone to heal from this debilitating phobia!
 
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Mummaabc

Oh no!!! Thank goodness you've got no sickness, I'd be at my witts end panicking that it's coming mind you! Really hope your little one doesn't get it, it's so awful when they get poorly. Oh my goodness, I would not have coped with an ill child in the hospital at all. My daughter had to go to hospital when she was about a year and I had to leave her with my husband because I couldn't cope being there. The guilt was overwhelming but the phobia was even stronger.

I remember once, when I heard about the 'N' one, cleaning every toy my daughter had - down to every ball in her ball pit! I totally agree, people do not understand it at all. When I tell people I suffer like this they always say oh I'm the same, I don't like being sick either...I desperately wish it was as simple as that!

I've considered seeing a hypnotist but I'm worried it'll cost a lot and not work! You're so lucky that you're through it - perhaps I'll look into it more.
 

Spicy_bananas

Mummaabc said:
I've considered seeing a hypnotist but I'm worried it'll cost a lot and not work! You're so lucky that you're through it - perhaps I'll look into it more.
Click to expand...
I totally understand! I was seeing so many therapists at that point and nothing worked that I figured it would just be another failed attempt if it didn't work but I was at the end of my rope. I had developed an eating disorder from this, afraid to eat because I was afraid to be sick... I had lost so much weight.
I have to say that even after the first appointment I already felt... different. It's hard to explain.
Like you said, just start looking into it and how much it costs and then you can make an informed decision. It cost me 100$CA (Canadian dollars) per hour, each session was 1h30 and I had 3 sessions. Mind you these are 2008 prices...
Good luck to you, whatever you decide
 
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Ellepose

I’m glad this thread exists. I’ve had this phobia for what seems like my whole life and I’ve never really confronted it or really told many others.
I don’t drink crazy amounts and I’m also a veggie now due to anxiety over drunk/hungover vomiting and food poisoning.
I don’t anyone in my life fully understands and I feel like I do quite well at covering it up. Like a few have mention, if ive has the odd bug my partner will be like “yes I know you don’t like being ill” whilst inside I’m freaking out.
 
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Lollypad

YES the “well nobody LIKES seeing people be sick” or “yes it makes me feel queasy too” people don’t get it. I don’t just feel a bit iffy, I feel like I can’t breathe, have a panic attack, shake and cry. It’s not “not liking it”
 
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Mummaabc

I'm very similar, I eat meat but I can't eat chicken because I'm terrified it'll be under cooked, and you won't ever catch me touching it.
Ugh, I hate when people behave like I'm being dramatic about not liking it. Why can't people understand it's a real, genuine fear? No one calls people who are scared of flying dramatic do they!
 
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swimming

I try to stay off my Facebook this time of year because people are posting things about catching the winter sickness bug and it makes my nerves bad. Especially as people say that norovirus can literally come on without any warning!! Terrifies me that someone can be going about their daily business and just start vomiting.

has anyone here had Noro? Is it true that you get no warning?

I despise this
 
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CharlieTYBT

When I last had it a couple of years back I've never been so unwell and I'm an emetophobe. I was puking for about 10 hours and it was all coming up the mouth end only (sorry to be crude). Symptoms before were achy muscles and horrific stomach cramps. I've never known anyone to randomly puke out of nowhere, anyone I've ever known with a bug has warnings first. Not to scare but really it's truly horrible and I wouldn't wish the bug on anyone. I haven't yet got children and am terrified to have them and they bring it back from nursery/school. They're mini petri dishes afterall lol. The experience was horrible and in between puking I was having panic attacks before I had to I was so scared and I get triggers when I see norovirus being mentioned now. It was the most unwell I've ever been.

To add on I was told that only bleach kills norovirus and nothing else like Dettol, Zoflora etc. And Clinell wipes do as well and they're used in hospitals. But really the virus is so contagious and airbourne it would be a struggle to avoid it. I caught it off kissing and holding my niece as she was a baby at the time.
 
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PennyPop

I've had to create a new profile (used to be Mummaabc) as I've been locked out of my old one and email isn't registered anymore apparently

Also, I really wanted this thread just to be about discussing coping strategies with fellow sufferers. The N-virus posts above are very triggering for me - if I continue to read what's been written I literally won't relax or sleep for a week.
 
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swimming

I’ve got my first baby and he’s only 4 months old but I’m already terrified of the school days and germs that I’ve got coming my way. My husband works away for sometimes months at a time too so it’ll just be me dealing with it!
 
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CharlieTYBT

I'm really sorry for causing any triggers or stressing anybody out. I just was responding to the user above's question and being realistic from my experience. If it is really stressing people out I'll request for it to be deleted. I wasn't intending to upset anyone and I apologise.
 
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PennyPop

Thanks for the apology, I appreciate that it wasn't intentional I just wanted this to be a thread to share help and advice rather than actually talking about being ill.
 
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Ellsbells20

Hi, hope you don’t mind me asking questions on this, did you pay privately ?!
I’ve never been to my GP to discuss it but I’m convinced I have emetophobia, I have panic attacks on planes incase someone is travel sick, in busy shopping centres I won’t use the toilets incase someone is poorly in there and in hospitals. I went to an orthopaedic outpatient appointment and had to rationalise with myself that everyone had broken bones not a sickness bug. I’m scared of seeing my GP incase they think I’m wasting their time and they have bigger problems to sort so would rather just go private and pay someone to listen to me but no idea on where to start in booking an appointment?
 
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Spicy_bananas

Ellsbells20 said:
Hi, hope you don’t mind me asking questions on this, did you pay privately ?!
Click to expand...
Hi! In Canada you can go to a psychologist/psychiatrist without a GP's note. In fact I don't even think that therapy is covered by public insurance. So yes it was paid out of pocket.
Check with your public insurance if you are in another country to see if it's covered.
I recognize former me in all these behaviors... It's exhausting right?
Ellsbells20 said:
I’m scared of seeing my GP incase they think I’m wasting their time
Click to expand...
If you have a GP that you like/trust don't be scared to talk to them about it. They might have resources you can check out. You are not wasting their time, it's their job. And if they think that, fuck them! They won't tell you anyway so you'll never know!
Ellsbells20 said:
no idea on where to start in booking an appointment?
Click to expand...
Look online for some resources. You might find a therapist near you that way. Don't be scared to call some therapist and ask if they deal with this kind of phobia.
ex:

How to Find a Psychiatrist and Other Therapists

Here’s how to find a psychiatrist based on your needs and situation — such as budget, insurance, concerns, and child and family therapy needs.
www.healthline.com

How to Find a Psychiatrist Near Me | Talkspace

Know you need a psychiatrist's help, but not sure where to start? You're not alone. Our guide will assist you in finding the right match.
www.talkspace.com

Hope I could help. Don't hesitate to ask me more questions!
 
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PennyPop

I relate to every single word you've written. In relation to NHS care, you can self refer for CBT, that's what I did. I just googled self refral for CBT in my area and it sent me straight to the relevant page. Please don't worry about wasting time, your mental health matters and it's important to talk about where your head space is. Good luck, I hope you can get the help you're after xx

I'm so sorry, I read your comment, got distracted and forgot to reply. I can absolutely sympathise with you. I worry about germs at school all the time and I panic when I hear of another kid off poorly. In the moment you will just get on with things, I'm sure of it. But I then worry for weeks after about myself. I even worry about my daughter going to birthday parties because of all the kids being so close - my brain just cannot rationalise the fact that they spend every week together at school so a party is no different
 
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Delia Smith

I'll never eat chicken from a restaurant because of my emetophobia. From experience a lot of restaurants don't cook chicken thoroughly enough imo and i've been ill from uncooked chicken from an Italian. If I cook a whole chicken at home i'll add an extra 10-15 minutes onto the cooking time and get my partner to check it's cooked too.
I have a huge fear of Noro and this time of year always puts me on edge - makes me want to wear a mask for this reason!
I've had Noro many many years ago (an entire wedding party caught it) It is a very extreme bug but it usually doesn't last long.
My big thing is panic attacks and being unable to breathe if I think i'm going to be poorly.
 
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Ellsbells20

Thank
Thank you so much for being so kind in your response. I’m based in the UK sadly so different here.
Completely agree with the exhaustion, I just want a “normal diet” and “normal life” I won’t eat certain foods because I think they’ll make me sick and I won’t go on nights out incase I’m sick or someone around me is too drunk they don’t go to the toilet.
 
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BettyCrockerr

Spicy_bananas said:
You are most welcome! I'm glad I can help if only just a bit.

The UK has a great health system right? I'm sure your GP will help you find a specialist, don't be afraid to ask.
I hope you can find the right help for you. You can beat this
Click to expand...
without getting into a debate about the NHS, although it is a wonderful organisation it is also seriously underfunded and woefully under resourced and stretched to the absolute limit. Mental health services in particular are stretched beyond measure; you have to wait for a long to time be referred to see a counsellor/therapist etc - months, sometimes even years on a waiting list.
 
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