First book on emetophobia (fear of vomiting)

[Kirsten]

Working with children for 12 years, I would have never made it.

That's true! I think I couldn't do that, seems to me that kids always have some kind of stomach bug!

So does this book teach you how to deal with it? Or is it just a book of other peoples stories who suffer from the same thing?

Well, judging from the reviews on amazon, it doesn't offer too many solutions, it's more that people share their experiences, I think. I don't know if there's any kind of therapy, or treatment to cure that.

I get nervous, shaky, dizzy and can have panic attacks. Sooooo nice to know I'm not the only one!

Yep, that's ecxactly how I'm feeling!

Kirsten

[sumbirdy]

I have this! It's nice to know I'm not a sissy! I'm fine with dog puke, and when my nephew pukes, but everyone else just freaks me out. And I HATE to do it myself. (I know everyone does, but I'm to the point of panicking about it)

A few weeks ago me and my mother both had a stomach bug and my dad made us stay in the same room so he could take care of us better. I had to sit in a recliner across from her and I cried every time she threw up because I couldn't get away. It was awful. Everyone here says they wouldn't make it as a mother, but I wouldn't make it as a NURSE. Could you imagine being around that every day (and cleaning up after it?) It makes me sick to think about it.

[shepgirl]

Kirsten you made my day. I had no idea there was such a thing as being phobic about throwing up but the way it's described fits me to a T. I'm going to have to read that book, it might just help me. Due to a health problem I can have 2-3 days where I throw up every half hour which lands me in hospital on IV, not pleasant at all. But I've always had a problem with this and I think it did turn me phobic because if I get that queasy feeling I turn cold as ice, sweat pours down my body and I feel like the ground will open up and swallow me. If I hear someone throw up I will soon be doing the same. When my kids were little I wanted to lock myself out of the house when they got sick and I had to clean it up because I used to throw up while cleaning it up.
Amazing what you learn on a dog forum. Fortunately, these bouts have ceased for 7 mos.now and I'm floating on air. I want to read the book for the next bout, might help me feel a bit better or give me ideas on how to just cope better. I should bring the book to the hospital for the nurses, they might feel better reading it because they just stand there feeling so helpless not being able to control my bouts even with Gravol. They know it will eventually stop but they try so hard it makes me feel guilty.

[Kirsten]

Argh, it's that time of the year again! Heard that a stomach virus is going around here in town.

Yesterday, I had a little photography job with a group of people, and one of them was said to have a stomach bug... Needless to say, I was pretty nervous around these people!

More and more I'm getting aware of the fact that this phobia is having a huge impact on my life. Dealing with lots of stomach problems and an almost constant nausea myself, it's really hard for me being around people, just in case I could get sick in front of them. It's such a weird phobia, and not easy to cure - if it can be cured at all!

Kirsten

[Catty1]

Googled for treatment options:

Desentization

This means that the person is gradually desenstized, using exposure to pictures of vomit and individuals vomiting, with accompanying sounds. Images are graded in categories, according to the amount of anxiety thought to be evoked.
Anti-emetics

This is anti-sickness medication. These reduce the symptoms of emetophobia, but do not give a cure.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

This therapy explores and seeks to understand the thoughts behind emetophobia, and what lies behind it – readdressing irrational and negative behaviours.
Clinical hypnotherapy

This can be useful because the process aids relaxation, and builds confidence – lowering anxiety levels in the emetophobe.

It has been noted that some people with emetophobia get better after they have actually vomited. This is particularly relevant for women who experience morning sickness in early pregnancy.

Read more at Suite101: Understanding Emetophobia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of the Phobia of Vomiting | Suite101.com http://phobiasanxiety.suite101.com/a...#ixzz0ZXhCS0T9

Since gradual exposure is not realistically possible with the fear of vomiting itself, select programs utilize advanced metal rehearsal exercises that allow the individual to experience the feared scenario in their mind's eye in a manner in which the subconscious takes the imagery as reality, not unlike self-hypnosis. This is a very effective technique when taught properly and even more powerful when incorporated with cutting edge methods from neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). All of the above can be used not only as means of desensitization to the fear, but as means of quickly teaching relaxation in the face of the anxiety.

Unfortunately, due to the relative rarity of emetophobia, there are very few resources for individuals to turn to for assistance with this debilitating phobia. The most comprehensive system available in my opinion is the Emetophobia Eraser program which includes not only all the exercises and techniques discussed, but significantly more, in an easy to follow step by step solution specifically geared to emetophobia. More information can be found at http://www.EmetophobiaEraser.com

http://www.fear-of-being-sick.co.uk/..._treatment.htm