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emetophobia

1

So, after talking it over with someone we decided to start a thread about this to offer help, support and/or advice to people who have this.

I haven't been diagnosed by a GP (as it's not exactly something thats easy to diagnose) but pretty sure I have it as when I begin to feel sick I shake very bad, get extremly hot and just panick basically. Im basically just scared of being sick and hate it.

Anyway, if you have this then share stories on how to overcome a situation when your ill.

Many Thanks

Reply 1

Diabla

1

I haven't really got anything that helpful to add, but I'm also an undiagnosed sufferer. Have you seen your GP about it at all? Mine was bloody unhelpful and basically accused me of being an attention seeker.

Reply 2

Reicey_x

2

=o I didn't know there was a name for it. I thought it was just me.

Reply 3

JazzyJo

2

Hey good idea!

Im absolutely petrified of it......especially this time of year when everyone goes on about norovirus.....

Whenever someone is sick around me, or on tv i feel sick, shake, get nervous and if i can, run away.

I think ive trained my body to rarely feel sick because i hate it so much. However i do feel that if i feel sick i can psychologically stop myself from being sick.

Id love to get over this though, but i have to be honest, i have no idea how!

Reply 4

**CutiePie**

OP

1

Hey guys, thanks for replies (if we get enough the mods are going to consider stickying this so we can keep it open... I asked :biggrin:

)

I hate it aswell, I thought it was just me and that I was being stupid until I mentioned it somewhere on here on friday and since then have read up about it and I think I have it 99.9% now. Im terrible when i'm ill, I have to have someone sit with me to keep me calm, I can't describe how much I panick because it sounds so ridiculous to me just getting like that when I feel sick, but I hate it.

It's nice to know I'm not alone, I cannot believe I thought for so long this was just me being stupid about being scared of being sick.

It's gotten to the point where I haven't been sick for about 4 years as I just starve my-self when it comes to feeling sick hoping that I wont get sick.

I wish there was a cure..

Reply 5

xKarinx

12

I have this and it really is horrible. Whenever I feel sick I just panic and cry :frown:

and if I so much as hear someone being sick i'll have a panic attack. I had this winter vomiting bug thing the other year and it was just the worst thing.

I wish there was a cure too

Reply 6

pwchrich1

But surely nobody LIKES being sick?
I'm sure there's probably a lot of people who think they're emetophobic, but really couldn't it just be that you don't like it, like most other people?
I'm not trying to be mean, just an observation :smile:

Reply 7

Beauty_Queen

I know exactly what you mean, I have terrible emetophobia and it seems to have gotten worse over the years. I end up shaking, crying and totally panic stricken when someone else is sick, don't mind me lol. I haven't been sick since I was 10 though and I am now 20, so it seems strange for me to be petrified of it.
Its be nice to see I'm not alone with this and to chat to people who understand what I'm feeling.
x

Reply 8

**CutiePie**

OP

1

Beauty_Queen

I know exactly what you mean, I have terrible emetophobia and it seems to have gotten worse over the years. I end up shaking, crying and totally panic stricken when someone else is sick, don't mind me lol. I haven't been sick since I was 10 though and I am now 20, so it seems strange for me to be petrified of it.
Its be nice to see I'm not alone with this and to chat to people who understand what I'm feeling.
x

Yeah same, my parents are always just like " Be sick, get on with it, you'll feel alot better after" They don't understand how I actually hate being sick.

If you ever need to talk just PM me, it's so nice to finally be able to find people who understand too!

Reply 9

snmichaels

1

And what about future pregnancies? Would you actively avoid ever having kids so you wouldn't have morning sickness?

Reply 10

pwchrich1

snmichaels

And what about future pregnancies? Would you actively avoid ever having kids so you wouldn't have morning sickness?

what they said :wink:

I think that would tell you if you're really emetophobic or not!

Reply 11

**CutiePie**

OP

1

snmichaels

And what about future pregnancies? Would you actively avoid ever having kids so you wouldn't have morning sickness?

I read that some women do actually do this. No I wouldn't avoid having children, I would just ask the doctor on any possible way to avoid getting bad morning sickness, but im 18 (nearly)..kids are wayy down the line yet and by that time I might not be as bad.

Reply 12

Lady_Darkness

Fear of sickness.

I am a 'sufferer', though I used to be much worse than I am now - seem to have got better at controlling myself once I realised what it was (ie. all in my head). I used to think I was constantly ill (it preyed on my mind that I would pick up all number of illnesses that were going around and psychologically I believed I was ill)... but I do silently tell myself that no one could be as ill as I imagine myself to be... and find that deep breathing, keeping cool and drinking lots of water seems to calm me down when I start to get worked up.

I still don't like feeling 'trapped' - in the middle of a row in a lecture theatre,in the car/bus or anything like that, just in case I'm ill and have to get out. And I'm overly aware of where the nearest toilets are... 'just in case'

Also terrified of undercooked food, unhygienic food prep etc... I'm the type who has to cut into a piece of chicken and ensure there's not a speck of pink before I eat it. :o:

And yeah, I still avoid ill people like the plague - can't go near them, can't look at sick. Used to get very travel sick... and travelling still terrifies me for that reason.

I would actually rather die than be sick...

ETA: Yep, it's one of my many reasons for not wanting kids! Though not my only one by far

Reply 13

mildredo

8

I have a friend who is emetophobic. If you even mention that you feel sick she starts getting panicky in case you're sick. It's no fun for her. :frown:

Reply 14

Nynyflower

18

I panic so much about being sick or someone being sick near me. I can deal with baby sick but not older sick. I can't drink too much and if a food makes me sick I never eat it again. Also I avoid eating too much because it makes me feel nauseous which makes me feel sick :frown:

Reply 15

Crushy

Are you guys talking about stomach aches and the feeling or just general illness like colds and flu?

Reply 16

Beauty_Queen

**CutiePie**

Yeah same, my parents are always just like " Be sick, get on with it, you'll feel alot better after" They don't understand how I actually hate being sick.

If you ever need to talk just PM me, it's so nice to finally be able to find people who understand too!

Thanx

, feel free to PM me too if you need to.

I really need to learn to calm myself down and try to be rational, when the situation arises, as I end up making a fool of myself. Plus its really narrowing down my career prospects, I'm hoping to be a teacher but what will I do if one of my class is sick? Also I seem to be becoming anti social, being too worried about going out with friends at night drinking, in case someone ends up being sick :o:

.

How long have you been emetophobic?

x

Reply 17

Fandellos

13

Lady_Darkness

Fear of sickness.

Is that vomiting? or just illness...

Reply 18

DominF

2

I used to have it pretty bad; I'd be obsessed with avoiding being sick, to the point of holding my breath as much as possible in public. I've calmed down over the last couple of years though. I no longer fall asleep worrying about getting sick the next day and pretty much just wash my hands a little more frequently than most people.

So... I dunno, I guess what I'm saying is that you can grow out of it.

Reply 19

**CutiePie**

OP

1

Beauty_Queen

Thanx

, feel free to PM me too if you need to.

I really need to learn to calm myself down and try to be rational, when the situation arises, as I end up making a fool of myself. Plus its really narrowing down my career prospects, I'm hoping to be a teacher but what will I do if one of my class is sick? Also I seem to be becoming anti social, being too worried about going out with friends at night drinking, in case someone ends up being sick :o:

.

How long have you been emetophobic?

x

Thank-you =]
Im the same, I don't drink when I go out with friends for fear that I may be sick or feel sick. It limits what I can. Ahh yeah, I guess for a teacher you need to be strong in that situation especially with Primary age children!

Im not sure how long I've been emetophobic, for as long as I can remember though Ive gone a little hysterical when being sick and my dad usually sat with me when I was younger to calm me down and stop me from shaking. My bf once took my mind off feeling sick by singing to me and getting me to join in. Now when I feel sick I sing that song :rolleyes:

(8)Hot dog, jumping frog...(8) . but, yeah now Im obviously older Im alone when I'm ill so I just sit in the bathroom with my legs shaking uncontrolably and crying trying to take my mind off it. It's almost like I block my-self from being sick when sometimes it would just be better to as i'd feel alot better.

How long have you had it? Have you gotten better over time?

DominF

I used to have it pretty bad; I'd be obsessed with avoiding being sick, to the point of holding my breath as much as possible in public. I've calmed down over the last couple of years though. I no longer fall asleep worrying about getting sick the next day and pretty much just wash my hands a little more frequently than most people.

So... I dunno, I guess what I'm saying is that you can grow out of it.

So have you grown out of it a little? Because I think im worse now im older..