Shortly after developing emetophobia I started carrying around what I call my Emetophobia Survival Kit which consisted of:

Several "barf bags" (plastic grocery bags)
Gravol
Mints
Hand Sanitizer and/or wipes
Elastic Bands (to snap on my wrists - what a waste of time that was!)
Water
Mouthwash
Tums
Chewable Pepto-Bismol
Air Freshener (in case there was a nauseating smell somewhere lol)
An extra pair of Seabands (I was already wearing one pair on my wrists)

My purse weighed a ton! But I didn't care because I really believed all this stuff would either a) keep me safe, or b) help me cope should the dreaded thing happen. I have now learned that neither of these is true.

Today I took all these things out of my purse and went out. I was totally fine. That little familiar voice in my head tried to say "What if... " but I quickly shot it down with "So what if?" I don't want to vomit in public (I don't want to vomit AT ALL) but should it happen, well, I'll either find an appropriate place or I'll just aim it away from people LOL. What's the alternative?

Then that voice said, "but if it does happen and you're not prepared, people will be disgusted and/or laugh at you." So what? If I'm puking my guts out do I really care what anybody thinks? No. And who are these people anyway that I used to give so much power and importance to? People I don't even know and will probably never see again, so who cares what they think or say.

So yeah, letting go of the Emetophobia Survivial Kit is definitely a triumph... for my recovery and for my shoulder and back! Lugging all that shit around gets heavy!