Completely Recovered (I think)

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

So I started feeling nauseous last night but didn't really think much of it because I have been way past the point of believing that every little tummy upset will equal vomiting for quite a while now.

Long story short, I ended up vomiting several times during the night. Definitely not fun and not something I want to do again any time soon (ever actually) BUT (and here's why I think I am finally completely recovered) I did not panic, I did not have any anxiety about it whatsoever. All I kept thinking was, this will be over soon, it won't last forever, this too shall pass. I was more pissed off that it happened during the night, meaning it kept me from sleeping, and I was SO tired, than of the vomiting itself because, honestly, it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had played it up in my mind to be. I have known this intellectually for a very long time but last night I think I finally "got it" emotionally and that made all the difference.

I still don't feel great today, but I'm calm, my mind isn't racing with a bunch of "what ifs" so I'm just going to rest, drink lots of fluids, and wait for my body to finish doing what it was meant to do - heal itself so I can maintain perfect health.

Now, having said that, the real test will come during my next dental appointment because that is where, up to now anyway, my emetophobia still takes center stage as if I have made zero progress. But last night might have changed all that too.... we'll see.

[paulinek]

Sorry you got sick But wow that's amazing not to have had the anxiety, it really does sound like you are in a good place with your emet, in fact make that a fantastic place with your emet!

yes the dentist is a no-no for me too, i have to get sedated which costs a fortune meaning i don't go unless i'm absolute agony but that is my next step to be able to even just have a simple check up without heaving the minute the dentist comes near me with that hook thing.

You definitely sound like you have made way more than zero progress to me, and why not think of the dentist like this:

What is the worst thing that could happen? You could be sick - you've been there and done that and a) you weren't anxious and b) you've lived to tell the tale and sound like you coped amazingly so horrible as it may be for it to happen at the dentist you would cope. Good luck with your appointment and hope you feel better soon :0

[Avath]

Wow!!! I'm jealous! That is so great =)

[turbokinetic]

Oh, no! Sorry you were sick last night. Hopefully today will be a "light" day and you can get more rest tonight.

It is a really good sign that you were able to handle it without the panicing!

Keep up the good work, and hopefully this will, in the end, help you get over the phobia at the dentists. I do understand that your fear at the dentist is different from a fear of getting sick from 'natural causes.' But I still think you're on the right track!

As I said before - the anticipatory anxiety is worse then the V'ing. Or shall I say "The anxiety sucks worse than the chunks blow!"

David

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

Thanks guys. I stayed home and rested - watched TV, napped, etc. I haven't had an appetite all day and still don't, but that's okay. I'm drinking lots of fluids and keeping them down.

What is the worst thing that could happen? You could be sick - you've been there and done that and a) you weren't anxious and b) you've lived to tell the tale and sound like you coped amazingly so horrible as it may be for it to happen at the dentist you would cope. Good luck with your appointment and hope you feel better soon :0

This is excellent advice! Thank you.

"The anxiety sucks worse than the chunks blow!"

Very funny and so true! LOL

[j e n]

How!!??? how did you make this go away? 25 years in and im struggling to see the light xx

[lisalulu]

That's what happened to me- I was almost better and then getting sick made me finally realize I was.
Not only that I had both noro and a dentist appointment that same day! They drilled my tooth that morning and that night I got noro. Talk about a shitty day ha ha! I was glad to have the 2 things I hate most in one day, only ruined one day instead of two!!!

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

How!!??? how did you make this go away? 25 years in and im struggling to see the light xx

I was emetophobic for 25 years too.
It took me a year of hard work. I started last Christmas by taking a chance and doing something outside my emetophobic comfort zone. I enlisted the help of God. I asked Him to protect me and keep me safe because he knows my issues, obviously. I went out and got a take-out drink from a restaurant. Something I hadn't done in years because my emetophobia told me things like:

How can I be sure the plastic cup is clean?
How can I be sure the person's hand that touches the lid is clean?
What about the straw? What horrible things might be lingering on that?
And the drink itself. How do I know it's fresh when it's poured from a container and not sold individually with a best-before date.

When I put my lips to that straw the first time, you would have thought I was drinking poison LOL I was so terrified. I didn't trust myself or the person I bought the drink from BUT I did trust God, so I put my faith in Him that I'd be okay. And I was.

I continued pushing my limits on a regular basis, more and more.... and here I am today "cured".

Countering my scary thoughts with more positive, realistic ones was also key. And reassuring myself that even if I threw up, yes it would be awful, but it wouldn't be the end of the world, I'd handle it and it would eventually stop and I'd be fine again.

I reached a point where I no longer wanted to waste my life away because of this stupid fear. I woke up one morning and realized holy shit, I gave 25 years of my life to this insanity! NO MORE!

Now, as I said, the real test will come during my next dental appointment. If I can get through that without panicking or backing out even if I do gag, then I'll know 100% I'm cured. If not, well then I'm still 95% so that's damn good I think.

If I can do it, you can do it too.

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

That's what happened to me- I was almost better and then getting sick made me finally realize I was.
Not only that I had both noro and a dentist appointment that same day! They drilled my tooth that morning and that night I got noro. Talk about a shitty day ha ha! I was glad to have the 2 things I hate most in one day, only ruined one day instead of two!!!

Yeah I think it's during those times we can't control that really proves if we're recovered or not.\

LOL @ shitty day.