Hi.
My name is Julie. I am 29-years old, and have been emetephobic for as long as I can remember. I think my phobia originated when I was 4-years old and drank a bottle of antibiotics and was then forced with ipecac to throw it up at the hospital.

I have been reading through some of the posts with tears in my eyes, just over the fact that there are people who understand this debilitating condition. I am constantly plaged by panic attacks and nausea and it is a vicious cycle trying to determine which was caused by what and if I am sick or just nervous.

That being said, I just survived an emetephobic's nightmare Thanksgiving. The week preceeding Thanksgiving, we heard from my SIL that one child after the other in her family (3 total) were getting sick. They were contemplating coming for the Thanksgiving celebration, even Wednesday night, even though my SIL had now contracted the bug. I could not understand how they could be so flippant about being contaigious, but they did not know of my phobia. I have tried to keep it under wraps as much as possible. However, Thursday morning, Thanksgiving Day, my BIL had also developed the bug, so their family finally decided to stay home. Unfortunately, my other SIL, who had been staying at their house since Wednesday, during all the sickness, still decided to come visit us on Friday, bragging of her superior immune system. Of course, she woke up Saturday morning, with the stomach bug. Meanwhile, no one has told me that she is sick, so my kids have been sitting on her lap, climbing all over her, etc. (How she can handle that when sick, I have no idea). Also, on Saturday, we spend the day at my Grandma's house, only to discover that my Uncle has had the stomach virus since Thursday (we saw him and sat next to him at dinner on Thurs.), and he is now present at the Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday. So we are surrounded on all sides by the virus, and I felt completely helpless. Like, I had done all I could do to prevent, and here we are still with 2 people with the virus that we did not avoid. It was quite a struggle just to go to these functions knowing there are minimum amounts of bathrooms and way too many people.

So, my husband and daughter have the stomach bug today. And, in every family that has it, everyone has gotten sick. I feel like I am just waiting, waiting. I haven't eaten and am afraid to sleep tonight. My hands are raw from the washing and sanitizer, and I have had to take care of my daughter because my husband can't.

My fears are usually the actual event of puking, as well as being around anyone who is or has IF what they have is contaigious (if it's a migraine, doesn't freak me out because not contaigious, although can't stand to hear it), also, the thought of being in public and being sick or of anyone hearing or seeing me throw up, and the complete unpredictablitiy of when it might hit. If one of my kids is sick, it makes me shake uncontrollably, so I am also terrified that my son will develop it too. He is still well right now. I usually am afraid to go out for at least a week after being exposed to the virus for fear of throwing up in public or not being able to get away....

This is rambling, I know. I hope you can follow. I am completely freaked out right now though. Thank you for listening/reading.

Julie