Hello!
Hello. I'm not sure if there is an introduction forum. I'm new, so I figured I would just introduce myself.
My name is Meagen and I am 24 (25 in a month). I realized I was emetophobic when I was in Kindergarten. A boy got sick in gym class, and I was scared of him for the rest of the year. I also had a birthday party that year and one of my friends had eaten too much candy and had a stomach ache. It was a sleepover and I hid under a chair in my parents bedroom and cried myself to sleep because I was so scared of my friend's stomach ache in fear that she would throw up.
I know where my fear comes from. My biological dad (who I have not spoken to since I was 6, after my parents divorce) apparently claimed to have heitel hernia and would just get sick everywhere. We would go to eat and he would be driving and would just be sick all in the car. We would be watching TV and he would just get sick on the floor in front of all of us. This happened before I was 4, bc my parents split up when I was 4, and I still remember this.
I am not scared of myself getting sick anymore. It wasn't until I went away to college and I was alone and sick, that I learned to deal with that. I was 17 and still crying for my mom because I didn't want to throw up. I was the kid that NEVER made it to the bathroom when they were sick because I would wait and wait and wait and not want to be sick because I was so scared and then it would be too late. I went to college and learned how to be okay with myself being sick, because I was away from my family and I had to.
The crazy thing is, that I am often more sick that most people. I am not actually flu throwing up sick, but I have the dry heaves. My gag reflex is crazy. I constantly wash and sanitize my hands and I have the dry heaves often.
I work at a preschool (great place, right?) because I LOVE children. I love their personalities and I love teaching them and watching them grow, but I spend most of circle time checking out the kids and seeing which ones I think look like they feel ill. Often, they are just tired, but I will pinpoint a child who is not acting quite themselves, and I will spend all day avoiding them.
Last year, we had a kid throw up. I was in the other room and a child ran up to me and told me that this kid was sick. I immediately ran out of the building and the other teachers ran to help him. It wasn't until they saw me pacing back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth outside and refusing to come in, that they realized it wasn't that it just grossed me out. I asked to go home for the rest of the day, I was so distraught.
It takes a lot for people to realize that I'm not just grossed out. I cannot be around it. if a child tells me that they have a stomach, I spend all day worrying and freaking out inside about them being sick.
I am so glad to have found a discussion board with other people who understand it.
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lots of emet moms on here that can help you.....i'm not one of them though........just wanted to say "hi" and hoping you find tons of help and comfort here 