Need to Celebrate!

[Callalin]

I have been emetophobic for about 2 1/2 - 3 years now. I was dreading the day that my 4 year old daughter would get some sort of sickness that made her V****. Yesterday - it happened. It happened when my husband (who is the one that normally takes care of these things) already left for work and I was alone with my sick daughter.

I heard her do it in her bed, and I knew it had happened, but instead of panicking right away, I calmly walked in and asked her what happened. I told her it was ok and stripped her bed. I threw everything in the sanitize cycle of the washer and got her set up on the couch with a wastebasket next to her, comfy pillows, soft blankets and her favorite TV show. It happened 2 more times, once she got sick all over herself, but, even thought I could not be in the room to watch it, I cleaned that up with no problem. After my husband came home about an hour later, I then broke down. It was like I was working on pure adrenaline and my panic had been pushed aside.

Long story short, I managed to keep my panic at bay for a longer period of time. 3 years ago I probably would have left her while I jumped in my car and fled the house (my old coping strategy as driving calms me down).

A small but important victory in the world of Emetophobia!

Now I just have to convince myself that I am not going to get this illness. That seems to be the hard part recently.

[GrammarGal]

Wow. That's hardcore. I couldn't have done it! You should be very proud. What a good mother! I guess that instinct kicks in. I don't blame you for breaking down. Just keep your hands washed and everything else bleached! She may have caught something that your adult system is already immune to. Hope she feels better soon!

[olschesky]

great job.......those motherly instincts are amazing now you know you can handle it which should relax your emet a little

[hairyfairy]

I couldn`t have coped under those circumstances, I would have waited till my husband came home, & let him clean up. I`m so glad that I never raised any children, as I`d have made a terrible mother.