Emeta-what?

[snowangel]

Hi Everybody,

I've been away for awhile and I've noticed a lot of you are posting that you are leaving the site.
For one year I was dedicated to checking this site several times a day. I lost touch with the site for about 2 months. In that time, I have been dealing with Emet a lot better that when I was reading the site several times a day.

Dont get me wrong, this site has helped me SO much, but I think it's hurt a great deal too.

I think this site is good when we need reassurance, bit no one here should be spending too much time on it.It creates this obsession with Emetaphobia.Who has it now? How many on this site caught it? Is it in my area? How can I avoid it?
The obsession becomes crazy and although it's good to talk about it at times, don't dwell too much.

I feel a lot better these days and wish to help those who need my support. That's why I came back. But I refuse to spend too much time reading posts...it can get scary at times....!

Hope this helps

Edited by: snowangel

[helsbels]

I can see how it might be hard dealing with emet when the urge to discuss the fear all the time is so strong. I've often wondered if being here actually helps or not. For me personally, and this is just a personal thing, I find I have to ignore posts about who's caught a sickness bug and where they are geographically, all that sort of stuff, because it makes me start to worry. Reading about people's experiences, troubles and triumphs doesn't phase me though... I guess we all have to do what's best for us.

[emetojackie]

I think it definatly can be depressing, and somewhat overwhelming.. I think all of us once didn't know that we werent alone, and now we have found out its strange, and somewhat addictive. I try not to read anything too graphic as it scares the jeepers out of me [img]smileys/smilies_12.gif[/img]

[stella9]

I am on my computer numerous times a day and I get notices if someone
has posted so I will check several times a day. However, I don't
find it any better or worse because I can, and do, keep things in
perspective. Knowing that a bug is going around does not scare me
because I know that a bug is going around. For me, know or not
knowing, does change a thing nor does it change how I live my life.
I am able to come to the board, read the posts, make comments to
some of the members and then move on to my life.



I really think that there are some people here who are really
distressed, but I also think that these boards are very valuable and
moreso for those who are crippled by this phobia. First, knowing
that there are others like them has to be helpful. Second, to be
able to have some insightful input from the folks here has to be
useful. No one else can really provide any solace unless they
have walked the walk. We all know what it is like to think or
know we are exposed to a bug. None of our friends or family or
even therapists (if that applies) really knows the fear of having that
experience.



Whether some elects to stay or go is their business, but for the true
emet to just walk away may not make the best sense. Maybe they
should come to the site less often or pick the posts they feel apply to
them.



Just my 2 cents.



Stella

[shiva]

The other day I was studying psychology and interestingly we are touching a little on phobias right now. There was a sentence that keeps going on over and over in my head. It is something to the effect of ....One cannot extinguish a fear if the fear is always avoided; in order to conquer a fear, one must face it.. this is the only way.


Now... I am not sitting here suggesting that we all run out and do the ipecac thing and give ourselves post traumatic stress or anything like that, but we should understand that we are given daily opportunities to get over this thing and it is up to US if we take them and learn or not. We choose to live this life of hell. Trust me, I am not being condascending by any means. I don't know why, but I choose this hell right now, too. I have chosen this hell for 20 some years now. But, if we are really sick of it, then we need to do something about it. What I read in that book is 100% true. We all say that we want to conquer it, but as soon as we feel threatened by it we run. (I run as well) I really want to stop running. I want to live life more than anything. I want to stop being afraid.


I see us all worrying about being close to someone who we knew had symptoms. But, this is illogical considering we don't know who opened a door before us, or who touched a shopping cart before we did. My mom had influenza two weeks ago. She has very good hygeine and carries wipies and purell. She works in a kitchen, so she washes her hands often. It was funny to me because she kept saying "I don't know where I could have got this from.. I haven't been exposed to it." We are surrounded by germs ALL OF THE TIME. They are everywhere. We can't live in bubbles. We have to decide to stop living like this.


I know that some of you have a better handle on this than me. And, I think that is great and I strive to be more like you. And for those of you who this strikes a nerve with, before getting pissed at me, understand that as I write this, I write it to myself more than anyone else out there. This is cathartic for me. And, I feel that it is okay. I am hoping that something I say here to myself will help someone else decide to go on this journey with me. This journey of saying "F***IT! We cannot run from this so let's live!"


I can understand how some people would get caught up in this board and feel that they have to leave in order to get better. That's why I say we need to add more strength to this board. I think it should be here to provide strength to one another and I think it's okay to say to eachother both..."What can I do to help you and that really stinks that you went through that" But, also I think we can say... "This is great that you are enduring this hell because it is going to help you gain strength and finally kill this monster inside of you".


I think it is sad that people feel that they have to leave. Weare all in control of ourselves. If our minds are soooo strong that they can create this monster than it is surely strong enough to defeat it. I think we should take a look at what purpose it serves us, and why we are choosing not to distinguish it.


OK... Let me have it. And, please... I don't want enemies here. I do rely on this board for support. Everyone here is very open and loving. I am just as sick as all of you and we all need help, we all need support. But, we need support to beat this thing, not enable eachother's sickness. I hope I am not misunderstood.

[bethany]

i dont misunderstand you at all. I mean, we can use this board to strengthen each other as well as validate each other's fears. It can only help and not hurt. Alot of us have been to rock bottom. the only direction to go is up!
-megan

[carmagnet]

A while back a couple of my friends were having trouble in their marriage. So they decided to go to a councelor., and that councelor said to oddest thing to them about what to do AND IT WORKED! he told them to ACT like they are happy and ACT like they love each other for 2 weeks, and to see what happens. So they did, and at the end of those 2 weeks they went back and told the councelor that they weren't going to be seeing him any more. They had gotten into a rut where they each thought the other was unhappy and bitter and thus made them selves unhappy and bitter. I've been trying to live my live like I'm not afraid the past few weeks. and acting like I'm not afraid. and I kinda think I'm actually starting to believe I'm not afraid.

[bethany]

that's awesome carmagnet!!!

[carmagnet]

It's just like your Sig says. "do it trembling if you must, but do it!!" and eventually the trembling WILL stop.

[bethany]

Amen to that!!!! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img] take care!

[shiva]

Yes! ACT UNAFRAID! That is exactly what I am talking about! [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]


If we keep saying to ourselves... "I can't" or "I am scared", then of course that is what we will be. Everytime we say or think "I can't do this" or, "this is taking over my life", then we are giving it the power to do so. We are fueling our own fears!


I'm not stupid, I know anxiety and I know sometimes we can't help how we feel, but sometimes we can!


I want us all to be rid of this emet monster!!!! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]

[carmagnet]

OOoooooh!! GET DOWN WITH YO BAD SELF!!! I feel sooo.....Hrmmmm......so Motivated right now. I'm gonna kick it's ASS!!