Problem with psychiatrists

[jaigopal]

When I was a child, I spent large amounts of time with psychiatrists and counsellors because of my emitophobia. They were convinced that my fear of vomiting - which led to serious panic attacks - was evidence of a deeper psychiatric problem. I had EEG tests on my brain, which found no clinical cause. I was then put on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, put through long periods of hypnotherapy and even offered a place in a psychiatric hospital for children.


No psychiatrist believed that I had a genuine phobia. By making me into a psychology case, they made me feel a lot worse. But their drugs and counselling made no difference. Whenever I said "I'm afraid of vomiting", they would ignore me and try to find other reasons for my panic attacks. It was very upsetting to be made into some headcase to experiment on.


After five years of traumatic and pointless treatment, at the age of 17 I refused to go to see any more doctors and stopped taking the drugs. Without the medical professionals in my life, my emitophobia started to get a bit better.


I still have the phobia, but it has subsided with taking more and more "risks" that challenge the fears. Simple. No drugs and no self-proclaimed specialists!

[ontariogirl]

I hear you!. When I was 9 this phobia began and no one knew what was wrong with me. I had blood tests after blood tests, I had the upper GI series done to check my stomach which was hell it was so gross compared to what they have you drink now. I had the brain tests where they put those clampy things on your head, put into a hospital! Was on anti-depressants at the age of 10. They had numerous excuses for me but none called a phobia. I went and saw a psychiatrist who in no way helped me at all. I was the headcase in my town, and that hurt so much. 6 years ago I went to the local mental health clinic for help. I wrote down everything about me, the staff got together to make a diagnosis and said that I was sexually abused when I was little and I am supressing it. To me that is bull. I know its bull. I told them that. I made a appt. to see another person there, I talked to him on the phone and he was not very nice infact he made me feel an inch high, telling me that my thinking is irrational telling me that this phobia is crazy. I had my neighbour with me and she couldn't believe that he was yelling at me. I balled and balled my eyes out feeling so lost and feeling that life isn't worth living, this idiot and I am putting it nicely made me feel useless. I reported him and he doesn't work there. I decided to take matters into my own hands and spoke loud about myself. I found out that I have a phobia, went on a radio station to talk about it to. I don't see shrinks anymore, and I find that as I become older I deal with this phobia in different ways at different times. I have had this phobia for 31 years in October and I have come to realize I may have it for the next 30 years who knows but I totally agree with you.

[jaigopal]

It's shocking what you went through and outrageous that these people should make unfounded assumptions about sexual abuse. This is absolutely wrong and must have been traumatic. It makes me very angry.


I wonder whether we, as emetophobes, should campaign to have this phobia acknowledged by those mental healthcare "professionals" treating children. There must be hundreds or even thousands of kids out there who are currently being damaged by these people because their phobias are ignored.


The fact is that emetophobia is no different from more recognised phobias, such as fear of flying. Airline staff are trained in how to deal with people who fear flying, so why aren't paediatricians trained in how to deal with emetophobia?


I am not afraid of anything else. I love spiders, for instance. Like you, I am not deranged. So why should doctors treat us as if we are mentally ill?


But it's great that you've had the courage to "come out". I feel there is such a stigma attached to this phobia that I feel it would be easier to be homosexual than an emetophobe.

[ontariogirl]

I totally agree with you, the stigma that is attached to this phobia isn't right at all. I don't understand why doctors treat us as if we are mentally ill. I think more doctors should be informed about this phobia because as the years go by there will be a lot more people who have this. I thought i was alone going through this and I was stund to say the least that I wasn't the only one and relieved that I am normal!

[realtaken]

I agree with you guys. When I was 5, my mom took me to a pediatrician who told her to ignore the fear because I was doing it for attention. As the years went on it got worse and worse, especially after I became a mother. We all rationalize how rediculous it is, but it doesn't change the fact that we are terribly afraid of being nauseous and v*ing. I am with you guys...I wish there was a way for us to get this phobia out there. Believe it or not, I am a psychology major and I took abnormal psychology only to find that while emetophobia is the 5th most common phobia, it was not even mentioned in the textbook or in the class. I told the class about my fear and people were shocked. Anyhow, there needs to be more infor available to others especially doctors so we would not be written off as merely psychotic.


Stephanie

[skinnyme]

I think it all in how these Dr.s feel about it themselves, if they think its a stupid phobia then they wont care to educate themselves about it. No one takes it seriosly, its all just a joke to them and it makes us feel like we are weak.

[ontariogirl]

For sure some doctors like to think we are weak and that ticks me off to no end!! I am working on some projects to get theword out that this is a serious phobia and when a mother brings her child in to see the doctor and she/he is petrified with this fear NOT to brush it off, get help for it while they are young so they have a better chance to deal and get over this than we ever had.Since I have been on this site and meeting so many people who have this phobia just pisses me off more that more should have been done when I was younger or any of the members here!

[sage]

I can certainly resonate with all of your stories. I too was over-diagnosed, mis-diagnosed and given up on. But I refused to give up on myself. I self-educated for years, and kept searching for a therapist and/or treatment program that would work. After 13 therapists who botched me up mostly, I found one that helped me achieve my goals. Now I have another one (equally screened, interviewed, etc.) who is just a gem. I wish I could put him in a can and send him out to each and every one of you....he knows the absolutely perfect approach to treating this phobia (and alas, I don't even have it anymore!). But unfortunately at $140/hour and a course of treatment that's about 100 hours - that's a pretty stiff bill for most folks. There's no justice in this world.


But in Canada you can occasionally find a good psychiatrist (for free) that will do unlimited sessions of psychotherapya. It's a lot of work looking, but would pay off. I imagine it's the same in the UK.


The therapist who helped successfully treat me was an MSW/RSW, not even a psychologist. So they're out there. Don't give up!