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[bexcelica]

Out of curiousity, how many of you have admitted to family friends or
your significant others about this fear? And how did they react?



I'm 21, and my parents have been aware of this forever. I have been
with my boyfriend for 2 years, and I just told him about a week ago.
He's been really understanding about it. I've told him things that I've
never even admitted to myself about it (like what I do to "avoid"
things like situations in which i "may" get sick or what do i do if i
"do" get sick?) I wasnt surprised he was so understanding, because
thats the type of person he is. but i am surprised in a way because its
such an irrational fear. he told me that "if it bothers you that much,
and causes problems, its not irrational and it is a problem" - which
made me feel normal, like its not my fault.



What about you guys?

[swiftette]

I'm 33. My mom and husband and my close friends know.I'veTRIED to express the severityof this phobia to my friends but I don't think they truly"get it". For example, I had to take my8 yr old to her Dr. last Fri. When the nurse put us in the room, I overheard the woman in the next room tell her nurse that her son had been v*all night and day, yaddayadda. So my "freind"asked me"Did ya bring your mask Donna?" And it was right in front of alot of people in the school yard so I was very hurt. My mother thinks Ijust need to"get a grip", and my husband...thats for another post. But I do think that if people really want to know and or love us, they need to know and to love ALL of usand atleastaccept our fears.Aknowledge they are real to us.We should expect no less of them andthey would accept no less from us. I think there are even more strengths than weaknesses that we all have and so much to offer and we should not feel ashamed.Millions of peoplehave phobiasbut when someone won't get into anMRI machine, noone looks at them funny!So if there is this one THING this fearit should not define us,hopefully in the end, it will make us stronger people someday.Sorry to be so long-winded but it's just sooo frustrating sometimes.

[jennyleigh1975]

I am 30 and have been married for almost 11 years. I told my husband about five years into our marriage. However, my fear has gotten better, then worse, then better again. When I told hubby about my fear, it wasnt too bad, but we only had one child then. My fear got a little worse when we had our last two children. I didnt tell my hubbys family until about 2-3 years ago. They kinda laughed it off at first, but now they realize that it is not something they can toy with my emotions about. I dont know that I ever told my parents, they are both deceased now. I have an aunt that knows, and two of my closest friends know also. I think thats about it. Most everyone in my life is pretty understanding about it.



Edited by: jennyleigh1975

[mitch04133]

I dated my ex for 5 years, amd I told him about my fear just last year. He really didn't want to hear much about it, but when I had my panic attacks, he would try to help, although he didn't help me like I needed. I just started to date someone new, and I told him about my fear 3 weeks into our relationship. He has been absoultly wonderful about it. He did tons of research on his own, he went out and and bought a book about phobias, and he has even offered to help find me a therapist. He even offered to help pay. I had my firt panic attack around him when we went away for the weekend 2 weeks ago, and we was great about it. I just hope it stays that way. I was very leary about telling him so soon, but I am glad I did. My parents know I am scared, and I go over there when I have panic attacks, but they don't know the extreme measures I go through. The only people that know those things are me and my boyfriend.

[kate1966]

I have been married for 16 yrs and my husband does not know about my fear.....he knows vaguely that I don't like it when either of my boys V....but he doesn't know to what extent it bothers me...i think the reason i have never told him is b/c i don't truly 100% trust him and feel like he would not understand and maybe not think I am serious about it....my parents don't know either...no one in my family or any of my friends know either...It's my big secret...but thank god i can talk to you all on here about it or I would for sure go insane So glad I found this site!!! My life might be easier if i could tell some of my closest people...but they probably wouldn't understand...Kat

[jesskali]

Most of my family knows about my fear of *v* but they do not see it as a phobia or realize how extensive it really is. My parents are pretty understanding because I think my mom has some emet-tendencies herself. I have tried to tell my husband how much it affects my life and he just sort of rolls his eyes. He will listen and try to understand but I know he thinks I'm crazy. He has already told me that when I'm pregnant I'm not going to "pull any of that psycho stuff"--he said it in a joking way, but I know he is talking about my emet. I'm constantly trying to talk to him about it, but he will somehow change the subject.

Jess

[laneyb]

I only told my husband who Ive known for 10 yrs, last November. This was because I was going through a particularly bad tme and he was worried, aaahhhhhh! He was really great about it and it actually made sense to him given things that had happened previously, like him turning up at my house drunk, falling out the door and v* all over the pavement. I called his parents to come and get him ( I was 28!!!)I havent told anyone else, I would like to tel my Mum but I think she would say I was stupid and, get this,I think she would probably try and make me ill?!?!

[roxxi277]

I am 28 years old. I have been with my boyfriend for almost two
years. He knows about my phobia. But the only times I have
really talked to him about it were during panic attacks, so I don't
know if he understands completely. Scince during panic attacks I
am not all there. (Not many of us are..lol) But he has
never judged me and is quite understanding. I don't go out a
whole lot, and I feel better that he knows about my phobia, because I
don't have to make up stupid excuses. My dad is the only other
person who knows. My close friends and other family memebers know
I have panic attacks, but they think it is just from my
agoraphobia. I do have agoraphobia because of my emet.....so they
know half the truth. Carrie

[blood_tears]

im 20. my gf (of just voer a year) knows and has known for just shortly after our relationship started. shes really good about it and really understand panic attacks because she goes through them to. my sister knows (she figured it out by herself) and does really understand but handles it rather well. actually i think she is beginning to understand because i think she is starting to become emet, at least where it concerns me, if i am sick to my stomach it really scares her. but my mom...wellmy mom is oblivious to things alot more obvious than fears so no, she doesnt know or want to know.

[r311dude]

I tell everyone. I once told 2,200 people at school about it when I wrote an article about it =)

[wing]

Told my two best girl friends and oneguy friend, my parents know, my doctor, and two other girls.


Only my mother and my two best friends know how it affects me really. My guy friend I dont think he knows much because I didnt tell him in detail. Doctor thinks I should write the v* word and i'll magically be cured. (She doesnt think anything is wrong with me even though i'm so much more skinnier than i used to be. She thinks i just wanted to be skinner =[). My daddy doesnt mention it to me and the other two girls... one suffers from depression and she thinks she is the only one that had problems, so I toldher I suffer from a phobia soshe's not alone. I casually mentioned it to the other girl.

[carlie]

Everyone close to me knows and if the topic of vomit comes up, I'll tell acquaintences and strangers. I'm not at all embarrassed by it. Everyone's got their hang ups. My family will say they understand, but they really don't and find it somewhat amusing. I'm now 41 and my Mom finally realizes that all the problems of my youth (missing a lot of school, couldn't eat out, missed a lot of social functions, etc.) were caused by my emet and I think she feels bad for not doing more to help. It wasn't her fault. God knows she took me to enough dr.'s who told her my stomach problems were "all in my head."


Most people "understand" until it affect them in some way. This phobia does usually have an effect on those around you, whether that be by having to help you through a panic attack, having to leave somewhere unexpectedly because you felt sick, won't go near someone because they were sick two weeks ago, etc.

[crystalmom]

My family and most of my friends know. Mostly everyone is fine about it, although for some, who have never experienced a panic attack, they cannot fully comprehend it. My ex was good about, to a point, although would get his digs in when he was trying to pi$$ me off. My current b/f knows and he also did the research and came to this site to see about it. We are only in the beginning of a relationship and I think he is wonderful for even trying to figure it out. I tell whoever, I am very open about it, because it is part of who I am (whether I like it or not). Those who love us will be loving and caring about it. Everyone has fears, just b/c ours is a bodily function we cannot control does not make in any less of a fear than those who have a fear of heights or spiders. This is who we are, do not be ashamed, get mad, and try to conquer and destroy. That is the hard part, and we are doing that by being here.

[Scattycat]

My close friends, boyfriend and co-workers know what I'm like and the extent of it. I told my mom and her reaction was 'nobody likes being sick' so I left it at that. Unless they suffer a phobia themselves, I know it must be difficult for them to understand how we feel. My friend is phobic of snakes and I couldn't understand why she wouldn't go in the reptile house at the zoo. I had to reassure her that you couldn't see the snakes from the entrance we went through and then she was OK. My boyfriend is phobis of needles but he doesn't understand my emet so I've just told him never to be sick in front of me!