New Member

[LisaLisa]

Hey all, I'm a new member (just found this site and joined tonite!). Let me introduce myself.

I am a 35 year old female, married, no kids. I believe I've had this phobia since I was 5 years old. My first year of college was hell (dorm life wasn't a good thing for an emetophobe). A few years later, I tried hypnotherapy. A few sessions with one person didn't work. I tried someone else--who was recommended. Three sessions later, I believe my phobia still exists, but it kinda took the "edge" off. I believe I found the reason how this came to be (when I was five, my father had food poisioning and I woke up in the middle of the night in the dark listening to him and his crying). I can rationalize when the phobia starts leading to a panic attack--I try to think of possible causes of why someone feels ill, and in the end if it's not contagious then I usually don't get a panic attack (i.e. drunk people USED to cause anxiety but not so much anymore).

My two best friends and my husband know about my phobia. I've been with my husband for almost five years now, and the only time he's v* during the course of our relationship was just an issue with sugar/food intake. I don't know how I'm going to act if I ever have to deal with him v*. I told him ahead of time that I will probably not be able to be much comfort and that I even might disappear for a day or two (parents live a mile away as does his brother) and he said he understands. My parents are a little more close-minded and my mom simply believes in the "mind over matter" attitude about overcoming this. They just don't understand.

I also have panic disorder. It really only seemingly started after my first bout of v* when I was in my mid-twenties. I hadn't v* since I was around 5 years old, and nearly 20 years later I suddently became ill. I didn't know what the feeling in my stomach was or what I was feeling leading up to actually v* because it had been so long. After that, every time I start to get a hot flash or have a bout of d* it gets my mind going. Under the right circumstances, it can snowball into a panic attack. I'm lactose intolerant too, so that doesn't help. My panic attacks only seem to come from the phobia itself--especially if I'm woken up out of a sound sleep (like when I was 5 years old and my dad was sick).

I cope with various methods. I have medication for the panic I take as necessary (which is once or twice a month). I chew gum when the panicky feelings start, and that mint also helps calm the tummy. I also have found that since I took a plane trip last year and used the Sea Band that I will tend to wear it on long car rides or when I'm feeling panicky. I think it's because it's used to help control n* and v* so if I wear it, I won't do it. Whatever works, right?

[jmoore10]

Welcome Lisa!
Glad you found found the forum. I'm sure you wil have the opportunity to meet lots of supportive, well-informed people.
My emet developed around the same age as yours and I have a pretty good idea that mine might be linked to my father as well, but who the hell knows for sure? He was/is an alcoholic and would leave my mom and I alone while he went out on his benders. After disappearing for a while, inevitably he would come back in the middle of the night stumbling drunk and sick, usually culminating in my parents having screaming matches over his behavior. To this day, I hate being around drunk people.
Jennifer

[Ana Bellini]

Welcome Lisa!
I wish you didn't have to come here because this phobia sucks, but I'm very happy that you have joined us. It's always good to know we are not alone, right? We'll be here to chat with you during panic attacks and to try to find out more about emetophobia.
Just to calm you down about your husband, when we actually face v*, when the matter is with someone we love, we don't screw everything up. We have tons of people who have children and have dealed with v* and did well. I cannot say it, I run away every time someone says "I'm not feeling well", but you got what I mean.
As far as I know, my grandmother was emet and my mother was emet, but both of them have learnt to deal with it. I was raised thinking that v* was worse than dying, and, what can I say, when I was three I got viral meningitis and v* a lot, and since then I'm afraid to death of v*.
I may be very young, but I can be useful when someone needs me. If you ever need someone to talk, PM me.

[LisaLisa]

Thanks for your replies guys. I've been reading some posts, and although I know that I'm not the only emet and it's so very common--it was so comforting to hear that other people have similar experiences as well. However, I was feeling that the panicky feelings I get wasn't as common--evidently I'm wrong on that part. I wish I had more people to talk to about this, but it's really embarrassing for me. Here, I'm able to be more open with my feelings. I'm glad to have found this forum. Hopefully it will help me deal with my issues, and I can offer my support and understanding to others as well.