Starting treatment.

[Greta1074]

I'm just about to start my 8 weeks CBT on Thursday. I'm looking forward to it. After having this phobia 32 years, I want to be free. I have purchased and listened to the Emetophobia Recovery program. I found it good. I still need more support. Months ago I had hypnotherapy. It was a total rip off. My year old son has vomited a lot over that last weeks and I managed ok. My two step sons are another story. I panic that I won't be able to cope if they are sick. I can't live my life hiding from the possibility of vomit. I promise to keep the community updated with the program. The therapist has mentioned exposure as part of the deal. I'm a little nervous but more than determined to our this weight behind me once and for all.

[jennjt]

Definitely keep us updated! I am hoping to start soon, as well, and I would love to read about how your treatment is going.

[jotini]

I'm off to the Dr's next week (when I can get in) to discuss some treatment.
Emet has somewhat morphed into food control and its dangerous. There are food rules i live by and they are just not healthy. It's verging on an eating disorder.

[jotini]

Grr. Hadn't finished.
It sounds so good that you're taking some real control and getting a grip on this phobia! Ill be rooting for you. Best wishes for you

[Amanda Pomerenke]

It's great that you're taking some initiative I hope it all works well for you! I talked to my therapist(who I have for anger, general anxiety, and depression) about this phobia last week, and she said she might start some treatment for this specific phobia on Tuesday, so hopefully I'll be on the same boat as you

[I'm Haley]

I went to a hypnotherapist for about three months. First of all, SHE DIDN'T EVEN DO HYPNOTHERAPY!. she did something else where she just waves her fingers in my face and asks me dumb questions. Rip off.

[argyle_angel]

I am interested to hear what happens with you and the CBT. Everyone seems to be saying that that is the therapy of choice for this problem. I'm going to go myself when I get coverage for it.

[Greta1074]

Me too! I'm so deeply angry, suffer with depression but mostly very anxious. It's only occurred to since I've been reading this forum that vomit can't hurt me. It's bizarre but I can't quite believe that vomit or vomiting isn't dangerous. I spend so much time avoiding. This is just making it worse. I just want to opt out and avoid but it's not working. Thursday can't come too soon. I want this phobic nightmare to be over.

[Greta1074]

I hear you!! £600 later. I'm not convinced that he didn't much at all other than pretend to understand. Rubbish huge waste of money

[Greta1074]

I was half an hour late! Maybe I was sabotaging myself. Because I left so much time to get there. This gets me thinking of how much my phobia is part of me and protected me from the world for so long. It maybe a fear of mine to let the phobia go.
Anyway I think my Dr is great. She listens. She researched into Emetophobia. She gave me a unique questionnaire to complete to specify me degree of phobia. It seems I'm not as bothered about vomiting as I am about others vomiting. She says that is slightly easier to treat. I haven't vomited in 32 years I think I'm immune. Obviously it's a reflex so I'm not. The next thing was to list my history with vomit. I identified a few cases when I wasn't afraid. That's good. But mostly I'm an anxious mess worried about someone vomiting and getting really angry about it too.
She made a chart of time versus anxiety. I always escape at the beginning so I never found out if my emotions would get worse and worse as I believe. She says it would be physically impossible and eventually the adrenaline would fade out. My way of coping has been avoidance which in turn has made it worse because I never see what would happen if I stay. I just think the only option is to escape or avoid altogether.

She printed out a list of negatives around my relationship and family as a result of the phobia. She also gave me a mood diary to keep for a week. I'm going to make sure I do it. I'm feeling hopeful that I can be free of this. The exposure part isn't quite so bad. My year old vomited in our bed the other night and I was fine. I got crazy later worried everyone in the house would get sick too. I'm starting to see how irrational that is.

[Amanda Pomerenke]

That sounds great! I'm happy you're taking the first step to get better, and hopefully it works well for you

[Greta1074]

Thank you for all the love and support bi am really grateful to have found this site.

[Greta1074]

I've posted my latest adventure as a new post...