Does anyone else have this problem?

[TwistedSymphony]

I honestly don't know if I'm emetophobic or not. My fear isn't necessarily getting *sick*. It's getting sick in PUBLIC, or around my friends or something. It's being in places and feeling "trapped"....being scared of not having an escape if I do start to feel sick (my anxiety around other people causes uneasiness in my stomach). When I'm alone, I feel totally fine. When I'm with people, I'm constantly on edge. I've been labeled anti-social, a shut-in, a loner, etc. because I like to be by myself most of the time...it's when I feel totally comfortable. I've tried to discuss my fears with family members...they just don't get it.

I noticed many people on here are different. I'm not a "germaphobe", (although I do worry about food poisoning and what not...) but I generally have no problem being around sick people, seeing or hearing someone getting sick, etc.

Anyone else feel this way...?

[realdeal1818]

While I do fear getting sick in general and being around sick people, a big part of my fear lies where yours does. I'm afraid of v*, but I feel like I'm more afraid of WHERE I will v* or how I will get out of the situation if I feel ill. My anxiety levels seem to skyrocket on my drives to work or school because I think to myself "oh my god, what if it hits while I'm here?? What will I do? Where will I go to v*?".. I also get extremely anxious if I go anywhere in public for fear that a sv will hit me while I'm out. For example, a few nights ago I went out to a restaurant with a few friends from when I was a kid. I was nervous on the way there (as usual) and ended up feeling sick at the restaurant before we got our food.. I'm not exactly comfortable enough with them to tell them I feel sick, so I panicked and had to run outside in fear. In reality, I wasn't really sick at all, my anxiety was just driving me bonkers 'just incase' I was sick. It's a vicious cycle for me and it's a hard struggle to live this way with these thoughts.

Truthfully, now that I think about it, that's one of the main fears within my emet. You are definitely not alone in that sense.

[hairyfairy]

I`m scared of vting alone, but in public, my ultimate nightmare! I can`t help but think that people will be shocked & angry with me, & say that I`m drunk or high on something etc.

[PerfectCircle]

Twisted, what you describe is me to a T.

I'm exactly the same as you, but i've come to the conclusion that I do in fact have Emetophobia, as the only time i express any sense of extreme fear is when i'm nauseated or otherwise unwell. At any other point in my life, im pretty carefree unless rumors of "stomach bugs" going around start to circulate, thats when i get just a little bit on guard. I can be around others who are ill, for example, a friend drank too much booze a few days ago, i spent the entire night helping them "clear" their system, and making sure they slept on their side. I'd also pop in and give them a shake to get a response from them every hour or so. Don't wanna risk alcohol poisoning and all.

Really, they're lucky they have me as a friend. LOL.

So yeah, for the most part my life is functional and this phobia doesn't impact it too greatly. I am however very particular with what i eat, where i eat it, and where it's from, but i generally think thats a good practice anyway and not necessarily entirely caused by Emetophobia.