New Here & Curious

[BaileyZoe]

Hi everyone, I've been visiting this site every week since I found it, and just became a member, but I was curious about a few things.

I've been phobic since I can remember, but it's only in the past 4 or 5 years that it started getting really bad and I actually acknowledged it as a constant phobia, and found out the name of it.

In my researching of it, and reading posts on here, I'm starting to realize possibly how far-reaching my emet has influenced my lifestyle and habits, in things that I never really would have thought that it could affect.

So I'm wondering what kinds of habits you have, or random things you avoid because of emet. I can understand that I avoid things that I ate before being sick, because regular people do that as well, but I tend to avoid brushing my teeth, since I was little, but couldn't really put my finger on why I avoided it. I also have some weird food habits that I wonder whether are common, I never eat until I'm full, and I'm extremely picky about eating, and the foods I tend to like are all very bland.

Anyways, I'm just curious to see what other kinds of things are common amongst emets

xxx

[LaurenCasey]

I very rarely drink alcohol anymore and if I do, I'll only have a couple! I've also become vegetarian due to the phobia! I guess if I sat down and really thought about it, I'd realise I have lots of strange little habits but because I've had the phobia for so long, I guess they've just become the norm!

[BaileyZoe]

Oh I know, I rarely drink either, and avoid people who have been, and as a student that's very hard! I'm about the opposite, I don't eat many veggies, but I am very particular about how things are cooked, and if I'm suspicious of any food I'm eating I cannot stomach enough of it for it to make me sick.

[staystrongxx]

I have a lot of weird people. I constantly am asking people if they feel sick/are sick and if they say they have a stomachache and I offer one of my many solutions.
I smell public restrooms before I completely walk in to make sure no one is v*ing inside.
When I drink alcohol, which is rarely, I drink so little to make sure I don't upset my stomach.
While I eat out a lot, I am obsessive about the place an A health rating. The only way I eat with a B is if I've been going there forever.
I know there is more...But I can't remember.
The other day I was triggered by the site of a hospital bath basin in my kitchen(My Mom is bedridden so we have bath basins)
I was like, "why is there a v** pan in the kitchen!" My Mom's like..it's a bath basin. Haha it was very triggering to me as when I had an SV when I was 18 I was in the hospital.

[staystrongxx]

*habits
where did the word people come from xD

[BaileyZoe]

Staystrongxx, Do you find that the people close to you get annoyed when you're constantly asking them if they feel okay? Because I do that as well, especially to my boyfriend, who I live with, and he can be very impatient about that asking, since it's become just automatic if he gets up quickly, or leaves the room in a hurry, or does anything slightly out of the ordinary.

[gson]

Welcome to the forum
I raley drink, I don't go to places where people are drunk- eg nightclubs! Last time I went clubbing a girl threw up on my arm!!!
I wash my hands whilst singing happy birthday or abc. I have to wash my hands every time before I eat.
I don't eat meat and I only eat things prepared by me, my mum, my dad or my nana but I have to be watching them cook.
I don't or raley use public transport. If I do I have to shower as soon as I get home and wash my clothes.
I hold on to use the toilet for hours if I'm out to avoid using I public toilet.
I disinfect my phone, iPad and laptop daily. If I've been out for the day I disinfect everything in my handbag.
I wash my face like 10 times a day.
I have to wash cutlery, crockery and glasses etc even if they are already clean before I use them.
My left hand is my dirty hand and my right hand is my clean hand ie the one I eat with.
I always sleep with my anti emet tablets right next to me and take them where ever I go.
I have certain food and drink that I can't be without eg bread, rusks, crackers and ginger tea.
I could list wayyyy more but I'm already coming across as barking mad haha! My therapist calls these safety behaviours and I have less than I used to but still have plenty (as you can see!) x

[LaurenCasey]

Now everybody is speaking about their little habits, I do 98% percent of them too! Haha! Especially asking/finding out why people are ill! x

[SUM1]

There have been topics about this before, and I can tell you I have WAAAAAY too many "habits" or compulsions to list them all.

[Mamafear]

I have a satchel that my husband gave me 'just to say I love you', and so it's become my comfort bag. In it are:

Antemetics,
Antianxiety med
Coffeemate (a dairy free powdered creamer) which calms me when I drink it with tea.
A note or drawing from each of my kids, my husband and my mum.
A photo of each of the above people.
A St Christophers Medal. (for luck while out)
A couple of V* bags (I grab a bunch off the plane whenever we travel)
Antibug wipes (made up of a bleach + water sol. in baby wipes)
Antacids
My favorite pen (from my Mum/best friend)
Snacks (bland)
Snacks (sweet) in case of low blood sugar.
My phone, current book and mp3 player.

Just having that stuff with me helps me calm down. : )

[PyroYoshi]

Not really. I refrain from drinking alcohol, but that's about it. On the vary rare occasions that I do drink, I'll only have one or two.

[Amandaalee1]

I do most of these habits too
I dont eat meat whenever i go out to eat, the ONLY exception is chick-fil-a chicken nuggets (only because theyre so good)
Only eat meat when my parents cook it AND i tell them to burn it! lol
Wash my hands for almost a minute every time before i eat
I do drink (not nearly as much now) but i know my limit so i dont v*
I creep or eavesdrop on peoples conversations in public to see if theyve been sick or not (silly, I know)
IF i absolutely HAVE to use a public bathroom i put my nose down in my shirt so i dont have to breathe all those germs
I know i have a million more, these are just the main ones lol

[hairyfairy]

I don`t have too many strange habits, apart from sanitizing my groceries with hydrogen peroxide after reading on facebook about people vting in grocery stores & contamitating stuff on the shelves.