Came back to say I'm recovered.

[Curves]

I left about two and a half years ago because coming here made me more anxious not less. Not knocking this place or anybody just saying that's how it was for me. I spent the next year 100% committed to getting over this phobia - and I did! I came back to say I just celebrated my one year recovery! I want you who want to recover to know that you can. If I did it you can too.

[Betysue]

I am so happy for you! Could you please give us some pointers on how you accomplished it?

[Curves]

Thanks Betysue! Sure.... This phobia affected every area of my life so I had to do a whole life overhaul. I learned how to fuel my body and brain properly so I completely changed the way I ate so now my diet consists of about 70% of my calories coming from the healthy fats (including some meat) that are essential to healthy brain function which in turn ended up curing my IBS because there is a definite strong brain/body connection - I used to be low fat vegan/vegetarian because I thought that was healthy. The emetophobia was so bad I ended up agoraphobic so I turned to my religious beliefs for that and applied those beliefs to my life and that got me out of the house and into the world again without fear of getting sick or catching something. I stopped having panic attacks and generalized anxiety by doing self-administered biofeedback. I ended some friendships that weren't serving me well and surrounded myself with positive supportive like-minded people. I fired my therapist because CBT and Exposure therapy wasn't helping much. I stopped taking medication because that was just a bandaid and I wanted a cure.... I did a LOT of things. It took time and commitment and self-discipline, it wasn't all easy or all uphill but in the end it was well worth it because my approach worked and my recovery has been sustainable. I started a blog so if you're interested in finding out specifics you're welcome to have a read. There isn't much there yet but there will be: myemetophobiarecovery.blog.com

[Natiebear]

I'm glad your recovered. The only thing that I was upset about is that you stated antidepressants are just a bandaid which they are not. For someone who is suffering from a severe anxiety disorder or depression they are a lifesaver. For me they have helped my anxiety so much and my phobia too. I have a family member who also has been greatly helped with meds for this phobia too. Sorry don't mean to rain on your parade but to me that's a false statement.

[Curves]

lol How is what I said a false statement? They may be a lifesaver for you and your friend and that's fantastic! but they don't work for everyone and a lot of feel a lot worse on them. I'm sorry you're upset Natiebear but there's really no reason to be. If you go back and re-read my post you'll see I didn't say I was on antidepressants, or that you, your family member, or anyone should go off your meds or do any of the things I did. What I said was I went off my "medication". Perhaps I should have been more specific. My medication was anti-anxiety (and way too many anti-emetics more often than really needed). And it is a bandaid even when it helps-- as are all psychiatric meds -- because they don't cure anything. They take the edge off the symptoms in people who have good results and may even be a lifesaver for some as you put it, but the minute you go off them you're back to square one and if you're on them long enough they stop working and then you have to increase the dosage or try another medication. Are you or your friend cured of your respective anxiety disorders/phobias? I'm assuming not? So, it's a bandaid, not a cure, and I personally wanted a cure. I wanted to be totally rid of my phobia, I didn't want to just manage it or cover up the symptoms, and I hated having to take medication especially because I always had unpleasant side-effects. That was MY experience on MY meds. I'm not being mean here so please don't take it that way, I'm just trying to clarify what I said because you misunderstood and I don't want you to be upset. Neither on my blog nor in my post did I say that anyone has to or should do what I did, I'm just sharing what worked for ME in order to give hope to others who want to stop being afraid of vomiting and get over this phobia that they can because I did and I'm not better, smarter or more special than anyone else. The only reason I gave specifics is because someone asked. lol so really, Natiebear, you're the one that made false statements. Seriously though, does that help you better understand what I was saying? I apologize if I wasn't clearer in the first place and I'm really happy that you're happy with your meds and that they work so well for you!

[Curves]

I never said I was on antidepressants or that you or your friend should stop taking them. So really you're the one making the false statement, Natiebear. lol.

I'm very happy you're doing well on meds and that they saved your life. I wasn't happy masking my symptoms with medication because psychiatric meds never cure anything and I wanted a cure, I wanted to stop being afraid of vomiting and I wanted to not be phobic anymore which is why I did what I did and it worked for ME but I'm not saying anyone has to do, or should do, anything I did. I just hope that my success gives others who want to recover hope that they can because if I recovered there is no reason why they can't too. I'm no smarter or better than anyone else and I certainly do not have all the answers for everyone. I just have the answers for me and I'm very grateful to have found them because living in chronic fear is no way to live.

[Curves]

I never said I was on antidepressants or that you should stop taking them.

[Laurenxx]

I have pretty much the same things you have, I am now agraphobic basically too. I am on tablets and have helped me to start to eat again but I'm not strong enough to face my fear I'm too afraid. I need the strength you have! Just wish I was someone else

[Laurenxx]

Well done on beating it! So happy for you

[Maddie-_-]

Thank you for that post well done - my 2-14 is totally dedicated to recovery

[lemontree]

Recovery seems to be such a rare thing so when I read a post like this it makes me want to do cartwheels across the room! Thank you for giving me hope and congratulations!

[KaydeeJayde]

I'm glad your recovered. The only thing that I was upset about is that you stated antidepressants are just a bandaid which they are not. For someone who is suffering from a severe anxiety disorder or depression they are a lifesaver. For me they have helped my anxiety so much and my phobia too. I have a family member who also has been greatly helped with meds for this phobia too. Sorry don't mean to rain on your parade but to me that's a false statement.

For some people they ARE just a bandaid. For me they were. They made the symptoms of my anxiety less crippling so that I could seek treatment, then when I'd been through treatment, I got to a point where I could stop taking them and not have to worry about them anymore. See, bandaid!

To YOU, it's a false statement. That doesn't mean that they're NOT a bandaid, it just means that everyone's different in their anxiety and what works for them, which, from being on this site, you should be well aware of.

[KaydeeJayde]

Oh, and Curves, I'm so happy for you! It's a wonderful feeling to come out of the other side of anxiety like emet and be able to say that you're not emetophobic anymore

[Curves]

Oh, and Curves, I'm so happy for you! It's a wonderful feeling to come out of the other side of anxiety like emet and be able to say that you're not emetophobic anymore

Thank you very much! Yes you're right, it feels wonderful! Like a heavy weight's been lifted off my chest. I thought I'd never recover but once I made a serious commitment and stuck to it no matter what, I recovered.

[Curves]

Thank you for that post well done - my 2-14 is totally dedicated to recovery

You can do it! You weren't made to live in fear.

[Curves]

I have pretty much the same things you have, I am now agraphobic basically too. I am on tablets and have helped me to start to eat again but I'm not strong enough to face my fear I'm too afraid. I need the strength you have! Just wish I was someone else

Now that I'm recovered I can honestly say that it's A LOT harder - and exhausting! - to live with emetophobia than it is to go through the recovery process. You don't need strength to recover Lauren, I wasn't strong, I was desperate to recover. In my opinion it takes much more strength to stay emetophobic than it does to let go of the fear and live in peace.

[Laurenxx]

Oh wow okay! ...I am going to try my hardest to beat this again!