My Life With Emetophobia

[ermerps]

I had this fear in the back of my head since I was a child, I don't know when it started but I have my suspisions. I never had a big problem with it other than its limits on my life like, what will make me feel sick and how do I avoid it. But recently, February 2014 I had a big problem with this fear because I threw up after eating breakfast. All of the sudden I was a wreck, missing school, horrible panic attacks and life was hard. I have not thrown up in years and kinda forgot how it feels like, so when I did, it brought back the memory and how it tastes and feels and I just couldnt cope with it. Than I got a sinus infection... This was probally when I hit the lowest anxiety and the worst panic attack of my life. I was prescribed at antibiotic and when she told me some of the side affects I lost it. When it came to take the pill, I took it than had a massive anxiety attack in which I pace and a bunch of other anxiety "rituals". After my grandma saw this we seeked out help, and it didnt help, I just got over it myself. But now I have this constant voice in the back of my head like, im always going to throw up. I work at McDonalds and every day i need to bring tums, which for some reason calms me down but I need to stop taking them because no matter whether or not I have heartburn or not I take them. Tums and Dramimine became my escape, I would take one because my mind was saying "you feel sick" so I would take one and I would feel better after. This has gotten in the way of my sports and social life, I don't know how to reach out but this phobia has runied my life enough.

[MichelleS]

So sorry for all you are going through. Coming to this website is a really good start. First its nice to have people to talk to that go througj similarities. Thdre are a lot of great people that give advice and support. Some have been helped and are living a more normal life..someone are scared and still searching on how to cope. I am proud of you that you shared your story with us. That sometimes is very hard to do. I have suffered from it since I was 16. And still have a lot of bad days like now. Facing the phobia head on and wanting to fight it is a good start.
Have you had any sort of counseling? Do you have a support group at home? Welcome to the website btw.

[mhartse]

It sucks when our minds can become convinced of things that really aren't true. And then make your body feel something that really isn't there either! Im sorry you are going through this. Do you have a therapist or anything you can talk to?