Pull yourself together.

[Jor-dan]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and have been searching the 'net to best describe this condition, and I think I've found it. Don't know whether to be relieved or not.

Tonight, I found myself screeching at my son (15 years old) those three most hated words a phobic person can hear: Pull yourself together. And now, of course I regret it. I've made him feel like shit, and me feeling bad for saying it.

He has the condition and I'm the mum wondering how that hell it happened.

He's never been one for going out, never eaten much, doesn't like heights or funfair, hates long journeys in a car. His younger brother suffered a lot with migraines and was sick a lot during the summer holidays, and my 15 year old was sick in a restaurant three months ago. Ever since *that* episode he's refused to eat out as a family, and won't go to his grandma's house (she's the type of gran who fusses and constantly offers food).

Son's doing his GCSE's, or was, they've stopped, because he's refusing to go to school.

He broke up for the school holidays a normal(ish) boy, and this September he's this too-thin too-anxious boy who should be enjoying his teen years but isn't.

I don't know what to do with him.

Wish I had the illness instead of him.

[emet-ana]

Hi Jor-dan,

Welcome to the forum

It is a really horrible, at times all-consuming phobia to have. Has your son had any therapy? He might find Cognitive Behavioural Therapy useful- you could ask your GP for a referral either for straightforward CBT or to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental health services) for an assessment and treatment (which could include medication, CBT or Clinical Psychologist sessions). As emetophobia shares a lot of features with OCD, the treatments are similar- a therapist could help your son to gradually face little and increasingly challenging exposures to help him overcome the condition.

If this doesn't work then you can get NHS funded in-patient treatment for emetophobia too!

I'm really sorry your son is struggling so much at the moment, it sounds like he's having a horribly hard time and it must be so worrying to see. Is he refusing to eat at home or is he ok with that?

Thinking of you and your family.

[Jor-dan]

Thank you. That's a big help. x