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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Lithuania
    Posts
    315

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    Hey,



    I've decided to start therapy because lately my emet has gone too far
    and I can't take it anymore. However I am really scared of it because I
    know it's the last chance to become normal and if I fail, it means I
    will never live a happy life. It's not that I am only scared of trying,
    I am also very sceptical about it. I am a future psychologist myself
    and I am well aware of all the methods that are going to be used on me.
    I simply don't see how it is possible for them to work on me. I tried
    to convince myself that eveyrhing will be different as soon as I start
    the therapy but I really believe that I will have only regrets for the
    waste of money[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img] Any thoughts? What should I do?

    You only live once

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts
    4,577

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    Hi longgone, I'm totally with ya. I went through 12 therapists and wasted a lot of money and time and endured useless things that didn't work. HOWEVER, eventually I figured out what I wanted, and what I knew would work, found a great therapist and now I am completely anxiety-free in every aspect of my life. Yes, it cost me a lot of money and time. But it was worth every penny. I now treat several emetophobes and I'm not sure what you're envisioning will be "done to you", but I never force my clients to do anything they feel uncomfortable with, or afraid of. Just as my therapist said to me "you're in the drivers seat".


    It might help you to read my story - found in the "Experiences" section on a sticky post on the top called "Stories of being cured of emetophobia" and also the paper I wrote to therapists, etc. - there's a couple of them at the top of the Treatments section.


    Let me know what you think after you take a look at them.
    For more info about emetophobia and treatment:

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    DISCLAIMER ~ Any advice I give on this forum is well-intentioned and given as to a peer or friend or for educational purposes. It does not in any way constitute psychotherapeutic or medical advice. Please discuss anything you may learn from my posts with your doctor and psychotherapist prior to making any decisions or changes or taking any actions.



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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Lithuania
    Posts
    315

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    Thanks Sage, I will read those.
    You only live once

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Lithuania
    Posts
    315

    Default

    Hey sage,



    I've read your story. It was really inspiring! Wow, now I am a little less sceptical about the treatment.



    I've also read your post about desinsitization. I have read about this
    before in some book or article, and I've always found it a bit
    unrealistic. Well I know and I am glad that it's helpful to some, but I
    am sure it wouldn't do anything for me. I can easily disassociate my
    own v* from others' and even easier from pictures, videos etc. I found
    those videos and pictures disgusting but they do not make me feel n* or
    scared at all. I just know that there's no way I can v* by only seeing
    them. So some psychologists maybe would suggest that I am not *that*
    sick, but I don't think that's fair. I have noticed that my fear is
    very rational but it's just paranoid (I mean I never do anything that I
    cannot explain logically, I just do that too often). And I rarely get
    n* because of anxiety (or at least I tend to believe so). But when I
    do, I panic. Anyway, I am sure I'd need some kind of different therapy.



    I have read recently an article about logotherapy and its treatments on
    phobias. I must admit that the whole idea of logotherapy is not very
    attractive to me, but I found the method of paradoxical intentions
    pretty interesting. I wonder what do you think about this?

    When I feel n* myself, I always try to think like I really want this,
    like it's the feeling I absolutely love. Sometimes it helps really.



    I am also the proponent of behavioristic view in some aspects and I
    really think that causing myself to v* and associating it with
    something very pleasurable, would definitely work (In fact my bf even
    promised to buy me something very expensive after the next time I v*,
    lol). But I am just too scared to try this...



    One more thing. I often find myself when I am anxious imagining that I
    am someone else. Usually I like the movies that show others v* (I guess
    that's not common) and I remember these situations perfectly. Then when
    I feel n* myself I try to put me into someone's from a movie shoes. For
    instance, my thinking goes like this: "I am that beautiful lady from
    that movie. She is strong and she does not care about stupid things
    like v*. I don't care too. I am confident and strong. I know it's
    nothing. It's even funny.". It helps me too. But I guess it's dangerous
    from the aspect of personality. I mean it's not solving the problem,
    it's running away from it..



    Well here are my comments. I guess that was too much[img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]




    You only live once

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts
    4,577

    Default



    Thanks longgone,...I think some of your reasoning with yourself will help you.


    A good therapist will also be able to help you break through the dissociation when you view pictures or videos, so they become more "real". The trick is to up your anxiety JUST A LITTLE, and then practice bringing it down. This builds new pathways in the brain. I've had a few clients now who found out they were only "white knuckling" through the pictures, etc. and not really letting them sink in. Once we DID find a way to get them to sink in, their anxiety went up. In a safe, controlled setting (therapist's office/presence) it was manageable, and they are learning to bring their own anxiety down.


    Bottom line is...don't give up on professional help. A good therapist will have more insight into how to trigger your anxiety and dissipate it than you will. (We can never really see ourselves as well as another)
    For more info about emetophobia and treatment:

    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
    DISCLAIMER ~ Any advice I give on this forum is well-intentioned and given as to a peer or friend or for educational purposes. It does not in any way constitute psychotherapeutic or medical advice. Please discuss anything you may learn from my posts with your doctor and psychotherapist prior to making any decisions or changes or taking any actions.



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