in-patient care

[tragicomedienne]

Hello! I've been suffering from emetophobia for a couple of decades, and unfortunately have recently felt such an increase in my level of fear that I feel like I need a break from interacting with the outside world. I'm wondering if anyone has had any positive experiences with in-patient treatment for this issue. I'm reticent to enter a "hospital" type facility (because I fear that the norovirus tends to thrive in such settings), but feel that I need to get some help in a very controlled environment. Any suggestions?

[alwaysafraid]

Sorry, I don't have any experience with inpatient treatment. Did someone recomend this to you? If you feel that this is what you need then it's probably worth doing. You would certainly get more intensive treatment (daily) and monitoring of medications. I could see how you would feel overwhelmed by living close quaters in a building but dealing with that should be part of your treatment. Let us know what you decide and best of luck to you. Maybe someone who's done this type of treatment will notice your post.

[jwavrek]

Go talk to a psychologist they'll tell you whether or not they recommend in-patient treatment, I was recommended out-patient treatment and that is what I'm getting.

[paulinek]

i felt exactly like that too when i was at my lowest ebb with this, and a doctor is the best person to say whether it is or isn't.

But just a thought, I think part of any treatment will be to teach you ways of coping, managing and controlling the phobia in everyday life and not for IT to control you and so cutting yourself off from reality in some sort of hospital setting may not help that process? I think it possibly helps to be able to instantly put into practice any techniques you are shown.

I had outpatient treatment many years ago for anxiety&panic (CBT) which helped loads. I've had a quite big relapse with it so am on the waiting list for some more, specifically for the emet this time.

You're not alone with this, and it does seem to be a feature of emet that you can be doing really well for ages then find it gets really severe.

You will get better than you are now and good luck in getting some treatment

[sage]

I've talked with some patients who did well in in-patient care. If it's what you need just now, go for it.

And btw...norovirus would not "thrive" in a hospital setting as they're much more sanitary in hospitals than the outside world. But as with anywhere, always wash your hands before putting them in your mouth and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

[vixki]

I was in-patient for nearly 4 months, two years ago. I
was there against my will because I was considered 'a
danger to myself and others', and I did not co-operate.
I didn't work with the therapists etc. But still, I say
it did help, a lot. It kinda was almost like a fresh
start. I got to be away from everything and have a
completely different setting and all that.
There were no noro outbreaks there. One or two people
did get ill, but it didn't spread. It was pretty
sanitary there, and of course you saw less people there
then you do in the outside world. I don't think I was
any more likely to catch anything there then anywhere
else.