hi guys

[sare]

Hi guys,
I've finally joined this support group after years of trying to deny or ignore my emet. I'm nearly 25 and this year is the worst my emet has ever been. I think I've finally decided to actually do something about my phobia because I've met someone this year and he has asked me to marry him and we are planning a future and a family and there's all these things he wants to do like go out and experience the world that scares me because I know that at this point with my emet it is going to be really difficult for me to be a part of because I'm just so terrified of travel, pregnancy and anything that poses risk of getting sick.
The last time I actually got sick was about 15 years ago and I seemed to deal with it okay until the next time about 4 or so years later when I felt it was going to happen I just freaked out and panic attacked.
I found out there was a name for my phobia many years ago but the turning point for me to actually stand up and say hey I'm not coping was a few weeks ago after missing a period and feeling sick for a couple weeks. I took a pregnancy test and got what turned out to be a false positive, but at the time, thinking that I was pregnant and staring down the barrel at months of potential morning sickness/vomiting was absolutely terrifying. It was heartbreaking to me that my partner seemed so excited at the prospect of a child and all I was thinking was that I was going to get sick and I just felt selfish and irrational. So at this point I had to just tell him about my fear because I didnt want him to misunderstand. He has been very supportive but for him vomiting is just a simple bodily function and I don't think non-sufferers fully understand.
I'm at the point now where I'm nearly 25 and I should be out enjoying life and I feel that my condition is holding me back as there are so many things my friends and family are enjoying that I'm missing out on I hate feeling like I'm living a restricted life of fear and anxiety.
I will say though that actually facing up to my emet has been somewhat comforting and freeing and I really hope that this support group will be able to help me and thankyou for reading.

[olschesky]

we should all be out enjoying life....i agree....

i do know that i go through good and bad periods with my emet.......some good periods lasting for years....which is really nice.......just wish i could figure out how to keep them all good.

coming to this forum has really brough me alot of relief.....just knowing that someone else feels the same way i do is comforting.......i never talked about it before coming here and i'm almost 59 years old.....

hope you get some answers and peace in here

[sage]

Hi Sare,
Welcome to the site. You should find lots of information and support here. And ask any questions you like!

[thebetterbug]

I feel the same way as you, Sare. I'm sick of this controlling my life. I dream to have kids one day but I know this phobia could hold me back... or cost me a lot of money for months worth of anti-emetics. It seems so stupid to me to be scared of a natural body function. And my boyfriend is so sweet but he just doesn't get it either. I hope we can comfort you, or at least help you realize you're not alone!

[sare]

thanks guys, I already feel like I'm on the path to recovery just by joining this site. |I think for me the most scary aspect of emet is just the unknown as it's been such a long time since sickness happened it's almost as though I've forgotten what it's like or made it out to be worse than it is.
I have stopped taking medicines that help the physical sypmtoms of nausea as I don't really like to put a lot of medication in my body and as a way of just trying to overcome it naturally or on my own. It's also really hard to have to go to the doctors and get a prescription every time.
I am booking into a psychiatrist this month but I'm a bit worried that they may have never dealt with this phobia before given that I live in rural Australia and my option of therapists is limited. At the very least I'm sure they will be able to help me manage my general anxiety!

[sare]

SO I'm off to the doctors tomorrow morning wish me luck am soo nervous. My bf had/has anxiety though and he went to the same doctor and said she was great. I have met her before and liked her. It's just going to be a bit hard to talk to the doctor about it I think since it's taken me about a decade just to tell one person BUT I know it is the first step to recovery! You can't fix a problem unless u first acknowledge that you have one!

[abbu]

Good luck! Welcome to IES!

[NatalyKay]

Oh my, I think you have made the BEST decision by coming here. I just joined a few days ago, and I'm already starting to feel better about my phobia.

I've had it pretty rough recently too, I've gotten to the point where I don't even want to be alive anymore. And I'm a person that always said I loved living, and that I didn't understand suicide and why people do it. But now, I can understand.

I've been nervous on and off all day today, because I haven't been as hungry as I want to be, so I'm assuming it's because I'm sick. But, I remembered that there are other people out there that are just as scared of this as I am, and it calmed me down. Knowing that I'm not alone and that possibly a person in the same place as I am is worrying about the same thing, has given me so much peace of mind.

It's a great step to recovery, and we're all here for you whenever you need us.

[TishinaC]

I know how you feel....
I became preganant with my son when I was 25, and I was more worried about getting morning sickness than ANYTHING. Since most of us 'emeto-phobes' can go YEARS without v*ing, I wasn't all that surprised that I didn't have morning sickness.
Anyway, I'm glad you found this group (I am glad I found it as well). We all welcome you with open arms and I hope that you take comfort in knowing that we've all been where you are and that we completely understand what your going through.
-Tishina

[sare]

Thanks so much guys my doctor was great she was actually really intrigued by the phobia as she'd never heard of it. I gave her some information I'd printed on emetophobia and she referred me to a clinical psychologist so will see how that goes I'm actually strangely excited because I can see recovery