Vomiting (not) Necessary to Heal?

[Fear Is Not An Option]

I have read many posts that say vomiting is not necessary to overcome this fear. As much as I really want to believe this because, of course, I do not want to vomit - ever - I find this a little difficult to believe. I'll tell you why.

If I had a fear of flying, while I might spend weeks, months, years "desensitizing" without actually flying, I would have to at some point get on a plane and fly in order to know for sure if I was really over it or not. It stands to reason that if I stay forever with my feet planted firmly on the ground, without getting on a plane ever, I will not overcome my fear of flying. Am I wrong?

If I'm not wrong, doesn't the same apply to overcoming ANY phobia, including emetophobia?

Please share your thoughts. Thank you.

[Mecca]

Well, I think it really depends on the person. Take a fear of death for instance. Does that mean the person has to die in order to overcome that fear? Obviously not because once they experienced death, they wouldn't know whether or not they overcame the fear, because they'd be dead. (I'm trying to be as neutral as possible because I don't know your religious beliefs and your views on what happens after death.)

The mind is a very powerful thing and I believe you can overcome a fear without having to confront it. I suppose a better question would be how would you know you overcame a fear unless you confronted it?

[Rebecca85]

The thing with emetophobia is, just about everyone has a fear of vomiting. But emetophobics take it to extremes. If the fear is no longer interfering with daily life, then you are cured. I think you can still be cured even if you panic when you actually vomit. I don't have a phobia of myself vomiting- only others. The last year or so I have been ill a lot, and many times when I was feeling nauseus I would sit there crying because I didn't want to vomit. I do have a fear of vomiting. But it's not a phobia because the thought of myself vomiting doesn't dominate every waking moment like the thought of someone else vomiting does.

So I think you can definately get rid of the phobia without vomiting.

[Fear Is Not An Option]

Well, I think it really depends on the person. Take a fear of death for instance. Does that mean the person has to die in order to overcome that fear? Obviously not because once they experienced death, they wouldn't know whether or not they overcame the fear, because they'd be dead. (I'm trying to be as neutral as possible because I don't know your religious beliefs and your views on what happens after death.)

The mind is a very powerful thing and I believe you can overcome a fear without having to confront it. I suppose a better question would be how would you know you overcame a fear unless you confronted it?

That is indeed a better question. And one that applies to the fear of death as well. Obviously, one can't die to overcome that fear lol. However, I'm sure that someone who has a death phobia avoids a lot of things (like we emetophobes do) so, wouldn't that person have to confront whatever triggers their fear of death in order to find out that a) they won't die and b) they can handle it? If one goes through life avoiding EVERYTHING that might make them die, then they're surely never going to overcome their fear of death.

Similarly, if we avoid vomiting, especially as part of our therapy, how can we really say we're cured? The death phobic would have to take certain calculated "risks" ... like walking across the street hoping he won't get hit by car, for example. The emetophobe might have to, I don't know, maybe touch the inside of a public garbage can in an inner city and then lick their hands (like the OCD people on Oprah had to do a while back) to prove to themselves that even going to that extreme won't make them sick. BUT, by doing that, they're also taking the risk that they might get sick (and die).

Did anyone see that Oprah show I'm referring to? Some OCD specialist took a handful of severely OCD people to a "boot camp" of sorts and made them lick toilets, garbage cans, not wash their hands ever and then eat with their hands. Nobody got sick.

[Fear Is Not An Option]

The thing with emetophobia is, just about everyone has a fear of vomiting. But emetophobics take it to extremes. If the fear is no longer interfering with daily life, then you are cured. I think you can still be cured even if you panic when you actually vomit. I don't have a phobia of myself vomiting- only others. The last year or so I have been ill a lot, and many times when I was feeling nauseus I would sit there crying because I didn't want to vomit. I do have a fear of vomiting. But it's not a phobia because the thought of myself vomiting doesn't dominate every waking moment like the thought of someone else vomiting does.

So I think you can definately get rid of the phobia without vomiting.

Everyone hates vomiting but not everyone has a fear of doing it. There I have to disagree with you. As to whether someone can completely recover without vomiting, I really hope you're right! lol But see, my reaction right there is proof that I'm avoiding... not willing to chance it... so in my mind, I'm not even close to being cured. Otherwise I'd say something like, "I really don't want to vomit, I'm afraid to, but you know what, if it happens, it happens, and I know I can handle it."

[Rebecca85]

You see, to me it doesn't matter if you can handle it when it happens. So long as it doesn't dominate every waking moment. Like I saw one kid at school (this was when my phobia wasn't so bad), he had a stomach bug, and basically had a panic attack as he was leaning over the toilet. But when he recovered from the bug, he didn't show any signs of a phobia. So even though he didn't handle it well when he vomited, he doesn't have a phobia. I would say if you can get to that point, where you only panic if you're actually going to vomit, you're cured.

[TinaP]

[QUOTE=Rebecca85,,,,The thing with emetophobia is, just about everyone has a fear of vomiting. But emetophobics take it to extremes. If the fear is no longer interfering with daily life, then you are cured. I think you can still be cured even if you panic when you actually vomit.... But it's not a phobia because the thought of myself vomiting doesn't dominate every waking moment like the thought of someone else vomiting does. So I think you can definately get rid of the phobia without vomiting.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree with Rebecca! When I went through CBT desensitization I only had to watch movie scenes and use calming techniques whenever my kids got sick. I didn't have to get sick myself to get over it. But everyone is different...

[sage]

I don't make any of my clients vomit in order to treat them for their emetophobia and everyone who really commits and sticks with the treatment, including the homework, finds relief from their anxiety - with the exception of some folks who have way more going on in terms of mental illness than just emetophobia.

As for the flying fear, isn't the real fear crashing? It's not necessary to be in a plane crash to get over it. What if you fear heights - do you have to fall? How about fearing being raped? Etc. You just have to trust planes, ladders, men, etc. Similarly, with emetophobia you just need to get to the point where you trust your body, eating food, being with sick people, etc. The problem is anxiety and avoidance, not vomiting.

Having said that I totally respect therapists and clients who decide they should vomit to check out what happens. So long as both client and therapist are on board fully.

[hairyfairy]

I read about this subject on another site, & this psycologist said that people who think that vting will cure emetophobia are talking nonsense. He said that someone who has a car accident, & is terrified of driving, & is told by his-her doctor to go out & crash their car again, that would make no sense at all, & would probably make things much worse.

[klp]

I often have to wonder if exposing yourself to vomit would be the answer. I only have a fear of others vomiting and these thoughts are ruling my life at the moment. I work in a hospital on a ward (I am not a nurse) and quite often experience patients v and this has not cured me yet. So I am confused too as I thought exposing myself to v would help? I wish I knew what the answer was. The psychologist I am seeing at the moment is trying to tell me he thinks I don't have a phobia because when someone does vomit for example my children I handle it okay. But I am constantly worried that my kids will v.

[Rebecca85]

Klp- maybe you don't have a phobia but some sort of OCD or general anxiety problem. Since a phobia is an irrational fear- if you aren't scared of it it can't be a phobia. But if you are having obsessive thoughts without the fear that sounds more like OCD to me (but of course I'm not an expert!)

[klp]

To Rebecca85, thanks for your comments. You said you also only have a fear of others vomiting. How does this affect your everyday life? I live in constant fear everyday that my children will v. I do definitely fear v but I think when it happens I realise it does not need to be feared because it is not that bad but as a phobic we tend to think differently. Others on the website have said when they do eventually v it was not that bad. Is this a normal reaction?

[Rebecca85]

My fear generally puts me permanantly on edge. I find it extremely difficult to use public transpirt, ride in a car with someone I don't know, go to a fairground, go to a pub etc. And go to work! (I work in a school). I make myself do these things because if I didn't, I think I would get a lot worse. If somebody coughs, or spills a drink, or makes some other noise that reminds me of it, I physically jump. Same if I see somebody bending over, or with a bucket, or even a car pulled over at the side of the road. If somebody does actually v near me, worst case scenario (eg if it's my boyfriend, it's in my house, or I'm otherwise unable to get away) I have a full blown panic attack, where I lose all self control, scream, bang my head against a wall, etc. Best case scenario, my heart pounds, my legs turn to jelly, I get a hot then cold flush all over me, I feel dizzy.

As for not fearing v so much when you've done it, I think that's fairly normal. In the few hours before I v, I fear it then, but I don't think about it all the time so I don't class it as a phobia. And afterwards I need 5 minutes to relax, then I'm fine again. The only difference really between me and a non emet is I will fight the nausea for longer. Though I'm getting a lot better now I do it so often!

[klp]

Rebecca85, My phobia affects myself pretty much as yours does. I hate going to pubs, amusement parks, boats, flying,. If I do go into those enviromments I am highly anxious and on guard. Have you tried to get any treatment? I have tried a couple of psychologists but they have never heard of emetophobia so aren't much help. I am getting very depressed at the moment because this is affecting my everyday life. Thank god I do have work to go to because it's they only way to stop my thoughts for a while. My family don't understand the condition so aren't much help. My phobia affects me very badly at the moment with my children. I am constantly scared they will v overnight so I am not getting much sleep. It is so good to have this website to realise you are not alone.

[Rebecca85]

I have not sought treatment for my emetophobia, however I had CBT at uni for other issues, so I do try and use what I know to help the phobia. I am also taking Fluoxetine (Prozac) for other health reasons, which seems to be helping me relax.

[psalm139]

Sage that is VERY reassuring and comforting. I did see a counselor about my Emet but he NEVER said that he would make me try to "v". He mostly dealt with WHY I was afraid of it and to list what is the worst possible thing that could happen when I did. I never did any kind of CBT...I am already exposed to possible "v" situations....( I have three kids ) I am also a christian so our approach was probably different than other therapy treatments. We did alot of praying and scripture reading. I think others on here are right making you "v" isn't going to cure you so to speak. Everyone is different though if it is something that might help than talk about it with your counselor. I know how you feel though I don't want to "v" to be treated but at the sametime I also don't want this Emet to affect my daily living either. Taking meds can help you as you seek treatment. I was on meds and they really didn't help because I wasn't dealing with the problem. I will be praying for you that you find the right treatment for you