I'm wondering if my 4 year old son has emetophobia. My husband and I don't know what to do or how to know for sure. Two months ago he started asking me multiple times a day if he was going to v*. He gets very upset and sometimes has panic attacks if he forgets to wash his hands after preschool, if he burps, and if his stomach growls. He won't take medicine and gets very upset while brushing his teeth. He complains that his tummy hurts everyday and it's starting to get worse. He woke up hysterical last night asking me if he had a virus and if he was going to v*. Then I had to pick him up from preschool today because his teacher said he got really upset for no reason and said that his tummy hurt. When we got home and turned on the tv, he was fine.

We've been to the doctor three times and at first they said to give him miralax because he was constipated and now they are sending us to a GI specialist. I just started giving him meds for acid reflux to see if that's the problem. Maybe the reflux is making him feel sick which is then causing this phobia. It's just so difficult to know with a child because he doesn't understand what's happening and he can't articulate how he feels. Should I ask for him to see a therapist or will that just make it worse? He has had other fears in the past but has gotten over them. This time it seems more severe. I don't know how to deal with his questions in the meantime. Do I ignore him or just calmly tell him that he's not going to v*? I'm so exhausted and sad for him. I just want my little boy to feel better.

Thanks for listening