DR PHIL AND EMAIL

[bexcelica]

My name is Becky and I'm 21 years old. I am an emetophobic, and have
been since I was about nine years old. I ate a cupcake from Stop and
Shop one night, and went to bed. I couldn't fall asleep, but finally
did. When I woke up, I was in the living room (I must have slept
walked) and I just threw up. My parents came down and cleaned it up. I
sat down and was okay until I had to throw up again. I ran to the
bathroom and the last thing I remember is looking at the toilet. I
fainted because I gagged on the way to the bathroom which affected my
Vesovegal nerve, or somethign like that. I fainted and woke up to my
mom saying "Oh my God Jim come in here!" to my dad. Every since then, I
have been SO afraid of getting sick. I avoid things because I am afriad
if I get sick I might pass out. i avoid driving my car to places more
than a half hour away because I'm afraid if I pass out or get sick, I'm
not going to be able to drive home (because I have a manual shift car
and most of my friends dont know how to drive manual.) I get nervous
when my cell phone goes out of service, or runs out of battery because
if I throw up, I won't be able to call home. I was afraid to go
on a trip to London because of the fear I would catch the flu
that was going around my town at the time. I ate only Ramen Noodles and
anything sealed and American when I took a trip to Barbados because I
was afraid to get sick off the food there and be so far away I couldn't
come home. My parents won't go away by themselves (remind you I'm 21)
because whenever they go away I have a panic attack and they come home.
I am a complete mess and wish I could just get over this. People say
"just get over it, its just throwing up" but to all of you that are
emetophobics, it is NOT just throw up, and its VERY VERY VERY hard to
get over.







[email protected]

[Babydoll]

Dear Dr. Phil,


My Name is Jillian Bain. I am 22 years old and currently a Bacholar of Science student majoring in pyschology. I have a happy family life, a wonderful boyfriend, amazing friends. I come froma middle class family and love my studies at school.


You would think my life is perfect, but it is not. I suffer from emetophobia and horrible anxiety because of it. It all started a few years ago, when I was very little. My mom would throw up, and I would hear her. I was only 5 years old, and she sounded like she was dying to me. She did not know that because she cried and moaned when she got sick, it would stay with me for years to come. I guess when your 5 years old, your mother is your world, and hearing her in such pain may have traumatised me. My mom was diagnosed with OCD before i was born.


I went about my life as normal untill highschool when I started noticing I would stay away from anyone who looked sick. My fear progressed and got worse untill today whereI have horrible panic attacks and cannot rationalize to myself that there is nothing to be afraid of. This fear has held me back in many ways. I wanted to be a teacher, but I do not think I could handle all kinds of sick kids everyday. I want to be a mother someday, and the thought of morning sickness and birth scares me to death, as well as my own child throwing up. I fear germs everywhere because theymight make me throw up.I panic when anyone is my house has a stomach virus, especially my mother.Emetophobia is a different fear because you cannot run from your body, you cannot control it. You can control a fear of flying by not going on planes. I have not thrown up since i was 10 years old, which makes it 12 years since Ive been sick.


I am at my wits end with this phobia. I am learning new things about it everyday through my classes, but I have no idea how to help myself. I have seen doctors and psychologists, and a few have told me I have OCD. I do not want to take medication. I believe medication is somewhat of a quick fix, and I want to change the way I think, and be able to be rational. I really hope you can help me, Doctor Phil. I believe you are the best, and I really trust what you say.


Sincerley,


Jillian Bain


email is [email protected]

[spilled_milk]

I have posted my story in the Dr. Phil Stories group email post, but my email is [email protected]...I'll include it there


<3 Anya--