I warn you, this is quite a long winding story, you are a saint if you read it, but I'm in real need of some help and guidence from the people who know exactly what I'm going through

Firstly, we all (on here) know roughly how often we catch a stomach bug or whatever, for me, it's every 5 years, like, routine, it always has been, my sister says that this is irrational, but it always happens. I last got sick when I was 14, and it was so nasty that it made my emetophobia much stronger than it was before, which sucked. After 2 years of freaking out and my life began to go very much downhill (lack of social life, bad grades) I made myself pull it together and work hard on living and not let the fear take over like it was. And that's what I did. I'm 17 now, almost 18, I'm in my last year of A-Levels meaning that I should go to University this year (I've already applied) yet as it get's closer to 'the time' I'm finding my anxiety is growing stronger again and with the pressure of going to University, I'm not coping very well.

My initial idea for this problem was to have a gap year next year so I have the time to get treatment for the phobia (and also work and mature and stuff) so that when I go to University I can make the most out of it and do as well as possible rather than let my anxiety ruin the experience. The problem is will I manage to get treatment, and will it work? If anybody has any suggestions on what treatment I can have, that would be amazing (: and people also say to me not to let anxiety stop me from doing anything. I do really want to go to Uni because I want to move out and have a new life ect. yet at the rate I'm going, I know the fear will make it difficult if I go however, even if I stay I will be living in fear, but just maybe I might be able to get better.

People please let me know your thoughts or if you've been in a similar situation, I really need all the advice that I can get, thankyou - Rachael xx