Re: Serious Problem
I know that when I quit work and school, my emetophobia got way worse. I allowed it to completely consume me. Simple things like going out to the mailbox gave me horrible anxiety. At that point I lived with my mom still. I never left her house! The first step in me getting better (still have emetophobia but I managed to go to a university and get a bachelors degree while working full time and live on my own an hour away from family) was to go to therapy once a week. It was really really hard for me to get out of the house and drive to therapy and then stay the whole hour. I had to go up a flight of stairs to get to her office and some days it'd take several tries to just get to her office because my anxiety was so bad I was afraid of v or passing out, I'd make it part of the way up and then back down to the car. Then try again!
After that, I started trying to get myself into more public places, sometimes with family, mostly alone. I'd start by running to the gas station, grab a pop and pay, go back out. Sometimes I'd sit for 20 mins in the parking lot in my car contemplating going in. I'd visualize the aisles, make sure there weren't many people in there, plan a quick escape if I had to run out, etc. then on to bigger stores. Going deeper into Walmart, then all the way to the back.
I finally felt strong enough after months and months of conditioning to try for a job again. I'd done housekeeping at a hotel before, so I applied and got a job right away. It seems crazy, but I've never had to clean a room with v in it. I suppose if I had to, I'd just tell me supervisor I didn't feel well and leave it for someone else! Housekeeping is great because you're totally on your own once trained. If you're anxious, just shut the door and take a second. No one is watching, you don't have to explain yourself. It's also physical and fast paced. You can have tv on or listen to your music or watever while cleaning.
Today I'm working as an HR Admin and working on some premed classes. Like I mentioned, I went from being afraid to leave my moms house to a university! You can do it, you just have to push yourself! It will be uncomfortable and scary. But you will be okay. One day, one moment, one breath at a time sometimes. God made it possible for me.
It it probably feels like life will never get better or be normal, but it will be.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10