How do you know you are conquering your emetophobia?

[Theshadow]

I was just wondering that even if I haven’t conquer it fully, how will I know I have conquered it a bit or even mostly.

[littlemoonwolf]

It's simple. When you start to realize that v*ing isn't as big of a deal and the thought of it doesn't effect you as badly as it used to. Doing "normal" things as if you never were an emet. For me personally I can tell that I'm doing a lot better and conquering it because I can eat out again without worrying as much about the food or people, I can go to the store and not be afraid, I feel nauseous and not freak out and be able to breathe through it. I can read and watch things with v* in it and have minimal anxiety. I'm able to not wash my hands as often, don't even give it much of a thought, and shrug off my anxiety at the thought of getting sick ect, ect. You may have varying results depending on your personal phobia however.

[Theshadow]

It's simple. When you start to realize that v*ing isn't as big of a deal and the thought of it doesn't effect you as badly as it used to. Doing "normal" things as if you never were an emet. For me personally I can tell that I'm doing a lot better and conquering it because I can eat out again without worrying as much about the food or people, I can go to the store and not be afraid, I feel nauseous and not freak out and be able to breathe through it. I can read and watch things with v* in it and have minimal anxiety. I'm able to not wash my hands as often, don't even give it much of a thought, and shrug off my anxiety at the thought of getting sick ect, ect. You may have varying results depending on your personal phobia however.

Okay, so I am getting over it than. I can joke about v*, hear family members v*, handle seeing my dog v*; but I did have a panic attack when I got a strange feeling in my stomach and did briefly worry when my mom appeared to have the stomach virus.

[sage]

For me it was seeing it on a movie or TV show and laughing at it (it was meant to be funny), and then getting noro and not being the least bit anxious.

[emet_researcher]

It's also important to note that recovery is not linear! You will hit bumps in the road, but you will overcome them with proper help!

[zombie0037]

When I stopped thinking about it, I am no longer scared to do it, I been recovered for 8years, all it took was courage and understanding of my body.

[mdgirl1977]

Exactly what Littlemoonwolf said. Could not have said it better.

The shadow - I think even non-emets get a bit worried when their stomach feels off or when a parent/child is sick. That is just being a human being. The difference is how you handle that fear - do you panic and curl up in a ball and stop eating for 3 days and refuse to interact with the sick person or do you lean into the feelings, accept them and think rationally.

I am definitely not cured, but when my 13 yo son feels sick I do not run away or call his dad to get him. I sit on the sofa with him, I comfort him, I give him ice packs for his neck and I stroke his hair until he is better. Inside I am panicky, but not to the point where my blood pressure is sky rocketing and I can't breathe. I also do not FREAK THE EFF OUT when my stomach is off, which is sadly a lot more frequent lately (gastritis + COVID is not a good combination). I just focus on the severity of the feeling, breathe, get ice packs and try to work through it.

It is a marathon, not a sprint. But it sounds like you are on the right track, so keep up the good work and hopefully you can stay on here as a calming force versus someone needing help! I think I have crossed over to the that point myself, which I take as a good sign.