I’m curious...

[surfjunkie]

In the chat room the other day, a bunch of us discovered that our emet.
seemed to be triggered or start in 4th grade. Anyone else experience the
same thing? Any theories as to why 4th grade seemed to be the year that
it all started?

[happyteacher]

Mine started around the age of 8 or 9. Weird, isn't it?

[californiagirl]

Mine started at age 6, in 1st grade. What a nightmare!!!

[fish demon]

Mine started around the first grade as well. I spent most of my childhood terrified.

[csjones]

6. 1st grade.

[daffodil]

I was in 4th or 5th grade.

[krisi]

i was in the chat rm! 4th grade for me

[pawn shop heart]

Mine started in sixth grade, actually.

[tcsarah]

I'vebeen aware of hating v* since about four, so I've probably had it all my life.

[kellybean]

Mine started in grade 7 after I v*ed in class. [img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]

[kate1966]

1st grade for me too............it's weird!!!!!!!!!

[sage]

I was about 4 years old, after my brother died. But apparently I was afraid of "sick people" since a baby after my mom was away in the hospital for 6 months.


There's a lot of evidence that what happens at about 9 years old is very fundamental to how our brains process information about anxiety. It's complicated, but 9 is a key age apparently.

[surfjunkie]

Thanks everyone!

And Sage, I was hoping that you would check in because I figured that
you would know!!!

[xroofusx]

Mine started only about 3 years ago, its done in years not grades schools in the uk, but i guess its the same so about 9th? grade or something.

[pianolover]

4th or 5th grade for me I think - I was about 10, anyway.

[shiva]

Interesting...


Although I was always kind of bothered by people being sick, I remember very clearly a time that I was in 4th grade and a friend who was sleeping over was sick in our bathroom. I watched her do it. After that, I could not get the image out of my mind and realized that I had more of a problem than simply not liking to be sick. However, I don't think my phobia was at it's full strength until I was about 13 or so. This is when I stopped eating and thought more about it daily instead of just when people around me were sick.


I also have a friend who is emet (only about others being sick), and she also first realized her problem around 3-4th grade.

[alwaysamber]

Mine started pretty badly in the 3rd grade.

[josie]

mine started age 6 but I didn't really start missing as much school until the 4th grade for it,....that is wierd

[princessmel]

I was 9 in third grade!!!!

[alan22]

4th grade for me 2 and got worse from there,

[snoozy]

I don't remember the exact age, but I was in infants school (kinder, first or second, so that's age 5, 6, or 7... I remember feeling ill most of the way through primary school - years 3-6 (ages 8-11), and high school and beyond... I think mine started when I vowed to myself I would never be sick again, after I was struck down with a tummy bug... it was a horrible horrible feeling.

[sneezymonkey]

I was about 7/8 yrs old..

[confusedgirl]

I was in 6th grade.. 11 years old

[loveable101]

mine didnt start till about 6th grade i believe i was 9 or 10!!

[marieb73]

In the chat room the other day, a bunch of us discovered that our emet.

seemed to be triggered or start in 4th grade. Anyone else experience the

same thing? Any theories as to why 4th grade seemed to be the year that

it all started?

Hmmmm....mine started in 5th. I had sv when I was way little (like 2 or 3 - all I remember is my mom forcing gindger ale on me, which I still despise to this day. That beverage is a trigger for me) and then again in 3rd grade. But it really didn't kick in for me until 5th or 6th grade. I had sv again when I was in 7th, and it was as bad as I had expected it to be. Something about my sv experience in 5th grade tweaked my brain and I feared it but still let IT happen anyway in 7th grade.

Perhaps the ages of 7-14 are crucial for psychological developement. I have always believed this as I have noticed that young girls are much like young boys as far as whether or not they fear things like snakes and bugs.

I used to work for a veterinarian that would go to elementary and middle schools wioth various animals to teach the kids about thm. I used to help. 1st and 2nd grade (6-8 year olds for our friends outside the U.S.) boys and girls were just as fascinated by the snakes and tarantulas as they were by the bunnies and dogs. BUT, the 6th and 7th graders were way different. The boys were still fascinated, but the girls were terrified.

I have read that phobias in general are more common in women. And based on my experiences I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that many phobias begin around the ages of 8-10 years old.

I wish more study would be done in this area!!!!!
Edited by: marieb73

[mjewell]

I remember freaking out about it from my earliest memories, so I think it has always been an issue for me. It just got worse as i got older what with having panic attacks and being more self conscious, etc.

[andee]

I was 10 years old and in 4th grade...had a lousy male teacher who wasn't very understanding either.</font>

[jodi054]

ive never liked it but it wasnt until the last few years thats its got me .. im 25 now

[Girlygirl1980s]

I was 13 when I developed it.

[phobos]

I was around 7 I think, when it really started kicking... the 4th grade!! never even noticed that coincidence!