suggestions? so done :(

[lauren37]

I am kinda of really done with emet. It is ruining my life. And I bet you all understand. Does anyone have any suggestions on how they are recovering? I see a therapist but something maybe i can work on on my own? Thanks

[KaydeeJayde]

I'm doing CBT at the moment, and I'm finding the visualizations are helping me a lot. I sit down in a quiet place and take myself through, in my mind, a situation that makes me anxious. Last night it was sitting next to someone in class who'd been vomiting. I take myself through the entire day, getting up, taking the train to uni, going through the station and the streets to uni, walking the hallways, getting to class, seeing a spare seat, getting told that the person I'm next to isn't well. My therapist says this works because it exposes the mind to the anxiety without actually having to experience what makes it anxious in person.

What kind of therapy are you doing at the moment, and how long have you been doing it? Perhaps it's time to look into a different kind?

[asianeko]

Everything I have found useful in overcoming my emet can be found in the link in my sig. There is far too much info to repost

Relaxing Breathing is a technique I learned that helped my control panic attacks and anxiety in general.

How I Learned To Cope has a list of the major things I felt turned me loose on the road to recovery.

Hopefully some of the info in there can help you out a bit!

[idontfeelreal]

I am seeing a therapist currently about once a month. She doesn't specialize in phobias so I don't know if we are on the same page, but its not really hurting to talk to her. Ever since I came out to my best friend, boyfriend, and family about me Emet, I have seen an improvement in my mood. Just getting it out there has helped. I stay active...working out and yoga is great. I am busy with work at my retail job and also getting my photography business going, so I leave myself little time to think about it. Plus, the weather is beautiful. Stomach viruses seem to be lingering around much longer this year, but regardless, I feel less worried about it than I was in the winter.

Just keep your mind busy, get involved with a lot of things that make you happy and focused! I am totally supportive of trying natural options, as opposed to medication right off the bat. I have nothing against medication whatsoever, I just personally think it should only be used when other avenues and treatment are unsuccessful.

Best of luck to you!

[NatalyKay]

I'm with idontfeelreal, keep yourself busy with other things. That's what I have been doing, and my emet had gotten so bad that I became suicidal. Now I'm in school, making more friends to be around, and am just putting myself out there to have more things to do so that I don't have to sit around and obsess about getting sick. It really has helped a lot, like A LOT. I will, however, admit that I've been bad recently but only because I've had to spend so much time at my boyfriend's house, and he lives an hour away from my house so it's difficult to manage my anxiety. Especially when his family stresses me out so much! Ugh!

[lauren37]

Thanks everyone is so supportive ...KayDeeJayde i am doing CBT also and have benn seeing my therapist for about 3 months it helps to talk tho i really like her...thanks for all the suggestions guys! suffering with really bad OCD too tho i dont even know why i do somethings they dont make sense! do u have rituals like in ur house or in school other than being germ free?

[candance]

Thanks everyone is so supportive ...KayDeeJayde i am doing CBT also and have benn seeing my therapist for about 3 months it helps to talk tho i really like her...thanks for all the suggestions guys! suffering with really bad OCD too tho i dont even know why i do somethings they dont make sense! do u have rituals like in ur house or in school other than being germ free?

I have felt like this a lot at times, when I am having a bad night I still feel like that. I have been in therapy but it wasn't a CBT (which I know wish I could have gotten) and for now my insurance is not covering any more therapy because I am doing "too well" for getting a waiver from the 50 sessions maximum rule here.

I have a ritual, I always have a bucket standing next to my bed because I'm scared I wake up being sick and can't make it to the bathroom on time. I had gotten over that already and slept without it for about a year but when I had a lot of stress at school last winter it all got worse again and since then it's standing there again. I think sleeping alone is making it worse.
I am also avoiding classes that are early in the morning if I can because I know I'm not feeling well early in the morning many times and I don't want to constantly miss classes. I also prefer to sit at a spot in class where i can easily get out. Other than that I think I don't have anything but reading it all together that I just typed I feel like I'm far away from normal.