Why Is Vomiting So Terrifying?

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

This question has probably been asked a million times, but why is vomiting so scary? Or is it the THOUGHT of vomiting that scares us. I'm trying to figure this one out for my own situation.

I intellectually know that vomiting is by far NOT the worst thing that could happen to me, so why do I think it is? And I know from my personal experience with it that if I do vomit, I'll feel better after because the worst part of being sick is that endless nausea leading up to it. Vomiting gets rid of that.

Thoughts?

[Elski]

Do you know what, Ive been thinking about this a lot recently and I don't even think it's the vomiting that is bad (although it is pretty nasty!). I think it's the anticipation, the uncertainty, the fact you don't have control over the situation and it's there looming in the background. Well, for me anyway.

The nausea and moments before it happens are pretty horrible too though, like you say.

[asianeko]

For me, vomiting was never the problem. It was the anxiety, the horrible feeling of nausea, and the stress associated with being so scared of it. But once the deed as done (and even while it happened) it wasn't so bad!

It's silly, for many of us the nausea is the worst part, and if we just let it out we would feel better instantly. But we hold it in and prolong that hard part for hours, sometimes days!

[turbokinetic]

Good question!

The bad stuff for me would be...
1 The thought of feeling nauseous and sick and weak.
2 Bringing back bad memories of being sick, when the act of V'ing did not bring releif.
3 Embarassing myself around others. (By causing them discomfort from being disgisting or sharing a virus with them!)
4 Feeling like I did something wrong to my body that might damage me - and not knowing exactly what it is.

The number 3 item I had the hardest time coming to terms with. It is the one I still feel concerned about when I think I might get sick. Thankfully I don't get sick easily so it only is a factor very rarely.

Later,
David

[Rebecca85]

Number 3 is the least of my worries, I have never v'ed in public, or into anywhere other than a toilet or appropriate recepticle, so don't see why I would start now. My problem is others don't have the same level of awareness or control, and I somehow expect them to. Like I take it kind of personally when my boyfriend didn't quite make it to the toilet in time, I feel like he didn't care enough to hold it back the extra second or so (does that make sense).

[turbokinetic]

Number 3 is the least of my worries, I have never v'ed in public, or into anywhere other than a toilet or appropriate recepticle, so don't see why I would start now. My problem is others don't have the same level of awareness or control, and I somehow expect them to. Like I take it kind of personally when my boyfriend didn't quite make it to the toilet in time, I feel like he didn't care enough to hold it back the extra second or so (does that make sense).

Thankfully I've never V'd in public either. The only 3 times I've V'd were all into a pot that my mom brought for the purpose! It was the same scenario each time - got a terrible headache and the pain was too much so I got nauseous and puked.

I'm a fear-of-myself-sick emetophobic. Others V'ing don't trigger my anxiety; however I do get an adrenaline-like rush and then strong feelings of empathy for them.

I'm with you about others self-control. Like you, I expect people to at least try to contain it until they are in a position not make a mess. But even when that is not the case, forgiveness always wins out.

Sincerely,
David

[Rebecca85]

Yes forgiveness wins in the end, but I have to admit it can take a while, a few sleepness nights, nightmares and flashbacks when I do sleep, before I reach that point!

[mooki]

The thought of doing it in public out in the open terrifies me more than anything. Looking up and seeing all those disgusted faces and people trying to get away from you. The humiliation and shame it would bring probably has much to do with why we are emets.

[kellyjeannine]

Good question!

The bad stuff for me would be...
1 The thought of feeling nauseous and sick and weak.
2 Bringing back bad memories of being sick, when the act of V'ing did not bring releif.
3 Embarassing myself around others. (By causing them discomfort from being disgisting or sharing a virus with them!)
4 Feeling like I did something wrong to my body that might damage me - and not knowing exactly what it is.

The number 3 item I had the hardest time coming to terms with. It is the one I still feel concerned about when I think I might get sick. Thankfully I don't get sick easily so it only is a factor very rarely.

Later,
David

#3 is my biggest problem too! If I feel sick I will go to great lengths to be ALONE~!

[annaki]

for me, its the nausea....and the actual act. i always worry about where i'm going to do it and where its going to go. what if it doesn't go down the drain?
i'm not worried about the embarrassment, but i just find it so disgusting.

[Lieke]

For me it's definitely number 2...ugh....Thats probably why I mostly panic at night, thats when it used to happen when I was a child.

[emmalinda]

im with annaki. the actual motion and feeling of it and the n* associated with it terrifies me. i've had the works with v*, i had a lot of viruses and v* many times in public and had people around me get sick and were completely ok with themselves and others, but when i got sick it was a very big deal and my mum i think had a bit of emet in her so when i got sick she got angry at me and she was the only one around and always panicked and freaked out. I am 1234! lol

[SaSa]

For me it's the sensation of not bieng able to control my body and it's functions, and also the thought that it may lead to a bad illness or even more V *cringes*

[hairyfairy]

For me, it`s just about everithing about it that I can`t stand, but losing control is the worst. It`s like being an animal, I mean, they do it whenever & wherever they feel like it, & i would rather die than have the humilliation of doing it in front of other people. I`ve always felt that the only 2 things separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom, & thats our intelligence, & our capacity for self-control,& Vting reminds me that you can`t be in control all the time, & that really gets to me.

[gingercat1975]

I'm scared of the act itself the most but I'm also scared when I feel really sick that I actually will be sick.

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

I'm also afraid of the panic attack that always comes with it. Maybe I fear that more than the act itself. I don't know.